Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as 18% of all childbearing-age women. The condition occurs when a woman’s body produces too much of a group of hormones called androgens, chiefly testosterone. Menstrual irregularity, obesity, and even infertility can result. The first line of treatment is typically hormonal birth control, said UIC professor of nutrition Krista Varady. But there can be negative side effects to mood, libido, and metabolism, plus an increased stroke risk in some people, Varady said.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
