1514 citations,
January 2012 in “Fertility and sterility” Experts agree that PCOS affects women's health in complex ways, but more research is needed to understand and treat it effectively.
633 citations,
September 1998 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” PCOS affects a similar percentage of Black and White women in the Southeastern United States.
378 citations,
September 1998 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” PCOS affects about 4% of women in the southeastern U.S. equally across Black and White populations.
343 citations,
December 2008 in “Endocrine Reviews” Metformin helps with menstrual cycles and insulin levels in PCOS but is less effective for hair growth, diabetes prevention, and weight loss, and may improve fertility and reduce diabetes risk.
284 citations,
February 2008 in “Pediatrics” Chemicals and body size might change when puberty starts and progresses, but more research is needed to confirm this.
249 citations,
November 2003 in “Clinical endocrinology” Insulin resistance is a key factor in polycystic ovary syndrome, but genetics may also contribute.
218 citations,
January 2012 in “Advances in Urology” The document concludes that the 5 alpha-reductase enzymes are important in steroid metabolism and related to various human diseases, with inhibitors used to treat conditions like male pattern baldness and prostate issues.
187 citations,
December 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Estrogens can improve skin aging but carry risks; more research is needed on safer treatments.
171 citations,
October 1990 in “Alcoholism/Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research” The document concludes that the exact way alcohol causes harm to fetal development is unknown, but it significantly affects nutrient transport to the fetus and a safe level of alcohol during pregnancy is not determined.
169 citations,
October 2004 in “Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology/Baillière's best practice and research in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology” Lower doses of treatments for hirsutism and acne in PCOS are effective and cause fewer side effects.
162 citations,
April 2017 in “The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology” Testosterone therapy in transgender men has both desired effects like increased muscle mass and potential health risks such as higher cardiovascular risk.
155 citations,
April 2006 in “The American Journal of Medicine” Women with PCOS have heart-related issues not because of obesity, but due to insulin resistance and low adiponectin levels.
145 citations,
November 2010 in “Fertility and Sterility” Different types of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have varying severity, with Type I being the most severe and common.
131 citations,
October 2004 in “Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology” The conclusion is that PCOS is caused by ovarian sensitivity to hormones and disrupted hormone control, possibly due to ovarian factors, and more research is needed.
97 citations,
July 2006 in “Dermatologic therapy” The document concludes that accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment are important for skin problems in women with PCOS.
96 citations,
April 2007 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Women with type 1 diabetes often have polycystic ovary syndrome and excess male hormones, which are frequently undiagnosed.
90 citations,
March 2013 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Women with PCOS have more body fat and thicker fat layers in certain abdominal areas than women without PCOS.
81 citations,
July 2007 in “Fertility and Sterility” Testosterone therapy seems safe for postmenopausal women for a few years, but more research is needed for long-term effects.
78 citations,
November 2008 in “Fertility and Sterility” Amenorrhea is relatively rare and initial testing should check FSH, TSH, and prolactin levels.
67 citations,
February 2010 in “Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica” Hirsutism is a strong sign of high male hormones and metabolic problems in women with PCOS, but acne and hair loss are not.
67 citations,
July 2006 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Androgens cause skin issues like acne and hair growth in women, often due to PCOS, and can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.
64 citations,
January 2009 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Myo-inositol helps improve skin conditions and metabolic profiles in young women with PCOS.
62 citations,
August 2013 in “Steroids” PCOS symptoms change with age; younger women have higher androgen levels and less metabolic issues, while older women face more metabolic challenges despite milder PCOS symptoms.
60 citations,
November 2014 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Dermatologists play a key role in treating skin symptoms of PCOS like dark patches, excess hair, acne, and hair loss.
60 citations,
September 2001 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Insulin resistance contributes to hormone imbalances in many women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
56 citations,
November 2016 in “Aesthetic surgery journal” The document concludes that the effectiveness of platelet rich plasma in aesthetic surgery is unclear due to inconsistent reporting and lack of objective measures in studies.
53 citations,
September 2014 in “Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology” Different types of PCOS have different levels of metabolic problems, with the most severe type showing the highest disturbances.
50 citations,
April 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective in reducing hair growth and androgen levels, but may decrease libido.
49 citations,
May 2009 in “Maturitas” Short-term testosterone therapy in women seems safe with few mild side effects, but long-term effects need more research.
46 citations,
September 2016 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” Hormonal treatments are effective for severe or persistent acne and should be used with other acne therapies, considering potential side effects.