Endocrine Abstracts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder present in 5–15% of women in the reproductive age group. There have been a number of international consensus meetings that have focussed on diagnosis and management, with the third ESHRE/ASRM sponsored PCOS consensus workshop in 2010 looking at the various health aspects of PCOS, apart from the well known effects on reproduction. These include problems during adolescence, hirsutism and acne, menstrual cycle abnormalities, quality of life, ethnicity, long-term metabolic and cardiovascular health and cancer risk. The endocrine features normally draw attention due to symptoms of irregular menstrual cycles, oligo or anovulation leading to delayed conception and hyperandrogenaemic features such as hirsutism and acne. Insulin resistance (IR) and resultant hyperinsulinaemia are considered to be the underlying pathophysiological features for many with PCOS. It is not easy to analyze the possible role of PCOS, independent from overweight, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and diabetes, on long-term health. In addition to the long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risks there is also an increased risk of endometrial cancer.