People withpolycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) often have irregular or absent menstrual cycles, due to hormonal imbalances. Sometimes irregular periods are a sign of infertility in PCOS. Fortunately, menstrual irregularity and infertility can be treated.
This article discusses how PCOS influences menstrual cycles and how to regulate it.
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How PCOS Affects the Menstrual Cycle
Among its effects, PCOS causes females to have higher levels of androgens like testosterone, and high levels of luteinizing hormone (a hormone that helps support ovulation and pregnancy).
Here’s how PCOS affects your menstrual cycle:
This effect can producedifferent symptoms. Some people who have PCOS can have regular periods every 28 days, others have periods every 30 to 40 days, and still, others don’t have periods at all.
While menstrual irregularity is a normal symptom of PCOS, it needs to be treated, especially if you are getting fewer than eight or nine periods each year.
Not having a regular period can affect your fertility, and can also increase your risk of developingendometrial cancer.
Best Ways to Regulate Your Cycle
There are some ways that you can control your period and ensure that your uterus sheds its lining regularly.
You should speak with your healthcare provider before starting to take any medication or supplement. Due to your specific health condition, you may not be a good candidate to take a particular medication, or your healthcare provider may recommend a certain regimen.
Ask your healthcare provider any questions you have about other alternatives, or why they have recommended the suggested treatment.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Welt CK, Carmina E.Clinical review: Lifecycle of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): from in utero to menopause.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(12):4629–4638. doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2375Harris HR, Titus LJ, Cramer DW, Terry KL.Long and irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study.Int J Cancer. 2017;140(2):285–291. doi:10.1002/ijc.30441Teede H, Deeks A, Moran L.Polycystic ovary syndrome: a complex condition with psychological, reproductive and metabolic manifestations that impacts on health across the lifespan.BMC Med. 2010;8:41. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-8-41
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Welt CK, Carmina E.Clinical review: Lifecycle of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): from in utero to menopause.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(12):4629–4638. doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2375Harris HR, Titus LJ, Cramer DW, Terry KL.Long and irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study.Int J Cancer. 2017;140(2):285–291. doi:10.1002/ijc.30441Teede H, Deeks A, Moran L.Polycystic ovary syndrome: a complex condition with psychological, reproductive and metabolic manifestations that impacts on health across the lifespan.BMC Med. 2010;8:41. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-8-41
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Welt CK, Carmina E.Clinical review: Lifecycle of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): from in utero to menopause.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(12):4629–4638. doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2375Harris HR, Titus LJ, Cramer DW, Terry KL.Long and irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study.Int J Cancer. 2017;140(2):285–291. doi:10.1002/ijc.30441Teede H, Deeks A, Moran L.Polycystic ovary syndrome: a complex condition with psychological, reproductive and metabolic manifestations that impacts on health across the lifespan.BMC Med. 2010;8:41. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-8-41
Welt CK, Carmina E.Clinical review: Lifecycle of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): from in utero to menopause.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(12):4629–4638. doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2375
Harris HR, Titus LJ, Cramer DW, Terry KL.Long and irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study.Int J Cancer. 2017;140(2):285–291. doi:10.1002/ijc.30441
Teede H, Deeks A, Moran L.Polycystic ovary syndrome: a complex condition with psychological, reproductive and metabolic manifestations that impacts on health across the lifespan.BMC Med. 2010;8:41. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-8-41
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