Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female endocrine disorders affecting approximately 5-10% of women of reproductive age (12-45 years old) and was once thought erroneously to be one of the leading causes of infertility.
The principal features are obesity, anovulation (resulting in irregular menstruation), acne, and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly among women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS.
