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If you deal with unstable menstrual periods, facial hair and acne, you may be one of the 5% to 26% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS is common among women between the ages of 15 and 44, or during their childbearing years. Most patients are diagnosed when they struggle to get pregnant in their 20s and 30s. In fact, PCOS is the most common reason for infertility. The disorder is caused by an imbalance in reproductive hormones, which hinders a woman's egg release and ovulation cycle.

Since PCOS is a health problem that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age, it's important for you to know the facts.

Signs and symptoms

PCOS can trigger a variety of signs and symptoms in women, such as:

• Irregular periods.

• Cysts on the ovaries.

• Weight gain or trouble losing weight.

• Hair growth on the face, chest and back.

• Loss of hair on the scalp.

• Bad acne.

• Oily skin.

Many complications

Although infertility is one of the biggest complications of PCOS, the condition also can cause problems once a woman does get pregnant: Her chances for miscarriages, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia—dangerously high blood pressure—go up.

The complications go beyond the reproductive system alone. Women with PCOS are at risk of developing anxiety, depression, sleep problems, obesity, uterine cancer, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and diabetes and insulin resistance.

Treatment can help

If you think you have PCOS, the first step is to talk to your OB/GYN. Your treatment plan will be based on your particular symptoms and needs.

Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; National Institutes of Health; Office on Women's Health