Consensus on women’s health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the Amsterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group
January 2012
in “Fertility and sterility”
TLDR Experts agree that PCOS affects women's health in complex ways, but more research is needed to understand and treat it effectively.
The third PCOS consensus workshop group, which met in Amsterdam in October 2010, focused on women's health issues related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The group acknowledged the lack of consensus on diagnosing PCOS in adolescents, given that irregular menses are common after menarche. Hirsutism was recognized as a reliable indicator of hyperandrogenism, but no effective treatment for alopecia was identified. The efficacy of treatments for hirsutism, including oral contraceptive pills and antiandrogens, remains unclear. The workshop also noted that menstrual irregularities are prevalent in PCOS, but the rate of spontaneous ovulation is unknown. The document further discussed the benefits of oral contraceptives for PCOS patients, the increased risk of psychological disorders, and the heightened risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS. It was found that menstrual irregularities correlate with increased metabolic risk and PCOS severity. Metformin was reported to have no benefit for fertility or live-birth rates in anovulatory PCOS. Additionally, the document highlighted ethnic variations in PCOS expression and the need for further research on the natural history of menstrual irregularity, long-term outcomes for children of PCOS patients, and the impact of specific diets around conception.
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