Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Heart Disease

Polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms include irregular periods and infertility. Research shows this condition and heart disease are connected.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS, is one of the most common hormone disorders in women. In fact, about five million American women of childbearing age have this condition. They often find out they have polycystic ovary syndrome when consulting a doctor for one of the most common problems linked to PCOS — infertility.

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But polycystic ovary syndrome affects the body in other ways, too. Many women with polycystic ovary syndrome have insulin resistance, which means the body does not respond normally to insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas that controls how the food you eat is changed into energy. Insulin resistance causes blood glucose levels to rise and, over time, raises your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is also associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an increased BMI  (body mass index, a measurement of body fat based on height) — all additional risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

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