POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: ORIGINS AND IMPLICATIONS: PCOS in adolescents: ontogeny of neuroendocrine and metabolic disturbances

In brief: Early clinical manifestations of PCOS may begin during puberty. This paper reviews the initial characteristics of PCOS in the adolescent girl. Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous multi-factorial familial disorder characterized by androgen excess, irregular menses, and chronic anovulation. The key features, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia, can be identified in peripubertal girls. From a pediatric/adolescent point of view, the ability to identify girls with PCOS or those 'at-risk for PCOS' is crucial to target educational and medical resources to promote healthy lifestyle interventions for these girls to minimize progression to PCOS and curtail the associated comorbidities.