Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - Surgery

Surgery

Surgical treatment is occasionally used for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A part of an ovary is surgically damaged or removed, with the goal of stimulating ovulation.

Surgery Choices

• Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a surgical treatment that can trigger ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who have not responded to weight loss and fertility medicine. Electrocautery or a laser is used to destroy portions of the ovaries. Studies of women with PCOS have reported that ovarian drilling results in an 80% ovulation rate and a 50% pregnancy rate.¹¹ Younger women and those with a body mass index in the normal range are most likely to benefit from laparoscopic ovarian drilling.¹³

What To Think About

There is no known cure for PCOS. Surgery for PCOS may be recommended only if you have not responded to any other treatment for PCOS. There is some concern that ovarian surgery can cause scar tissue, which can lead to pain or more fertility problems.

A hysterectomy with or without a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy may be an option, and it may relieve abnormal vaginal bleeding and symptoms of PCOS and reduce your risk of cancer. But the cause of PCOS is also related to hormone and metabolic problems that may not be helped by removing your reproductive organs. Depending on your medical history, a hysterectomy for PCOS may be too risky because of obesity, heart disease, or diabetes.