Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Research Highlights

Scientific discoveries that improve human health begin with basic research, in which scientists study disease at a molecular or cellular level. Such discoveries then progress to clinical applications that benefit patients. Basic and clinical research into the causes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has led to advances in the care of women with this disorder and new methods of treatment for PCOS.  

First described in 1935, polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, was characterized as a disorder involving irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, obesity, and overproduction of testosterone (the "male" hormone normally produced in very small amounts by the ovaries). Since then, studies have shown that high insulin levels in the blood are common in PCOS and contribute to the overproduction of testosterone.

Additional studies have confirmed that women with PCOS have an increased risk of developing metabolic disturbances, including type II diabetes and lipid (blood fat) abnormalities. Some, if not most, of this risk is related to high insulin levels. Women with PCOS also have a high rate of obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing disorder. Sleep apnea itself appears to cause or worsen high insulin levels and may contribute to the metabolic disturbances of PCOS.  

In the 1990s, the observation that high insulin levels play a role in PCOS prompted a number of clinical studies to determine if the hormonal and metabolic abnormalities in PCOS could improve with medications that reduce insulin levels. These studies confirmed that testosterone levels go down when the PCOS patient's insulin levels are lowered.  

Within the last 10 years, researchers recognized that PCOS has a strong genetic component. Specifically, women who have a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with PCOS are more likely to have PCOS themselves. As a result, studies are ongoing to determine if specific genes might be responsible for PCOS.

For more information on endocrine research, see our Clinical Trials and Research page.

Author:
David Ehrmann, MD

January 2009