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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Joop S.e. LavenDaria LiznevaDaria LiznevaRichard S. LegroRicardo AzzizAndrea DunaifHelena J. TeedeBarbara Natterson-horowtizZi-jiang ChenEnrico CarminaBulent O. Yildiz

subject

OvulationHirsutismmedicine.medical_specialtyendocrine system diseases030209 endocrinology & metabolismOvaryPathogenesis03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineInsulin resistanceSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingRisk FactorsInternal medicineAcne VulgarismedicineHumansCongenital adrenal hyperplasiaObesityAbdominal obesityhirsutism030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicinebusiness.industryOvaryHyperandrogenismAlopeciaGeneral Medicinemedicine.diseasePolycystic ovaryfemale genital diseases and pregnancy complicationsEndocrinologymedicine.anatomical_structureAndrogensQuality of LifeFemalemedicine.symptomHyperandrogenismbusinessPolycystic Ovary Syndrome

description

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-20% of women of reproductive age worldwide. The condition is characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) - with excessive androgen production by the ovaries being a key feature of PCOS. Metabolic dysfunction characterized by insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia is evident in the vast majority of affected individuals. PCOS increases the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes and other pregnancy-related complications, venous thromboembolism, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events and endometrial cancer. PCOS is a diagnosis of exclusion, based primarily on the presence of hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and PCOM. Treatment should be tailored to the complaints and needs of the patient and involves targeting metabolic abnormalities through lifestyle changes, medication and potentially surgery for the prevention and management of excess weight, androgen suppression and/or blockade, endometrial protection, reproductive therapy and the detection and treatment of psychological features. This Primer summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the epidemiology, mechanisms and pathophysiology, diagnosis, screening and prevention, management and future investigational directions of the disorder.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-01-01Nature Reviews Disease Primers
10.1038/nrdp.2016.57https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.57