PCOS Glossary of Terms

Acanthosis nigricans is a condition where areas of skin become dark, thick, and velvety, usually in places like the armpits, groin, and neck. It’s often seen in people who are overweight. This condition can be caused by things that change hormone levels, like Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, or having a low-functioning thyroid. It can also be caused by taking certain medicines, such as steroids or hormone treatments.

Acne is a common skin issue that occurs when hair follicles get blocked. This happens when oil, called sebum, and dead skin cells clog the pores, leading to pimples or zits. Acne related to PCOS is caused by the hormonal changes in the condition.

Amenorrhea is when a female of reproductive age doesn’t have her period. It’s normal to not have periods during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Besides the reproductive years, women don’t have periods in childhood and after menopause. Many women with PCOS either don’t get their periods or have irregular cycles, known as oligomenorrhea.

Androgens are hormones made by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone is one type of androgen. In females with PCOS, androgen levels can rise due to high LH levels and more insulin.

Anovulation happens when the ovaries don’t release an egg during a menstrual cycle, so ovulation doesn’t occur. But, a woman who doesn’t ovulate every cycle isn’t necessarily in menopause. Ongoing anovulation is a common reason for infertility.

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is made by cells in the ovaries. It is an indicator of how many eggs a female has left, or their ovarian reserve. If a woman has low AMH levels, it means they might have fewer eggs, which can affect their ability to have children.

Aromatase inhibitors stop the enzyme aromatase from changing androgens into estrogen in the body. These inhibitors help trigger ovulation. Letrozole, a type of aromatase inhibitor, seems to increase live birth and pregnancy rates in women with PCOS who aren’t ovulating.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) involves any fertility treatments that deal with eggs or embryos. Typically, these procedures include taking eggs from a woman’s ovaries, mixing them with sperm in a lab, and then placing them back into the woman’s body or donating them to someone else.

Bariatric surgery can help women with PCOS lose weight. This type of surgery includes methods like gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric band, and duodenal switch. These surgeries are effective for treating severe obesity and can also improve metabolism, such as controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Body mass index (BMI) is a way to check if someone has a healthy weight for their height. Doctors find BMI by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. It helps estimate how much body fat a person might have.

Clomiphene, also known as clomiphene citrate, is a medication approved by the FDA that helps with certain types of infertility by stimulating ovulation, which is the release of eggs from the ovaries. It is used by people trying to become pregnant.

Corticosteroids, often called steroids, are drugs that reduce inflammation. Taking a small dose of glucocorticoids can help with excessive hair growth in women who have congenital adrenal hyperplasia. But, it’s unclear if it helps hair growth caused by other reasons. For women with PCOS, using glucocorticoids for a long time isn’t recommended unless they have a lot of adrenal androgens.

Cysts are unusual pockets of fluid that can appear in any part of the body. In the case of PCOS, numerous small fluid-filled sacs form on the outer edge of the ovary, and these are known as cysts.

DHEAS stands for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. It’s mostly produced in the adrenal glands, which are small glands above the kidneys. A DHEAS test checks the level of this hormone, which the body can turn into estrogen and testosterone. High levels might suggest an adrenal tumor or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), while low levels could suggest Addison’s disease.

Dyslipidemia means having abnormal fat levels in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart diseases. When these fat levels aren’t balanced, whether because of genetics or lifestyle, it can cause clogged arteries and other heart problems. It’s a common issue in people with PCOS.

Menstrual pain, known as dysmenorrhea, affects over half of menstruating women, causing discomfort for a few days a month. Typically, this pain is mild, but for some, it’s intense enough to disrupt daily activities for several days. People with PCOS often experience more frequent dysmenorrhea.

An endocrinologist is a doctor who helps people with issues related to glands and hormones. A reproductive endocrinologist can help treat PCOS.

Endometrial cancer starts in the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. It happens when cells grow abnormally and can spread to other parts of the body. The first sign is usually unexpected vaginal bleeding that’s not part of a normal period. People with PCOS are up to five times more likely to get endometrial cancer than those without PCOS.

Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition where the lining of the uterus becomes too thick, which can sometimes lead to cancer. This can cause discomfort for women, with symptoms like heavy periods, bleeding after menopause, and anemia because of too much bleeding. Women with PCOS may be more likely to get endometrial hyperplasia.

Estrogen is a hormone linked to female reproductive organs and helps develop female traits. It is also known as estrone, estradiol, and estriol.

There are three main types of fertility treatments: medications, surgeries, and techniques to help conception, like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Common fertility medications include clomifene, which helps women release an egg each month if they have trouble ovulating, and tamoxifen, which is used if there are ovulation issues. Metformin is helpful for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Gonadotrophins help women ovulate and can also boost fertility in men. Other medicines like gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and dopamine agonists are also used to encourage ovulation in women.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is made and released by the pituitary gland. It helps with sexual development and reproduction by influencing how ovaries and testicles work. Even though it’s called “follicle-stimulating,” it doesn’t actually impact your hair follicles or hair growth.

The glucose tolerance test checks how the body handles sugar. Women with PCOS should be tested for problems with sugar metabolism. Their weight, age, and high levels of male hormones can lead to more serious metabolism issues.

The glycemic index (GI) is a number that shows how much certain foods raise your blood sugar. Foods are labeled as low, medium, or high GI and are scored from 0 to 100. A lower GI number means the food has less impact on your blood sugar. People with PCOS might be advised to follow a low GI diet.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a hormone that helps trigger the release of other hormones, like follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, from the pituitary gland. It is made by special neurons in the hypothalamus. When someone has PCOS, their GnRH levels change more often than usual.

Gonadotropins are important for your reproductive health, helping your sex glands to grow and work properly. In people with female sex organs, these glands are the ovaries, and in those with make sex organs, they are the testicles.

Products made from plants that help treat illnesses or keep you healthy are known as herbal or botanical products, or phytomedicines. If a plant-based product is meant to be taken internally, it’s called an herbal supplement.

HDL, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is often called “good” cholesterol. It grabs cholesterol in the blood and takes it back to the liver. The liver then removes it from the body. Having high levels of HDL cholesterol can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Hirsutism is when women grow extra hair in areas where men typically do, like the face and body, after puberty. This includes places like the mustache and beard areas, the pubic region, buttocks, and thighs. It often happens in people with PCOS.

A hormonal imbalance occurs when there is too much or too little of certain hormones, which are chemicals that help your body function. In PCOS, the ovaries make high levels of hormones called androgens, leading to an imbalance in reproductive hormones.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment for menopause symptoms. It adds back the hormones estrogen and progesterone that drop during menopause. Using a combination of estrogen and progestin is also a common way to treat hirsutism and acne in people with PCOS.

Hyperandrogenism is when a woman has too much of the male hormones like testosterone, androsterone, and androstenedione. These extra hormones affect a woman’s body and are a sign of PCOS.

Hyperinsulinemia means having too much insulin in the blood. It’s not the same as diabetes, but it’s often linked to type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Hyperinsulinemia also plays a role in many cases of PCOS.

Hyperlipidemia means having high levels of fats or fat-carrying proteins in the blood. It describes both the test result and the different conditions that can cause it. Women with PCOS often have a type of fat imbalance called dyslipidemia, which includes low HDL (“good” cholesterol) and high triglycerides, as well as high LDL and non-HDL cholesterol. These issues are usually more severe in women with PCOS.

Hypoglycemia happens when your blood sugar level is lower than normal. Besides having symptoms like irregular periods and too much testosterone, many women with PCOS say they also feel symptoms that they think are due to low blood sugar.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis is a system that manages female reproduction. If the HPO axis doesn’t work properly, it can cause ovulation problems, which the World Health Organization (WHO) divides into three groups. Group I includes disorders where the hypothalamus doesn’t work well called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Group II includes disorders with normal hormone levels but are linked to various hormone-related issues. Group III includes disorders with high hormone levels due to reduced ovarian function.

Infertility means difficulty getting pregnant after trying for a year. It can be caused by things like PCOS, problems with ovulation, endometriosis, or having a low sperm count or testosterone. The chance of infertility goes up as you get older.

Inositol is a type of sugar that our bodies make and is also in some foods. There are nine types, but myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are the ones you mostly see in supplements. Studies show that taking inositol can help the body better use insulin. This might help women with PCOS have more regular periods, better ovulation, and increased chances of getting pregnant.

Insulin resistance is a condition where the body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin, or they reduce the number of insulin receptors because of too much insulin in the blood. Many people with PCOS experience insulin resistance.

Insulin-sensitizers like metformin, and sometimes rosiglitazone or pioglitazone, are medications given to women with PCOS. They can be used alone or to help Clomifene Citrate work better.

Intermittent fasting is a way to eat that involves cycling between periods of not eating and eating as usual. There are different methods, like fasting every other day, doing the 5:2 diet (fasting for two days a week), or limiting eating to certain hours each day. Some people suggest it as a diet for those with PCOS, but since keeping blood sugar stable is important, it might not be the best choice for them.

Irregular menstruation is when a woman’s period doesn’t follow a regular schedule. This can mean the time between periods is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, or it might involve unexpected bleeding between periods. Several things can cause this, like stress, weight changes, or smoking.

The ketogenic diet means eating very few carbs and instead eating more fats so your body uses fat for energy. In the short term, this diet might help hormone problems often linked with PCOS.

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a surgery to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and can help trigger ovulation. It involves using heat or a laser to remove small sections of the ovaries. This procedure is not frequently performed.

A lipid profile, also called a lipid panel, is a set of blood tests that check for unusual levels of fats in the blood. Women with PCOS often have higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and non-HDL cholesterol, in addition to changes in triglycerides and HDL (good cholesterol), no matter their body weight.

LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is a type of particle in your blood. Lipoproteins are made of fats and proteins, and they help carry fats through your bloodstream. People with PCOS might have serious cholesterol issues, like higher LDL and triglycerides, and lower HDL levels.

Luteinizing hormone, or LH, is made by cells in the front part of the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus controls how much LH is made by releasing another hormone. In women of reproductive age, a quick increase in LH, called an LH surge, causes ovulation and helps form the corpus luteum. Women with PCOS often have high LH levels.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that happen together, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. This syndrome includes having at least three of these five issues: belly fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low levels of good cholesterol. About 33% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, once called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a type of long-term liver problem. It’s identified when there’s too much fat in the liver and at least one risk factor related to metabolism. This liver condition is common in people with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Obesity is when someone has too much body fat. For adults, a BMI of 30 or more usually means obesity. Many people with PCOS are overweight or obese, ranging from 38% to 88%. The exact reason why PCOS and obesity are connected isn’t clear.

Oligomenorrhea is when someone has menstrual periods that come less often. Usually, periods happen more than 35 days apart, with fewer than 9 periods in a year, even if they were regular before. The periods might be lighter or shorter and not follow a regular schedule. This often happens in women with polycystic ovaries.

An ovarian cyst is a sac filled with fluid inside the ovary. Most of the time, they don’t cause any symptoms, but sometimes they can lead to bloating, pain in the lower belly, or lower back pain. Most cysts aren’t dangerous. However, if a cyst bursts or twists the ovary, it can cause a lot of pain.

Ovarian follicles are tiny fluid-filled sacs located in a woman’s ovaries. They release hormones that affect the menstrual cycle. When women start puberty, they have about 300,000 to 400,000 of these follicles. Each follicle can potentially release an egg for fertilization.

Doctors use the size of ovaries, known as ovarian volume, to check for different health conditions. It helps them understand ovarian health, diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome, assess tumor risks, and evaluate pelvic anatomy. They usually rely on imaging techniques like ultrasound and MRI to measure ovarian volume. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) are identified on an ultrasound by finding 12 or more small follicles in each ovary, each measuring 2-9 mm, or by detecting increased ovarian volume over 10 ml.

