Insulin resistance and the polycystic ovary syndrome: recent advances

The polycystic ovary syndrome is a prevalent disorder characterized by chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism. It has recently been appreciated that insulin resistance with a compensatory hyperinsulinemia is also a prominent feature of the disorder and plays a key role in its development in many affected women. The purpose of this review is to highlight clinical studies in this area that were published during the past year. Areas discussed include the use of insulin-sensitizing drugs for treatment, D-chiro-inositol and insulin resistance, syndrome X (ie, the dysmetabolic syndrome), genetics of polycystic ovary syndrome, precocious puberty and adrenarche as early manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome, and early pregnancy loss in polycystic ovary syndrome.