145 citations
,
March 2010 in “Fertility and Sterility” Different types of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have varying severity, with Type I being the most severe and common.
135 citations
,
August 1994 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Most women with hirsutism or androgenic alopecia had polycystic ovaries, especially if they had irregular periods.
129 citations
,
January 2019 in “Clinical medicine insights” Obesity worsens PCOS symptoms, and PCOS may lead to more weight gain; managing both requires a holistic approach that includes mental health.
121 citations
,
April 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Insulin sensitizers may slightly reduce hirsutism but are less effective than other treatments.
117 citations
,
February 2017 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Oral spironolactone's effectiveness for adult female acne is not well-supported by strong evidence.
116 citations
,
December 2013 in “European journal of endocrinology” Combining liraglutide and metformin helps obese women with PCOS who didn't lose weight on metformin alone to lose more weight.
98 citations
,
July 2011 in “Fertility and Sterility” An mFG score of 5 or more indicates above-normal hair growth in Southern Chinese women.
96 citations
,
September 2008 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Hormonal treatments, including birth control and antiandrogens, can effectively treat acne in women.
93 citations
,
January 2016 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Eating a high-glycemic diet may worsen acne by increasing certain protein levels and expressions in the skin.
76 citations
,
November 2009 in “Medical Clinics of North America” Hormones, especially androgens, play a key role in acne, which can be a symptom of systemic diseases like PCOS and may require targeted treatment.
75 citations
,
November 2009 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Myo-inositol may be more effective than metformin for inducing ovulation in women with PCOS.
71 citations
,
July 2015 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Women with PCOS have higher androgen levels that decrease with age but are still higher than in women without PCOS.
70 citations
,
April 2013 in “Endocrine” Lifestyle changes improve metabolism and fertility in overweight PCOS patients; anti-obesity drugs show potential but need more research.
62 citations
,
August 2014 in “BMC Endocrine Disorders” New findings explain how genetic changes, body clocks, and certain molecules affect tissue response to stress hormones.
62 citations
,
April 2004 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” Finasteride effectively treats male pattern baldness, improving hair growth and density.
57 citations
,
August 1995 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Acne severity is linked to higher levels of certain androgenic hormones, even when those levels are within the normal range.
56 citations
,
July 2008 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin and rosiglitazone improve blood vessel function in women with PCOS, with metformin also reducing insulin resistance and testosterone levels.
50 citations
,
April 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective in reducing hair growth and androgen levels, but may decrease libido.
47 citations
,
March 2004 in “European journal of endocrinology” Spironolactone plus finasteride reduces hirsutism more effectively.
46 citations
,
January 2008 in “Climacteric” Testosterone therapy can help improve sexual desire and function in postmenopausal women but may cause side effects and is not FDA-approved for this use.
45 citations
,
January 2013 in “Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences” Women with PCOS are more likely to have fatty liver disease, especially if they have metabolic problems.
42 citations
,
July 2017 in “Scientific Reports” Women with PCOS are more likely to have insulin resistance and obesity, especially those with the most severe type I PCOS.
42 citations
,
June 2015 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Women with PCOS often have mood disorders and a lower quality of life, and treatment should focus on both physical and mental health.
40 citations
,
March 2016 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Young girls whose mothers have PCOS may have higher activity of a specific enzyme that could lead to developing PCOS later.
40 citations
,
April 2008 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin and rosiglitazone both improved insulin use and hormonal symptoms in women with PCOS.
40 citations
,
January 2003 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride effectively reduces hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hirsutism.
39 citations
,
January 2004 in “Physiological Research” Some men with early hair loss may have a condition similar to PCOS in women.
38 citations
,
October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Certain hormone treatments can improve acne and related conditions in women.
38 citations
,
January 1997 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in PCOS women, with flutamide also lowering hormone levels.
36 citations
,
November 1995 in “Clinical endocrinology” Low-dose flutamide helps reduce excessive hair growth and is even more effective with birth control, without bad effects on blood fats.