[The polycystic ovarian syndrome. New physiopathological theories]

Although the polycystic ovarian syndrome was first described in 1935, controversies regarding the pathophysiological mechanism still persist. The pathogenesis seems multifactoral and the events leading to clinical manifestation of the disease can be triggered or can originate in different organ systems, such as the central nervous system or the ovary itself. The syndrome can originate from excess fat tissue and hyperinsulinemia, or may be a result of an increase in growth factors acting on the ovary. The current view is that the full expression of the polycystic ovarian syndrome is probably the result of several entities.