Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Understanding and Management

The document from 2003 discussed Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common but poorly understood endocrinopathy characterized by unexplained hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation and significant peripheral resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake. The cause of PCOS was unclear, with no identified molecular or genetic mechanism explaining most cases. Symptoms included infertility, menstrual disorders, and hirsutism. Women with PCOS were found to be at an increased risk for diabetes, endometrial cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Treatment was primarily symptom-based due to a lack of clear treatment guidelines from randomized, controlled trials. However, lifestyle interventions and pharmaceutical treatments aimed at improving insulin sensitivity were noted to improve multiple symptoms of the syndrome, including ovulation and hirsutism.