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Biochemical Features of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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Androgen Excess Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

The polycystic ovary syndrome encompasses hyperandrogenism as the central biochemical disturbance, which has internal effects on ovarian function and metabolism and external manifestations on the skin. Ovarian dysfunction is associated with erratic menses and anovulation, and the ovaries have a characteristic morphological appearance. Hyperinsulinemia amplifies hyperandrogenism and is associated with both increasing body weight and worsening ovarian function. Within the ovary there are disturbances of steroid and nonsteroidal hormone production, which influence ovarian activity and feedback to the pituitary, where hypersecretion of luteinizing hormone is the major abnormality—itself affected by hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatility.

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  1. Department of Reproductive Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK

    Adam H. Balen

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  1. Adam H. Balen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Androgen Related Disorders, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Medicine, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

    Ricardo Azziz MD, MPH, MBA

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

    John E. Nestler MD

  3. Department of Endocrine Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France

    Didier Dewailly MD

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Balen, A.H. (2006). Biochemical Features of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In: Azziz, R., Nestler, J.E., Dewailly, D. (eds) Androgen Excess Disorders in Women. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_15

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