Polycystic ovary syndrome

In 1935, Stein and Leventhal first described the polycystic ovary as a frequent cause of irregular ovulation or anovulation in obese women seeking treatment for subfertility. The initial management of the condition was surgical, with wedge resection of the ovaries resulting in restoration of ovulation in the majority of cases. In the last two decades, the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been studied intensely and, although the exact aetiology still escapes us, considerable knowledge of the prevalence, pathophysiology, and management of the syndrome has been gained....