What Is the Male Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotype?

The commentary discusses the male phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), traditionally considered a female disease. Using a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on genetic variants from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS), Zhu and colleagues identified genetic risks for PCOS in men. The study found that higher PRS scores in men were associated with increased risks for obesity, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and androgenic alopecia. These findings suggest that PCOS-related traits in men are partly genetic and highlight the importance of family history in disease risk evaluation. The study underscores the need for larger GWAS to further understand PCOS phenotypes and their underlying pathways.