Obesity Differentially Affects Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Obesity or overweight affect most of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Phenotypes are the clinical characteristics produced by the interaction of heredity and environment in a disease or syndrome. Phenotypes of PCOS have been described on the presence of clinical hyperandrogenism, olig...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carlos Moran, Monica Arriaga, Gustavo Rodriguez, Segundo Moran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/317241
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Obesity or overweight affect most of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Phenotypes are the clinical characteristics produced by the interaction of heredity and environment in a disease or syndrome. Phenotypes of PCOS have been described on the presence of clinical hyperandrogenism, oligoovulation and polycystic ovaries. The insulin resistance is present in the majority of patients with obesity and/or PCOS and it is more frequent and of greater magnitude in obese than in non obese PCOS patients. Levels of sexual hormone binding globulin are decreased, and levels of free androgens are increased in obese PCOS patients. Weight loss treatment is important for overweight or obese PCOS patients, but not necessary for normal weight PCOS patients, who only need to avoid increasing their body weight. Obesity decreases or delays several infertility treatments. The differences in the hormonal and metabolic profile, as well as the different focus and response to treatment between obese and non obese PCOS patients suggest that obesity has to be considered as a characteristic for classification of PCOS phenotypes.
ISSN:1687-8337
1687-8345