title: Polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, CB-2209, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.|Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Azziz
authors: Department of Health Sciences and Mother and Child Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Carmina
authors: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.|Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China.
authors: ZiJiang
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Dunaif
authors: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of OBGYN, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Joop S E
authors: JS
authors: Laven
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Richard S
authors: RS
authors: Legro
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, CB-2209, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.|Department of Reproductive Health Protection, Scientific Center of Family Health and Human Reproduction, Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
authors: Daria
authors: D
authors: Lizneva
authors: Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Natterson-Horowtiz
authors: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University in partnership with Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Helena J
authors: HJ
authors: Teede
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Bulent O
authors: BO
authors: Yildiz
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000209:etiology; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens