Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a medical condition that has brought multiple specialists together. Gynecologists, endocrinologists, cardiologists, pediatricians, and dermatologists are all concerned with PCOS patients and share research data and design clinical trials to learn more about the syndrome.
Insulin resistance is a common feature of PCOS and is more marked in obese women, suggesting that PCOS and
obesity have a synergistic effect on the magnitude of the
insulin disorder.
Hyperinsulinemia associated with
insulin resistance has been causally linked to all features of the syndrome, such as
hyperandrogenism, reproductive disorders,
acne,
hirsutism, and metabolic disturbances. Women with PCOS should be evaluated for cardiovascular risk factors, such as
lipid profile and blood pressure. Modification of diet and lifestyle should be suggested to those who are obese. Several
insulin-lowering agents have been tested in the management of PCOS. In particular,
metformin is the only
drug currently in widespread clinical use for treatment of PCOS. In a high percentage of patients, treatment with
metformin is followed by regularization of menstrual cycle, reduction in
hyperandrogenism and in cardiovascular risk factors, and improvement in response to
therapies for induction of ovulation.