TLDR Women with PCOS may take longer to get pregnant but can have a normal family size, and should manage their overall health to reduce long-term health risks.
The document from May 19, 2012, reviews health and fertility issues in WHO group 2 anovulatory women, with a focus on those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It finds that PCOS, a common cause of infertility, has a multifactorial etiology with genetic predisposition. Women with PCOS may have increased time to pregnancy but not necessarily reduced family size or higher miscarriage rates. Clomiphene citrate is the first-line treatment for anovulatory infertility in PCOS, followed by gonadotrophins and laparoscopic ovarian surgery, with aromatase inhibitors like letrozole also showing promise. The document stresses the importance of monitoring general health in these patients due to long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risks, advocating for early prevention and healthy lifestyle changes. It also notes that modest weight loss can restore fecundity in overweight PCOS patients. Specific prevalence rates of skin conditions in Turkish women with PCOS are provided, and the document discusses the risks of multiple pregnancies and long-term health issues like endometrial cancer and Type 2 diabetes associated with PCOS. The need for careful ovulation induction and vigilance for long-term health risks is emphasized.
378 citations,
November 2011 in “Human reproduction update” Experts recommend using evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat hirsutism, focusing on symptoms and underlying causes.
42 citations,
April 2011 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy” Flutamide effectively treats female pattern hair loss with low doses showing good liver tolerance.
815 citations,
April 2010 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Women with PCOS should be screened for heart disease risk and manage their health to prevent it.
67 citations,
February 2010 in “Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica” Hirsutism is a strong sign of high male hormones and metabolic problems in women with PCOS, but acne and hair loss are not.
81 citations,
March 2009 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Effective hair loss treatment in women requires correct diagnosis and can include medications like minoxidil, antiandrogens, and treatments for underlying conditions like PCOS.
150 citations,
February 2008 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Antiandrogens are somewhat effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women.
298 citations,
July 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” About 6.5% of young Caucasian women in Spain have polycystic ovary syndrome.
378 citations,
September 1998 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” PCOS affects about 4% of women in the southeastern U.S. equally across Black and White populations.
1 citations,
January 2022 in “IntechOpen eBooks” Different PCOS types respond uniquely to infertility treatments, with some having lower pregnancy rates and higher risks of complications.