A woman with ovulatory problems doesn’t release an egg every month. PCOS is a common cause of these issues.

Oxidative stress happens when there’s an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can damage cells. This stress is linked to multiple health conditions. Pollution and cigarette smoke can increase oxidative stress, while eating foods high in antioxidants can help lower it. Studies show that people with PCOS have higher levels of oxidative stress.

The various types of PCOS are called phenotypes and they are: Type A has high levels of male hormones, irregular periods, and cysts on the ovaries. Type B has high male hormones and irregular periods. Type C has high male hormones and cysts on the ovaries. Type D has irregular periods and cysts on the ovaries.

Progesterone is a natural hormone in the body that plays a role in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and development of embryos in humans and other species. It is part of the steroid hormone group called progestogens. If someone has PCOS, the levels of different reproductive hormones might be off. Some, like LH, testosterone, DHEAS, androstenedione, and prolactin, might be too high. Others, like FSH and progesterone, could be too low.

A progestogen, also known as a progestagen, gestagen, or gestogen, is a medicine that mimics the natural female hormone progesterone. A progestin is a man-made version of this hormone. The progestin-only pill (POP), or minipill, has progestin but no estrogen. Similar to combined oral contraceptives (COCs), POPs can aid in managing hormonal issues in people with PCOS.

Prolactin is a hormone that helps with making breast milk and developing breast tissue. If there’s too much prolactin in the blood, it can cause issues like irregular periods, trouble getting pregnant, and problems with erections. Some people with PCOS might have high levels of prolactin.

Rosiglitazone is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. It can be taken by itself or with other medications like metformin or sulfonylureas. It may also help with high male hormone levels and insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

Sex hormone-binding globulin, also known as sex steroid-binding globulin, is a protein that attaches to male and female hormones. When it is made by certain cells in the testicles, it’s called androgen-binding protein. People with PCOS often have lower levels of SHBG.

Spironolactone, also known as Aldactone, is a medicine that helps remove extra fluid from the body. It’s mainly used for people with heart problems, liver issues, or kidney disease. Additionally, it can block certain hormones, which makes it helpful for women with PCOS.

Testosterone is the main male hormone that controls how males develop distinct sex traits, helps in making sperm, and affects fertility. Its influence starts in the fetus. In the first six weeks, male and female reproductive tissues are the same. Women with PCOS often have hormone imbalances, including high levels of testosterone.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are medicines that help the body use insulin better. For people with PCOS, TZDs have two main benefits: they make the body more sensitive to insulin and reduce how much insulin is made, and they lower the production or effects of male hormones in the ovaries and fat tissue.

A transvaginal ultrasound is a standard imaging test used to check problems with your reproductive organs. It can reveal changes in your uterus, ovaries, or nearby structures. It is performed by a medical practitioner using an imaging wand that is inserted into the vagina.

Triglycerides are a kind of fat in your blood. When you eat, your body saves extra calories as triglycerides in fat cells. Between meals, hormones release these triglycerides to give you energy. Women with PCOS often have abnormal lipid levels, like high low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Virilization happens when a female shows male-like features because of male hormones or when a baby is born with signs of male hormone exposure. Sometimes, the ovaries get bigger due to certain cysts, like those in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause virilization, but these cases are usually mild.

Vitamin D deficiency happens when there’s not enough vitamin D in the body. This often occurs when people don’t get enough sunlight, especially the kind with ultraviolet B rays. Women with PCOS are often found to have low vitamin D levels.

Weight management involves habits and methods that help someone reach and keep a healthy weight. This usually includes ongoing lifestyle changes like healthy eating and regular workouts. Studies show that losing a little weight (at least 5% of body weight) can help with hormone, reproductive, and metabolism problems in overweight or obese women with PCOS. It can improve issues like high androgen levels, insulin resistance, and overall metabolism.