Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Presentation, and Treatment - A Mini-Review Article

March 2021 in “ Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research ”

Dušan Simić, Katarina Stefanović, Dušan Djurić, Tamara Nikolic Turnic

androgen excess elevated serum androgen concentrations hormonal imbalance insulin resistance hyperinsulinemia

TLDR PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder with no clear cause or single diagnostic test, and current treatments focus on symptoms.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder characterized by clinical signs of androgen excess, elevated serum androgen concentrations, irregular menses, and infertility, with its root cause being hormonal imbalance, such as insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. This review, which included 12 randomized clinical intervention trials on young women published within the last five years, found that the pathophysiology of PCOS is complex and not fully understood. No single test was available for its diagnosis, and treatment options were limited and mainly targeted the symptoms. PCOS patients had higher rates of metabolic complications, including cardiovascular disease, but the impact on mortality was unclear. More research, particularly prospective epidemiologic studies, were needed.

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