Anovulation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. Anovulation in PCOS is characterized by arres of antral follicle growth in the final stages of maturation. There is evidence that the abnormal endocrine environment in PCOS (specifically elevation of serum levels of luteinizing hormone and/or insulin) plays an important role in arrest of antral follicles but, as a result of recent studies, abnormalities in early follicle development have also been shown to be present. This suggests that, in PCOS, the whole process of follicle development—from initiation of follicle growth to the late antral stage—is abnormal. These observations have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of PCOS, and open the door to potential new methods of treatment for this very common endocrinopathy.