Molecular Mysteries of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder of women of reproductive age, affecting from 5–10% of women in this age group (1, 2). The symptoms of PCOS include hirsutism and acne, evidence of excessive androgen production, menstrual disturbances and, consequently, anovulation and infertility. Symptoms often appear soon after menarche, and biochemical abnormalities may be present at the time of adrenarche. A common feature of PCOS is follicular maturation arrest resulting in the accumulation of small subcortical follicle cysts and increased ovarian stromal volume, yielding a characteristic ultrasound image and a basis for the most commonly used appellation for the syndrome. Insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, both independent of obesity and unrelated to the actions of androgens on insulin dynamics, are strongly associated with PCOS (3, 4). Physicians have only recently come to appreciate the potential long-term consequences of PCOS, which include type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (5). Moreover, PCOS women who become pregnant have an increased risk of preeclampsia (6). In addition, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer also occur frequently in women with PCOS who do not receive treatment. Therefore, PCOS is a major women’s health issue with ramifications well beyond the reproductive endocrine abnormalities that usually bring women with PCOS to medical attention. Indeed, significant health…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
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