Many women of child-bearing age have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which causes problems associated with the hormones that can create the heart-breaking symptom of infertility.  With improper hormone balances, women who suffer from this disorder are often instructed by their physicians to try such remedies as metformin or birth control pills to encourage the onset of a more regular menstrual cycle.  The downside to these treatments is their side effects of weight gain, stomach discomfort, sickness and diarrhoea.

Patients who are taking birth control hormones for the ongoing management of PCOS, soon find themselves plagued with the need for more pills and regular injections to treat their PCOS as well.  Very quickly, it can turn into a vicious cycle of the need to take one medicine to treat the problems that another drug creates.

The following drugs are also recommended to treat the symptoms of hormonal therapy.

• Vania (Eflornithine), which is a topical cream that retards hair growth; however, it must be used religiously and will stop working when you stop applying the cream.
• Clomid, Serophene (Clomiphene), drugs used to increase fertility.
• LH and FSH (Gonadotropin), which are also used to promote greater fertility and is applied in the form of injection.
• Glucophage (Metformin), which is a drug used in patients who have diabetes to control insulin and androgen levels. This treatment will help with unwanted weight gain.

As a last resort, there is a surgical method called ovarian drilling some women have found to be successful in restoring or improving ovarian activity.