Polycystic ovary syndrome: deciphering mechanisms to facilitate management and treatment

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common heterogeneous endocrine disorder in people who have ovaries of reproductive age, with a global prevalence of 5–18%. Two consecutive, nationwide, epidemiological surveys conducted in people with ovaries in China showed that the prevalence of PCOS had increased by two-thirds from 2010 to 2020. Furthermore, the global age-standardised PCOS incidence rate among people with ovaries of reproductive age increased by 1.45% from 2007 to 2017. The typical clinical gynaecological features of PCOS include anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries; hirsutism, acne, and alopecia are common dermatological symptoms.