198 citations,
July 2011 in “Cochrane library” Lifestyle changes can improve body composition, excess male hormone levels, and insulin resistance in women with PCOS.
149 citations,
December 2007 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Women with PCOS have overall higher body fat, not abnormal fat placement, and more insulin resistance.
129 citations,
January 2019 in “Clinical medicine insights” Obesity worsens PCOS symptoms, and PCOS may lead to more weight gain; managing both requires a holistic approach that includes mental health.
113 citations,
April 1999 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Cyproterone acetate-estrogen most effective for hirsutism, but consider side effects and patient needs.
111 citations,
November 2010 in “Human Reproduction” South Asian women with PCOS are more likely to have metabolic issues and central obesity, and simple measures like waist size and blood pressure can help identify these risks early.
104 citations,
October 1999 in “The Journal of Urology” Finasteride doesn't harm male fertility or sperm quality, but may slightly reduce ejaculate volume.
84 citations,
November 2003 in “European journal of endocrinology” Women with androgenic alopecia are more likely to have polycystic ovaries and higher androgen levels, which may indicate PCOS.
75 citations,
May 2013 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Zinc deficiency in children can cause skin issues and can be serious if not diagnosed and treated properly.
73 citations,
June 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Polycystic ovarian shape is a genetic sign of PCOS and its hormonal and metabolic features can be inherited.
71 citations,
November 2009 in “Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology” PCOS in teens is hard to diagnose, linked to genetics and lifestyle, and managed with weight loss and medication.
69 citations,
September 2006 in “Human Reproduction” Women with PCOS have fewer activated T cells in their ovarian follicles, which might affect fertility.
65 citations,
May 2010 in “Current Women's Health Reviews” Oxidative stress is a key factor in the development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and weight management can improve symptoms.
61 citations,
January 2017 in “Human Reproduction Open” The review recommends hormone replacement therapy for women with premature ovarian insufficiency to manage symptoms and protect health, with specific approaches for different groups.
60 citations,
May 2018 in “Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine” Women with PCOS often experience anxiety, depression, and a lower quality of life.
57 citations,
February 1983 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Dihydrotestosterone increases the activity of an enzyme in pubic skin cells that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
46 citations,
January 2008 in “Climacteric” Testosterone therapy can help improve sexual desire and function in postmenopausal women but may cause side effects and is not FDA-approved for this use.
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.
41 citations,
January 2020 in “Journal of Ovarian Research” Quercetin may help with PCOS symptoms, but more research is needed.
32 citations,
April 2016 in “Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research” Women with severe types of PCOS are more likely to have metabolic syndrome, and belly fat is a key predictor of this risk.
31 citations,
January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” Low testosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors can harm men's metabolic and sexual health; testosterone therapy may help, but discussing 5α-RIs' side effects is important.
31 citations,
January 2014 in “Clinical Endocrinology” The study suggests that being overweight or obese, not PCOS itself, is strongly linked to insulin resistance.
29 citations,
February 2018 in “Genetics research international” Certain genetic variations are linked to increased androgen levels in PCOS, but more research is needed to understand these connections fully.
29 citations,
September 2004 in “Fertility and Sterility” Intermittent low-dose finasteride works as well as daily use for treating excessive hair growth in women.
28 citations,
October 2013 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Ovarian SAHA syndrome makes women with PCOS more resistant to insulin and increases their risk of blood sugar problems.
28 citations,
February 2011 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Women with PCOS have unhealthy changes in their cholesterol particles that are not related to their body weight.
26 citations,
November 2009 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Certain gene variations are not a major cause of male infertility in Nigerian men.
25 citations,
December 2017 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Birth control pills combined with bicalutamide are more effective at reducing excessive hair growth in women with PCOS than birth control pills alone.
24 citations,
October 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility” People with hair loss may have different levels of certain hormones due to changes in hormone processing.
23 citations,
April 1999 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” All treatments reduce hair growth; low dose flutamide most effective with fewer side effects.
22 citations,
October 2017 in “Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology” Many young Australian women think they have PCOS, but only a few are diagnosed correctly, causing unnecessary worry.