Women with PCOS may experience irregular or no menstrual periods. Many, but not all women with PCOS, are overweight. In fact overeating or lack of exercise can cause PCOS. Some women with PCOS have more hair or darker hair on their face or other places on their bodies. Because women with PCOS have irregular ovulation, they often have fertility problems. Some women with PCOS have a tendency to become diabetic.

PCOS occurs as a result of an increase in production of certain kinds of hormones called androgens by the ovaries and the adrenal glands. About half of women with PCOS inherit this tendency. The other half may have PCOS due to other reasons, including certain medical disorders. PCOS women who do not have a clear inherited tendency usually develop PCOS over time by increasing their body weight. This is often caused by poor diet and insufficient exercise.

The diagnosis of PCOS is made through a personal and family history, a physical examination, and blood tests.

If a woman with PCOS is overweight, the single best treatment is weight loss. Weight loss has been shown to improve ovulation, regulate menstrual cycles, and help infertility and other health problems. While women with PCOS are losing weight, progesterone or birth control pills may be prescribed to treat irregular periods and prevent any pre-cancer changes in the uterus caused by irregular menstrual cycles. Women who desire pregnancy are first encouraged to lose weight. Following this, they can be given fertility pills such as clomiphene citrate (Clomid®). If Clomid® fails to successfully bring about ovulation, shots of gonadotropins may be tried. Another alternative is a laparoscopic surgical procedure called ovarian stromal cautery in which punctures are made with a needle into the cysts. After surgery, ovulation may occur spontaneously or fertility drugs may still be required. If women with PCOS have a clear genetic tendency toward diabetes, if they have excessive dark hair growth, or bad adult acne, some anti-diabetes medicines may be used.

Women with PCOS may be more resistant to the action of insulin than other women and, therefore, may be at risk for developing diabetes later in life. Due to the high level of androgen hormones, they may be at greater risk for heart disease. In some PCOS women, the presence of estrogen without progesterone hormones (which is what happens if there is no ovulation) can cause the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to grow too thick (hyperplasia). If untreated over a long time, this can lead to cancer.

PCOS is the most common endocrine abnormality in reproductive aged women. Women with PCOS commonly experience irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. Women with PCOS are at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and endometrial cancer.