When Your Teenager Has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Your daughter has been diagnosed with a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is an imbalance of hormones. It affects the ovaries, the organs that store a woman’s eggs. PCOS can also affect the rest of the body. It can lead to serious health issues if not treated. Treatment can’t cure the problem, but it helps reduce symptoms and prevent health problems.

What is PCOS?

Androgens are a type of hormone (chemical messenger in the body). They are often called “male” hormones, but women make and use some of these hormones also. Girls and women with PCOS usually have higher levels of androgens than normal. This can lead to changes in the body that include:

• Ovaries with many small, insignificant cysts (polycystic) 

• Missed periods, irregular periods, or very light periods

• Increased body hair growth

• Weight gain

• Acne, oily skin, and dandruff

• Infertility

• Thickened or darkened skin patches

Because of the hormone changes, women with PCOS are more likely to develop certain serious health problems. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, problems with the heart and blood vessels, abnormal cholesterol levels, and uterine cancer. Women with PCOS often have problems with their ability to get pregnant (fertility).

What causes PCOS?

A girl may be more likely to get it if a parent or sibling has the condition. But the exact cause of PCOS is not known.

How is PCOS diagnosed?

There is no single test that can diagnose PCOS. A medical history, physical exam, and blood tests help give the diagnosis. A pelvic exam may be done. Other tests, such as a vaginal or pelvic ultrasound, may also be done.

How is PCOS treated?

Medicine is the most common treatment for PCOS. Medicines affect the body’s hormone levels. The most common medicines used to treat PCOS include:

• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives). These contain a combination of female hormones. They can help bring hormones back into balance and reduce or eliminate symptoms. This reduces the risk for endometrial cancer later in life. (A teen does not have to be sexually active to take birth control pills.)

• Insulin-sensitizing medicines. These are used to treat diabetes and are frequently used in the treatment of PCOS. These medicines help the body respond to insulin. In women with PCOS, they can help decrease androgen levels and improve ovulation. Restoring ovulation helps make menstrual periods regular and more predictable.

• Metformin. This is a diabetes medicine that has been shown to help with PCOS symptoms.

• Antiandrogens. These are medicines that can help reverse the effects of male hormones. They help reduce hair growth and clear acne. They are often combined with birth control pills.

In addition to medicine, regular exercise and healthy eating can help manage PCOS. PCOS makes losing weight much harder. But losing even a little weight can help reduce some PCOS symptoms. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider for more information on weight loss and PCOS.

Working with the healthcare provider

Since there is no cure for PCOS, it’s important to manage your child’s condition. Keep in touch with your child’s healthcare provider. Be honest with the healthcare provider about how the treatment is going and how your daughter is responding. Mention if you notice any new changes. And take your daughter for regular follow-up visits to ensure that any health problems are caught and managed.