Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is difficult to diagnose and manage, in part because of its clinical and pathophysiologic heterogeneity and the variable manner in which it is defined. This article discusses the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and pathophysiology of PCOS. The multifarious clinical manifestations of PCOS necessitate a comprehensive approach to patient management. Typically, women with PCOS consult physicians for infertility, menstrual irregularity, or androgen excess. Treatment strategies that focus on short-term improvement are usually designed to address one or more of these complaints. Whether PCOS is associated with serious long-term sequelae remains unknown. At present, the cause of the syndrome is unknown, and a cure does not exist.