What is the diffrence of PCO and ovarian cyst?

Question

What is the diffrence of PCO and ovarian cyst?

Answer 1

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that can affect a woman's menstrual cycle, ability to have children, hormones, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. With PCOS, women typically have:

high levels of androgens (AN-druh-junz). These are sometimes called male hormones, although females also make them.

missed or irregular periods

many small cysts (sists) in their ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.

http://www.4woman.gov/FAQ/pcos.htm

On the ovary, different types of cysts can form. The most common type of ovarian cyst is called a functional cyst, which often forms during the normal menstrual cycle. Each month, a woman's ovaries grow tiny cysts that hold the eggs. When an egg is mature, the sac breaks open to release the egg, so it can travel through the fallopian tube for fertilization. Then the sac dissolves. In one type of functional cyst, called a follicular cyst, the sac doesn't break open to release the egg and may continue to grow. This type of cyst usually disappears within one to three months. A corpus luteum cyst, another type of functional cyst, forms if the sac doesn’t dissolve. Instead, the sac seals off after the egg is released. Fluid then builds up inside of it. This type of cyst usually goes away on its own after a few weeks. However, it can grow to almost four inches and may bleed or twist the ovary and cause pain. Clomid or Serophene, which are drugs used to induce ovulation, can raise the risk of getting this type of cyst. These cysts are almost never associated with cancer.

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/ovarian_cysts....

Answer 2

PCOS is more about hormonal imbalances. (matter of fact some PCOSers don't even have cysts on their ovaries)  Ovarian cysts are just that, cysts.

Answer 3

PCO is many cyst, and a cyst is usually just one.   PCO is far more serious of a condition

Answer 4

PCO is a syndrome or disease that is much more than just having cysts on your ovaries. PCO is started by becoming Insulin resistant (they don't know why that happens). In turn your body doesn't process sugars real good and puts out ALOT of insulin into the blood which in turn effects the ovaries.... it is just much to much to put here but I will put a link for you about PCO.

Ovarian cysts can be part of PCO but they are typically are functional (not disease related) and occur as a normal process of ovulation.