TLDR The document says that understanding the causes of PCOS is important for treatment, especially in distinguishing the syndrome from just having cystic ovaries, and that losing weight is key for obese women with PCOS.
The document from 1996 discusses Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), suggesting that it results from various pathogenic mechanisms that were just starting to be understood at the time. It highlights the importance of differentiating between polycystic ovaries and the full syndrome for effective treatment, especially in cases involving menstrual irregularities. The document also emphasizes that for obese women with PCOS, weight reduction should be a central component of any treatment plan, regardless of whether the objective is to address hirsutism (excessive hair growth) or infertility.
34 citations,
January 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” 21 citations,
September 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” 
157 citations,
April 1994 in “Clinical endocrinology” Androgens can cause hair growth in some areas and hair loss on the scalp.
187 citations,
January 1994 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and may help with baldness, but effects on sexual function and male fetuses are unclear.
43 citations,
December 1993 in “Annals of internal medicine” Flutamide, a medication used for excessive hair growth, can cause severe liver damage in women.
116 citations,
May 1992 in “The American Journal of Medicine” Flutamide rarely causes liver toxicity in prostate cancer patients.
68 citations,
May 1991 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Both cyproterone acetate and spironolactone effectively reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.
46 citations,
August 1990 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Ketoconazole reduced hair growth and improved acne in women, but caused side effects needing careful monitoring.
48 citations,
April 2015 in “PLOS ONE” Excessive hair growth affects the quality of life of Iranian women with PCOS the most.
10 citations,
June 2010 in “Fertility and Sterility” Patients with PCOS tend to score their hirsutism higher than clinicians, making self-scoring less useful for diagnosis.
1 citations,
January 2001 in “Drug and therapeutics bulletin” The document concludes that management strategies for PCOS are important due to its common occurrence and associated health risks.
