MedGen

Inability to conceive for at least one year after trying and having unprotected sex. Causes of female infertility include endometriosis, fallopian tubes obstruction, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Causes of male infertility include abnormal sperm production or function, blockage of the epididymis, blockage of the ejaculatory ducts, hypospadias, exposure to pesticides, and health related issues. [from NCI]

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects women in their child-bearing years and alters the levels of multiple hormones, resulting in problems affecting many body systems.

Most women with polycystic ovary syndrome produce excess male sex hormones (androgens), a condition called hyperandrogenism. Having too much of these hormones typically leads to excessive body hair growth (hirsutism), acne, and male pattern baldness.

Hyperandrogenism and abnormal levels of other sex hormones prevent normal release of egg cells from the ovaries (ovulation) and regular menstrual periods, leading to difficulty conceiving a child (subfertility) or a complete inability to conceive (infertility). For those who achieve pregnancy, there is an increased risk of complications and pregnancy loss. Due to irregular and infrequent menstruation and hormone abnormalities, affected women have an increased risk of cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer).

In polycystic ovary syndrome, one or both ovaries can contain multiple small, immature ovarian follicles that can appear as cysts on medical imaging. Normally, ovarian follicles contain egg cells, which are released during ovulation. In polycystic ovary syndrome, abnormal hormone levels prevent follicles from growing and maturing to release egg cells. Instead, these immature follicles accumulate in the ovaries. Affected women can have 12 or more of these follicles. The number of these follicles usually decreases with age.

About half of all women with polycystic ovary syndrome are overweight or have obesity and are at increased risk of a fatty liver. Additionally, many women with polycystic ovary syndrome have elevated levels of insulin, which is a hormone that helps control levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar. By age 40, about 10 percent of overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome develop abnormally high blood glucose levels (type 2 diabetes), and up to 35 percent develop prediabetes (higher-than-normal blood glucose levels that do not reach the cutoff for diabetes). Obesity and increased insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) further increase the production of androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are also at increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome, which is a group of conditions that include high blood pressure (hypertension), increased belly fat, high levels of unhealthy fats and low levels of healthy fats in the blood, and high blood glucose levels. About 20 percent of affected adults experience pauses in breathing during sleep (sleep apnea). Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are more likely than women in the general popluation to have mood disorders such as depression. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

An increased concentration of insulin in the blood. [from HPO]

A non-neoplastic or neoplastic disorder that affects the endocrine system. Representative examples of non-neoplastic disorders include diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, and adrenal gland insufficiency. Representative examples of neoplastic disorders include carcinoid tumor, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and pheochromocytoma. [from NCI]

A granulosa-stromal cell tumor that arises from the ovary. It is characterized by the presence of granulosa cells that comprise at least ten percent of the cellular population. The granulosa cells are often found in a background that contains theca and fibrous cells. There are two major subtypes recognized, adult and juvenile granulosa cell tumor. Clinically, patients may present with an abdominal mass. Symptoms depend on the patient''s age. The most important indicator of prognosis is tumor stage. Age over forty years at the time of the initial diagnosis, large tumor size, bilaterality, cellular atypia, and increased mitotic activity are factors indicating a potentially aggressive clinical course and relative poor prognosis. [from NCI]

An aggressive granulosa cell tumor that arises from the ovary. [from HPO]

A cystic cancerous tumor arising from the ovary. [from NCI]