: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal disturbance affecting the entire body with numerous implications for a woman's long-term health and quality of life. PCOS is the most common hormonal disturbance of pre-menopausal women and is a leading cause of infertility, but infertility is not the only problem PCOS creates. Common symptoms unrelated to fertility include obesity, abnormal hair growth, skin problems, and abnormal menstrual periods. Additionally, we now know that PCOS has far longer-term health consequences. Women with PCOS have at least 7 times the risk of heart attack and heart disease than other women, are at risk for hypertension, and by the age of 40, 40% of PCOS patients develop Type 2 diabetes.

Because often individual symptoms of the syndrome have been presented one at a time to a variety of professionals (gynecologists, dermatologists, internists, hair removal specialists) PCOS has been in the closet for far too long, underestimated both in prevalence and importance. The disease is beginning to receive the attention it deserves through interest and research. Even popular women's magazines including, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Redbook, and Ladies Home Journal have published articles on PCOS. There are hundreds of visitors each day to sites on the internet dedicated to PCOS. Yet there has been no comprehensive source of information available to PCOS sufferers... until now. Dr. Thatcher's book is an exciting first in this field!

About The Author:
Samuel S. Thatcher, M.D., Ph.D. began his career in reproductive science in 1973 when studying the detrimental effects of aging on reproduction. This culminated in a Ph.D. in human anatomy/reproductive biology at West Virginia University, where he simultaneously received his M.D. A year of post doctoral research was spent between Edinburgh and Johns Hopkins Universities. On completion of his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Yale/New Haven Hospital, he returned to Edinburgh University as Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine and Medical Director of the IVF program of Edinburgh University and the Royal Infirmary. He completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and served on the faculty in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at Yale before returning to East Tennessee. His research interests continue in reproductive aging, ovarian function, assisted reproduction and early human development. He is a member of over 20 national and international societies and has authored numerous medical journal articles. Dr. Thatcher is an active consumer advocate, serving on the Advisory Board of The American Infertility Association as well as on the Advisory Board of INCIID (the International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination) for which he co-moderates the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) forum on INCIID and writes the internet column Thatcher's Thoughts.