Despite what the name suggests, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome isn’t just about ovaries—or cysts, for that matter. In fact, many people diagnosed with PCOS don’t have any ovarian cysts at all. Confusing? You’re not alone. The name dates back to how the condition was first described, but science has come a long way since then. Today, we understand that PCOS is really a complex hormonal and metabolic condition that affects far more than reproductive health.
At its core, PCOS is about hormonal imbalance. When key hormones like insulin, androgens (like testosterone), and others are out of sync, they can create a domino effect throughout the body. This hormonal miscommunication can lead to irregular periods, acne, weight changes, hair loss or excess hair growth, difficulty with ovulation or fertility—and that’s just the shortlist. But here’s the thing: PCOS doesn’t follow a single pattern. Some women experience textbook symptoms. Others don’t fit the mold at all. That’s part of what makes PCOS so challenging—and why understanding your unique experience matters.
So, how can the PCOS Association help?
We’re here to offer more than definitions. We’re here to offer direction. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, still searching for answers, or years into your journey and feeling stuck, we’re committed to helping you make sense of PCOS—and make progress.
Here’s what you’ll find at PCOSA:
✅ Reliable, science-backed information about what PCOS is (and isn’t)
💬 Supportive communities of people who understand exactly what you’re going through
🧬 Resources for navigating fertility, metabolic health, nutrition, and more
🧠 Education for providers who want to better support their PCOS patients
🙋♀️ Advocacy to make sure PCOS is recognized, researched, and respected
No fluff. No fad cures. Just real support, grounded in evidence and compassion.
At PCOSA, we believe every person with PCOS deserves to be informed, empowered, and heard. Wherever you are in your journey, we’re honored to walk with you.
pcos: Latest results from PubMed
CONCLUSION: In summary, both laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and endoscopic intragastric balloon placement led to positive changes in hormone profiles and menstrual cycle characteristics. However, LSG was found to be more effective on these parameters.
Published on: Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Omer Tammo, Esra Söylemez, Hüseyin Bayhan,
CONCLUSION: MRCSY1# exhibits a multifaceted therapeutic effect against female infertility, primarily through the coordinated inhibition of ovarian inflammation, oxidative stress, and granulosa cell apoptosis. These findings provide mechanistic support for the development of standardized botanical therapies based on traditional She ethnomedicine.
Published on: Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Hai-Tao Zhang, Ya-Lan Wei, Lu Chen, Xiao-Jing Fan, Jun-Wen Zhang, Xu-Dong Zhuang, Xin-Chen Lin, Ai-Zhu Lin, You-Xiong Zhong, Yan Sun, Xin-Rui Wang,
CONCLUSIONS: The observed dysregulation of asprosin levels in PCOS highlights a potential link between this novel adipokine and the pathophysiology of the disorder, suggesting a modulatory effect of the combined 40:1 MI/DCI on asprosin levels. Of course, further studies may contribute to disclosing molecular mechanisms underlying asprosin reduction and open toward new perspectives.
Published on: Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Ozlen Emekci Ozay, Yusuf Ozay, Oguzhan Edebal, Marco Calcagno, Ali Cenk Ozay,
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women, often associated with changes in emotional well-being, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modifications. While lifestyle changes are the primary treatment, their roles in ovarian epigenetics in PCOS remain unknown. This study investigates the impact of treadmill exercise and alternate-day feeding (ADF), either individually or combined, on PCOS characteristics and their underlying epigenetic mechanisms in PCOS rats....
Published on: Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Fatemeh Soltaninejad, Golnaz Shafiei, Forouzan Rafie, Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-Mahani, Fahimeh Pourjafari, Tahereh Haghpanah, Mohammad Reza Afarinesh,
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent medical condition that encompasses both metabolic and reproductive disorders. Various pharmaceutical interventions have been proposed for managing PCOS; however, the potential side effects associated with long-term use and their often-limited efficacy have prompted interest in complementary and alternative therapies. Recent studies indicate a growing trend toward the utilization of these alternative treatments. Medicinal herbs have historically...
Published on: Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Sarah S Mohamed, Anood T Allam, Ahmed N El-Alfy, Riham A El-Shiekh, Ahmed M Reda, Mohamed S Abd El Hafeez,
CONCLUSION: The study reveals global trends in PCOS pharmacotherapy, with growing focus on metabolic and molecular aspects. Key contributors and emerging therapies highlight the expanding scope and future potential of PCOS treatment research.
