How PCOS Can Affect Your Fertility, Your Appearance, and Your Health

September is PCOS Awareness Month. It’s a time to highlight just how common polycystic ovary syndrome is and how it can impact your reproductive health, appearance, and overall well-being. Find out more — and how expert care can make a difference.

Up to 12% of American women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It’s a hormonal condition that disrupts normal menstrual cycles and causes a variety of unpleasant symptoms — including infertility, weight gain, excess facial hair, and more.

Receiving a PCOS diagnosis can be upsetting, but you’re not alone. September is PCOS Awareness Month, and a diagnosis doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Our team at South Valley Women's Health Care offers infertility treatment in Bluffdale, Utah, and this month, we’re shedding light on the impact of PCOS and how treatment can help.

PCOS and fertility challenges

PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility, and the good news is that it’s also one of the most treatable. Since PCOS disrupts your menstrual cycle, it can make ovulation irregular — and if you don’t ovulate, you can’t get pregnant.

Despite common misconceptions, PCOS doesn’t have to mean infertility. With the right care, your menstrual cycles can become more regular and more predictable, and many women with PCOS can conceive successfully.

PCOS and your appearance

PCOS causes a shift in a few different hormones, and elevated androgen levels can contribute to unwanted changes in appearance. Common symptoms include excess facial hair, excess body hair, acne, and thinning scalp hair.

Metabolic health impacts of PCOS

PCOS can also increase your risk of insulin resistance and obesity, along with other health issues like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. These connections underscore why PCOS is not just a reproductive issue but also a broader health concern.

Why PCOS awareness matters

PCOS Awareness Month is a time to promote education and fight stigma, all with the goal to improve lives through earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and community support.

Despite being one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women, PCOS is still underdiagnosed and widely misunderstood. Many women live for years with unexplained symptoms like irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair growth, or difficulty losing weight before receiving a clear diagnosis.

PCOS presents differently in each person, and it’s often mistaken for other conditions or dismissed as “normal hormonal changes.” Unfortunately, delayed recognition means delayed treatment — leaving women struggling with fertility challenges, in addition to long-term health risks.

How treatment can help PCOS-related infertility

At South Valley Women's Health Care, we offer personalized treatment for women with PCOS. Attending regular well-woman exams to help with PCOS-related infertility allows our team to guide our patients through evidence-based interventions to manage symptoms.

Our services include comprehensive evaluations, ovulation-inducing medications, and advanced reproductive counseling designed to align with your body and your family planning goals. If PCOS has affected your ability to conceive, we’re here to provide hope, clear guidance, and personalized care every step of the way.

PCOS touches every aspect of your health, from fertility and appearance to long-term metabolic risks. Raising awareness, especially during PCOS Awareness Month, is key to breaking down misconceptions and ensuring women get the timely, compassionate care they need. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.