Diagnosis, causal factors and associated diseases of PCOS: A Mini-review

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance disorder, occurring commonly in women of reproductive age, which leads to infertility. Around 12-18% of women of reproductive age are affected by PCOS and up to 21% of women are at high risk. Although, the origin of PCOS is unknown and can’t be pinpointed; its onset is indisputably associated with several factors including genetics, lifestyles, hormonal, etc. Changes during the adolescent period have important indications to understand the health risks associated with this syndrome. Women with PCOS usually suffer from chronic anovulation and hyper-androgenism, which are the main noticeable indicators associated with PCOS and it results in pregnancy problems. Therefore, PCOS poses a great deal to women in their reproductive stage, which demands deep understanding and proper strategies that can be implemented to women with PCOS, to nurse the body back to fertility. PCOS being a syndrome comprising many symptoms, its treatment and management is mainly based on dealing the associated symptoms individually. In this review article, important causing factors, diagnostic criteria, and pathophysiology of PCOS along with important findings from recent studies are being discussed and highlighted.