I'm 16 and have got polycystic ovaries. I'm so scared, I've been told I might not be able to have children. I’m really upset - can you help? Lisa, via email
A: I'm not surprised you feel scared and upset with that sort of news - but there is really no need to worry. It is still possible for women with polycystic ovaries (PCO) to have children and for many it is as likely as it is for women without PCO. PCO is quite common - it affects 4 - 6% of teenagers and young women.
Its exact cause is not known, but it has something to do with hormone imbalances in the body that affect the menstrual cycle. A woman’s menstrual cycle is usually a finely-tuned hormonal 'machine' controlled by hormones in the brain and ovaries. However in women with PCO, the relevant hormones made by the brain may be imbalanced (too much of one, not enough of the other), or there might be a hormone problem occurring in another part of the body that will affect the menstrual cycle hormones. This includes the hormone insulin, which is responsible for keeping your blood sugar levels within a safe range. The problem is not that insulin is faulty but that some cells in the body don't 'recognise' insulin, which leads to interference with the menstrual cycle hormones.
If it all sounds complicated, it is! But the bottom line is that with PCO you will probably have no periods, or irregular periods. Some women get heavier periods. The hormone imbalances that have caused this will also affect a woman's fertility - because it might interfere with ovulation, and if you don't ovulate, you can't make a baby.
However women with PCO can still ovulate, it's just more unpredictable. If and when the time comes for a woman with PCO to want a baby, there are other hormones that she can take to help her ovulate. Experts now think that PCO can also be influenced by lifestyle and weight factors in some women.
If you are overweight then it will really help if you talk to your doctor about losing weight and exercising more because this will improve the whole situation and could restore a normal menstrual cycle. Women with PCO are usually advised to go on the Pill or some other hormone tablets, to give them some regular bleeding, like a period.
If you're sexually active, then the Pill is also a good contraceptive, because yes! you can still get pregnant with PCO. Because PCO is a complicated condition, you really deserve to have this explained to you further by your doctor, until you feel that you understand what's going on in your body. Don't be afraid to go back to your doctor and ask for more information. It might also help to talk with your mum - she might know about PCO or she might be able to listen in with the doctor as well.
