Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - Essay Example There are currently no treatments that treat polycystic ovary syndrome as a whole, but individual symptoms are tended to based on the desires of each female. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common medical condition in which women have an â€Å"imbalance of female sex hormones (Kovacs, 2007)† in women of reproductive age. When a teenage girl’s or woman’s ovaries produce significantly abnormal amounts of androgens, which are male sex hormones, the development and release of eggs are interfered with. With polycystic ovary syndrome, cysts - sacs filled with liquid - form instead of the eggs maturing. Then the cysts build up in the ovaries, often becoming enlarged, in lieu of an egg being released. When a teenager or woman has polycystic ovary syndrome, they often do not have a regular menstrual cycle. Polycystic ovary syndrome is among many disorders that doctors have been unable to determine a sole, definite cause. However, enough research in the matter has revealed a variety of factors that may play a role in the development of polycystic ovary syndrome. One such factor is genetics, with many doctors believing that if an individual’s mother or sister has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, then the individual risks developing the syndrome as well. Similarly, current research is being undergone to determine if a mutated gene is involved in the formation of the cysts, making polycystic ovary syndrome a genetic disorder. Another possible factor in the developing of polycystic ovary syndrome is an excess of insulin. If an individual has a resistance to insulin, which would cause an impairment in effectively utilizing insulin, then the pancreas would produce more insulin to keep sugar available for the cells. If there is too much insulin, it can cause an increase in the androgen that is produced by the ovaries. This hormone is vital to the cysts’ survival, and too much androgen will allow them to