Diabetes
Because of the relationship between insulin resistance and PCOS, women with this disorder are at high risk of developing diabetes. In fact, almost half of all women with PCOS have developed some form of abnormal glucose tolerance by the age of 40. Diabetes brings along with it its own serious health risks and complications, such as heart disease, blindness, and limb amputation. Therefore, control of blood sugar levels is imperative to keep insulin production under control.

Infertility or Reduced Fertility
Thought to be due to an imbalance of sex hormone levels in the body, many women with PCOS have trouble becoming pregnant. Fertility drugs and treatments can help such women conceive and deliver healthy babies. However, many women with PCOS can become pregnant naturally. Therefore, this disorder is not a form of contraception. If you have PCOS and do not want to become pregnant, other means of contraception should be utilized.

Endometrial Cancer
Women with PCOS are at higher risk of developing cancer of the endometrium (the uterine lining). This is thought to be related to their infrequent or irregular periods, as well as an increased body weight. Talk to your doctor about adequate screening procedures such as endometrial biopsy. The most common symptoms (and many times, the only symptoms) of endometrial cancer are vaginal bleeding or discharge.

Cardiovascular Disease
In women with PCOS, the ovaries may produce too much testosterone, the male sex hormone. These higher levels of testosterone circulating in the blood have been linked to unhealthy levels of blood lipids (fats). Levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol, are low, whereas the "bad" cholesterol, LDL, may be above healthy levels. This increases the individual's risk of heart disease, which escalates if the individual is also overweight or obese.

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