Normally, during an individual's menstrual cycle, many small follicles grow in an individual's ovaries and form eggs. At mid-cycle, or ovulation, one egg is released from one of the ovaries, and each of the other follicles break down.

For individuals with PCOS, ovulation does not occur properly, and an egg is not released. The follicles don't break down, and instead fill with fluid and turn into cysts on the ovaries, hence the name poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. The cysts are not harmful, but they lead to hormone imbalances that can negatively affect fertility if left untreated.

Higher than normal levels of insulin are believed to stimulate the ovary to produce excess testosterone, thereby altering the level of other hormones and impairing ovulation.

Learn more about Boston IVF's PCOS Program here: https://www.bostonivf.com/treatments/pcos/

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ABOUT BOSTON IVF
Boston IVF is one of the largest and most experienced fertility networks in the United States, with more than 125,000 babies born since 1986. Founded as one of the nation's first private practice IVF centers, the Boston IVF network has grown to include over 30 reproductive endocrinologists across 30 centers throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah. A renowned innovator of reproductive technologies, advanced protocols, and cutting-edge research, Boston IVF has achieved numerous "firsts" in the field of reproductive care.