ABSTRACT
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder impacting women of reproductive age. The current diagnostic criteria for the endo- crinopathy are hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation in premenopausal women without underlying androgen-secreting neoplasms, nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia, pituitary or thyroid disease. It is a disorder of exclusion and one of unknown etiology. However, strong evidence of familial clustering suggests a genetic component to the development of PCOS. A recent population-based study showed a prevalence in premenopausal white and African American women of about 5%. For over seven decades, investigators have recognized and scrutinized various aspects of the syndrome. More recently, it has become apparent that the syndrome has major metabolic consequences secondary to insulin resistance and that insulin resistance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the reproductive abnormalities. The syndrome is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in premenopausal women, with prevalence rates sevenfold greater than the ~1% prevalence in reproductively normal premenopausal women. Overall prevalence rates of glucose intolerance and type 2 DM of 40% have been reported in several U.S. studies of PCOS women.
