Polycystic ovary syndrome: a new direction in treatment

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a diagnosis made in 5%-10% of women between late adolescence and the menopause. Patients may present with oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea, anovulation or infertility, hirsutism or acne. Women with the syndrome have at least seven times the risk of myocardial infarction and ischaemic heart disease of other women, and by the age of 40 years up to 40% will have type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with insulin resistance, with consequent hyperinsulinaemia and (frequently) hyperlipidaemia and obesity. Recent research has shown that the application of diabetes management techniques aimed at reducing insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia (such as weight reduction and the administration of oral hypoglycaemic agents) can not only reverse testosterone and luteinising hormone abnormalities and infertility, but can also improve glucose, insulin and lipid profiles. The management of polycystic ovary syndrome should now include patient education and attention to diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperlipidaemia, obesity, physical exercise, glucose intolerance, hypertension and cigarette smoking.