PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women, affecting approximately 10-13% of this population worldwide.1 Diagnosis requires two of three Rotterdam criteria: oligo- or anovulation, clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism (elevated androgens causing acne, hirsutism, or irregular cycles), and polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound.2 Insulin resistance, present in the majority of affected women regardless of BMI, is a central pathophysiologic driver that sustains androgen overproduction, follicular arrest, and anovulation. In NaProTECHNOLOGY and RRM practice, PCOS is approached restoratively: lifestyle modification and dietary changes to address insulin resistance (a 5% reduction in body weight can restore ovulation in overweight patients), insulin sensitization with agents such as metformin or myo-inositol, cycle charting and ovulation monitoring, targeted hormonal support, and in refractory cases, laparoscopic ovarian wedge resection. Long-term hormonal suppression is not a restorative treatment for PCOS.
Cited in this entry
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459251/
- Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14688154/
Discussed in
Research library
- Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in first-degree relatives of patients with PCOS
- Comparison of two insulin sensitizers, metformin and myo-inositol, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Determinants of abnormal gonadotropin secretion in clinically defined women with polycystic ovary syndrome
- Comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial
- Effect of opioid blockade on insulin and growth hormone (GH) secretion in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: the heterogeneity of impaired GH secretion is related to both obesity and hyperinsulinism
Patient questions
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.