Published on: Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Rohit Gautam, Anshu Jyoti, Asmitha Bhateja, Neena Malhotra, Taruna Arora,
Ovarian folliculogenesis is a complex biological process critical for female fertility, intricately regulated by various signaling pathways, among which the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological functions of MAPK signaling in key stages of folliculogenesis, including primordial follicle formation and activation, dominant follicle selection, cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) expansion,...
Published on: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Hong Zhao, Trang Huyen Dinh, Yifu Wang, Yihua Yang,
CONCLUSIONS: The P-PUP study offers an unprecedented, ethnically diverse, medically unbiased population-based cohort, an extraordinarily valuable tool to enhance knowledge and research in PCOS. However, variability in data collection methods and definitions of PCOS diagnostic features across studies limited the ability to fully integrate data for analysis. Despite these limitations, we optimized harmonization in this IPD, and the findings provided valuable insights into the challenges of data...
Published on: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Asmamaw Demis Bizuneh, Sylvia Kiconco, Arul Earnest, Mahnaz Bahri Khomami, Raja Ram Dhungana, Ricardo Azziz, Larisa V Suturina, Xiaomiao Zhao, Alessandra Gambineri, Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani, Bulent O Yildiz, Jin Ju Kim, Liangzhi Xu, Christian Chigozie Makwe, Helena J Teede, Anju E Joham, Chau Thien Tay,
CONCLUSION: Letrozole combined with clomiphene therapy helps improve ovulation rates, pregnancy rates, and hormonal levels in PCOS patients.
Published on: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Baoying Du, Mengdi Ni, Ping Chen,
To investigate the role of Dysprosium (Dy), Cerium (Ce), Indium (In), Yttrium (Y), and Lutetium (Lu) in relation to oxidative stress (OS) and their potential alterations in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) females. This case-control study included two groups: Healthy controls (50) and PCOS cases (56). Serum levels of Dy, Ce, In, Y, and Lu were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). OS was evaluated by measuring serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione...
Published on: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Manal Abudawood, Hajera Tabassum, Sarah Binhassan, Haya I Aljohar, Jamil Mustafa AbdelJawad,
The growing demand for green energy and global concern about environmental issues raise the demand for alternative, environmentally friendly energy sources. Electrochemical hydrogen devices are widely investigated as a potential solution for clean and renewable energy. Proton-conducting oxides (PCOs) used as an electrolyte are required in electrochemical devices to transport protons. Chemical stability and proton conductivity are essential properties to evaluate a suitable electrolyte for these...
Published on: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: M Khalid Hossain, Ranjit C Das, M Imran Hossain, M Atikur Rahman, Prabhu Paramasivam, Ripel Chakma, Mongi Amami, Mohamed H H Mahmoud, R Bousbih, Rajesh Haldhar, Kenichi Hashizume,
CONCLUSIONS: Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism were prevalent in polycystic ovarian disease patients, emphasizing the need for thorough thyroid evaluation in polycystic ovarian disease patients due to its impact on metabolic and reproductive health. High rates of menstrual irregularities, androgenic symptoms like hirsutism and acne, and fertility challenges were also prevalent, aligning with findings from similar studies.
Published on: Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Jyotshna Sharma, Bimita Mahat, Sanjeeb Tiwari, Niraj Kumar Singh, Ranjana Yadav, Durga Thapa,
CONCLUSION: Women with PCOS are at higher risk of developing non-EOC and BOT than women without PCOS. Although the risk estimate is high, non-EOC is a rare diagnosis. Thus, the findings of this study may provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of PCOS and ovarian cancer, primarily non-EOC. However, they do not indicate any necessity for screening or alterations in the follow-up of women with PCOS.
Published on: Sun, 13 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Marika Hübinette, Inger Sundström-Poromaa, Sofia Persson, Evangelia Elenis, Karin Stålberg, Maria Forslund,
CONCLUSION: Findings supported the use of self-determination theory by emphasizing that the social context of polycystic ovary syndrome can undermine physical activity behavior. Thus, physical activity interventions should consider the social context, peer support system, and mental health status of women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and include tailored programs and motivational strategies to help meet the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
Published on: Sun, 13 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Pamela J Wright, Cynthia Corbett, Bernardine M Pinto, Michael D Wirth, Robin M Dawson,
CONCLUSIONS: Reduced miR-338-3p levels have potential predictive value in distinguishing individuals with PCOS patients from normal population. Mechanistically, this microRNA regulates the PTEN gene to inhibit granulosa cell proliferation and promote apoptosis, thereby contributing to the pathological processes of PCOS.
Published on: Sat, 12 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400
Authors: Lin Liang, Jie Lv, Wei Li, Chengwen Song, Ying Chen, Huafang Wei,