polycystic ovary syndrome

noun

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of polycystic ovary syndrome

: a variable disease that is marked by amenorrhea, hirsutism, obesity, infertility, and ovarian enlargement and is usually initiated by an elevated level of luteinizing hormone, androgen, or estrogen which results in an abnormal cycle of gonadotropin release by the pituitary gland — called also polycystic ovarian syndrome

Recent Examples of polycystic ovary syndrome from the Web

Other conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder, and diabetes can increase your risk for miscarriages and can run in families, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

— korin miller, SELF, "These Twins Both Had Miscarriages—and Now They're Pregnant Together," 2 Apr. 2018
Women with dark, coarse hair growth on the face, chest or back should be tested for polycystic ovary syndrome and other underlying health problems, a new Endocrine Society guideline says.

— healthday, chicagotribune.com, "Guideline urges hormone test for women with unwanted hair," 2 Apr. 2018
Doctors came to that conclusion — freezing embryos before implanting works best — because it has been proven to be true for women experiencing infertility as the result of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.

— emma hinchliffe, Fortune, "Frozen Embryos Aren’t Always Necessary for IVF, New Studies Show," 11 Jan. 2018
Leah Jorgensen, 33, has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that causes her body to overproduce testosterone, and hirsutism, the term for unwanted male-pattern hair growth on a woman.

— julie mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Woman with Hormonal Imbalance Embraces Her Excess Chest Hair: 'Women Like Me Exist'," 8 Mar. 2018
The hormonal issue polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also cause heavy bleeding.

— zahra barnes, SELF, "7 Period Problems You Shouldn’t Ignore," 8 Mar. 2018
Plus, its symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome, a condition called dysmenorrhea (or super-painful periods), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and more.

— nina bahadur, Glamour, "Why Do We Know So Little About Endometriosis?," 7 Mar. 2018
Nova Galaxia is a vlogger who has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that causes an estimated 10% of women of childbearing age to have a higher proportion of male hormones.

— blake bakkila, Health.com, "This Woman Is Embracing Her Beard After 14 Years of Shaving Her Face Every Day," 23 Feb. 2018
In addition to weight loss, studies show that the ketogenic diet may also be helpful in treating many other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), acne and more.

— amy gorin, NBC News, "What is the keto diet — and is it right for you?," 22 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'polycystic ovary syndrome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of polycystic ovary syndrome

1956

Medical Dictionary

polycystic ovary syndrome

noun

medical Definition of polycystic ovary syndrome

: a variable disorder that is marked especially by amenorrhea, hirsutism, obesity, infertility, and ovarian enlargement and is usually initiated by an elevated level of luteinizing hormone, androgen, or estrogen which results in an abnormal cycle of gonadotropin release by the pituitary gland —abbreviation PCOS — called also polycystic ovarian disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, polycystic ovary disease, Stein-Leventhal syndrome