Polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome: possible ways to correct metabolic disorders

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disease in women of reproductive age. The prevalence of this pathology is approximately 15-20%. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, menstrual irregularities, and polycystic ovaries. More than half of patients with PCOS have a metabolic syndrome, the main component of which is visceral obesity and insulin resistance, which play an important role in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Insulin resistance is a marker of cardiometabolic risk and can lead to cardiovascular disease and carbohydrate metabolism disorders up to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Therefore, in the treatment of patients with PCOS, an important aspect is the impact on insulin sensitivity and body weight. This review focuses on various groups of drugs that can potentially have a positive effect on metabolic disorders in PCOS. Among them are metformin, drugs with an incretin effect, as well as drugs for weight loss. Given the similarity of the metabolic and pathological features of PCOS and DM2, as well as the diversity of therapeutic options, there is a potential for expanding the strategy for the treatment of metabolic disorders in PCOS, including through antidiabetic drugs, which, however, requires further study. It should be noted that surgical treatment of obesity also has a beneficial effect and contributes to the normalization of the menstrual cycle and the normalization of the hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with PCOS and severe obesity.