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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

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Hormonal therapies to induce a regular menstrual cycle and to help prevent the risk of endometrial cancer are usually successful, as are medications that reduce androgen actions.

The prognosis is variable among women with PCOS who undergo fertility treatments.

In women who are overweight or obese, ovulation can sometimes be achieved by moderate weight loss alone. Others may need medications or assisted reproductive technologies to try to conceive. Although the outlook for infertility treatments varies according to the woman's age and other medical conditions, studies show in general that about 80% of women with PCOS ovulate in response to oral clomiphene citrate (Clomid), and approximately 50% get pregnant. Assisted reproductive technologies can be successful for some women who do not conceive.

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