Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Insulin Resistance and Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGFs)/IGF-Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent androgen disorder of ovarianfunction. Hyperinsulinemia with insulin resistance is believed to be a key link in the enigmaticgeneration of the symptoms of PCOS such as anovulatory infertility and hyperandrogenism.Regression of these symptoms may be achieved by reducing the hyperinsulinemia.A growing body of evidence suggests that PCOS patients with hyperinsulinemia have ahigher risk to develop diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular disease as comparedto age-matched women. Although oral contraceptives, progestins, antiandrogens, andovulation induction agents remain standard therapies, weight loss should also be vigorouslyencouraged to ameliorate the metabolic consequences of PCOS. In addition, insulin-sensitizingagents are now being shown to be useful alone or combined with standard therapies toalleviate hyperinsulinemia in PCOS. Finally and most importantly, early identification ofpatients at risk and prompt initiation of therapies, followed by long-term surveillance andmanagement, may promote the patient's long-term health.