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About Our Research:
Dr. Andrea Dunaif has been doing research on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome for 20 years. Through this resarch we have learned that PCOS is inherited through families; women with PCOS are at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes. Also family members without the condition may be at risk. learn more..
Do you have PCOS?
Participants in our studies receive a free screening.
If you have irregular periods and would like more information about our research, please fill out the form on the contact us page or call 800-847-6060 to speak with a study coordinator.
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What is PCOS? PCOS is called a syndrome rather than a disease because there are such a variety of symptoms. No two women have exactly the same symptoms. The following characteristics are very often associated with PCOS, but not all are seen in every woman:
Hirsutism: This condition produces excess hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, thumbs, or toes. Thinning hair: PCOS can cause androgenic alopecia--scalp hair loss--in a classic “male baldness” pattern. Acne/oily skin: In women with PCOS, oil production is stimulated by overproduction of male hormones. Skin abnormalities: Women with PCOS may notice dark patches of skin, called acanthosis nigricans, most commonly on the back of the neck, but also in skin creases under arms, breasts, and between thighs, occasionally on the hands, elbows, and knees. The darkened skin is usually velvety or rough to the touch. PCOS can also cause skin tags, tiny flaps of skin that usually cause no symptoms. Polycystic ovaries: Classic PCOS ovaries have a “string of pearls” or “pearl necklace” appearance with many cysts (fluid-filled sacs). Obesity or weight gain: Commonly a woman with PCOS will have what is called an apple figure where excess weight is concentrated heavily in the abdomen, similar to the way men often gain weight, with comparatively narrower arms and legs. Infertility or reduced fertility: Infertility is the inability to get pregnant within six to 12 months of unprotected intercourse, depending on age. Because women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, it affects their ability to conceive. Menstrual irregularities: Women with PCOS may experience infrequent or absent menstrual cycles. Infrequent cycles is defined as having 8 or fewer periods per year. Irregular bleeding may include lengthy bleeding episodes, scant or heavy periods, or frequent spotting. Because symptoms like acne and obesity have multiple causes, PCOS is often mistaken for another condition. Despite its name, some women with the syndrome do not have detectable ovarian cysts, whereas many women without PCOS do. Used with permission by A. Dunaif.
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