Fertility and PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of infertility in reproductive-age women and an important harbinger of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and heart disease. 

It affects an estimated 5 to 10 percent of females and is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and obesity, and as a result, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

The syndrome is generally characterized by the presence of polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism (the condition caused by excess male hormones or male-like traits) and irregular ovulation and menstruation.

About video: Polycystic ovary syndrome impacts birth rate because there is ordinarily an absence of reproducible ovulation, making it much more hard to get pregnant.