Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Facial hair and obesity in adolescent girls often are caused by a complex condition diagnosed only years later when the girls-turned-women discover another symptom: They can't get pregnant. The baffling disorder, called polycystic ovarian syndrome, is caused by the production of too many androgen hormones, such as testosterone. One of the leading causes of infertility, it affects an estimated 6% to 10% of U.S. women to varying degrees, though most are never diagnosed.

Facial hair and obesity in adolescent girls often are caused by a complex condition diagnosed only years later when the girls-turned-women discover another symptom: They can't get pregnant. The baffling disorder, called polycystic ovarian syndrome, is caused by the production of too many androgen hormones, such as testosterone. One of the leading causes of infertility, it affects an estimated 6% to 10% of U.S. women to varying degrees, though most are never diagnosed.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, affecting at least 5 million American women, has the rather startling symptoms of excessive facial hair, acne, high male hormone levels, irregular periods, infertility, significant weight gain and a propensity toward diabetes. These factors notwithstanding, it's believed to be vastly under-diagnosed.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, affecting at least 5 million American women, has the rather startling symptoms of excessive facial hair, acne, high male hormone levels, irregular periods, infertility, significant weight gain and a propensity toward diabetes. These factors notwithstanding, it's believed to be vastly under-diagnosed.

Men whose mothers ate a lot of beef during their pregnancy have a sperm count about 25% below normal and three times the normal risk of fertility problems, researchers reported Tuesday. The problem may be due to anabolic steroids used in the United States to fatten the cattle, Dr. Shanna H. Swan of the University of Rochester Medical Center reported in the journal Human Reproduction. It could also be due to pesticides and other environmental contaminants, she added.

There are things we'd rather not wax eloquent about with others: embarrassing things. Breath that isn't as fresh as it might be. Hair that sprouts where hair doesn't usually sprout on women. Rectal bleeding and hemorrhoids. Who, other than frat boys, giggling adolescents and possibly your ever-sharing Uncle Sid, relishes chatting about such things? Especially when they're happening to us.

Female warblers go gaga for potential mates who serenade them with extensive song repertoires. Red jungle hens favor a rooster not for his strutting, heft or fineness of feathers, but for the length of his comb and the brilliance of his wattle. The female scorpion fly is a stickler for symmetry, losing her head over a fella with wings identical in length, width and shape.

THIRTEEN-MONTH-OLD Solange Dorsainvil plays with toys made from wood and cloth, drinks from a Swiss-made aluminum sippy cup and teethes on kale stems and celery. Her life is as plastic-free as her mother, Celina Lyons, can make it. FOR THE RECORD: This article was previously posted with an incorrect publication date. It appeared in The Times on Sept. 10, 2007. — Celina, a Berkeley-based acupuncturist, has become increasingly worried about the possible toxic effects of plastics.