Advances in PCOS Research
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025
Special Issue Editor
Interests: esr2 regulates; epigenetic and transcriptional regulation; ovary; primordial follicle activation; follicle development and oocyte maturation; kisspeptin signaling
Special Issue Information
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that affects one in ten women of reproductive age. Stein and Leventhal defined PCOS in 1935 based on hirsutism, obesity, amenorrhea, and bilateral polycystic ovaries. However, the patients may present with irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism, acne, hair loss, subfertility, and psychiatric manifestations. Many PCOS cases suffer from diverse metabolic disorders, including obesity, dyslipidemia, dysglycemia, hypertension, or hepatic steatosis. They also have a 2-to-5-fold increased risk of developing other endocrine or metabolic diseases. As PCOS is a heterogeneous condition and the diagnosis relies on consensus-based criteria, many cases remain undiagnosed. Hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and low-grade inflammation are the known drivers of PCOS. Insulin resistance plays the key pathogenic role in the development and progression of PCOS and is closely linked to the onset of NAFLD. Other contributing factors include hyperandrogenism, chronic low-grade inflammation, and both genetic and environmental influences. Yet, it remains unresolved whether PCOS originates as a primary ovarian dysfunction or as a systemic endocrine-metabolic disturbance that secondarily affects ovarian biology. To answer the questions, researchers should come forward to study this multifactorial, multisystem disorder. This special issue of IJMS requests researchers to submit their recent findings on PCOS research. We invite all the research articles. We will also publish comprehensive review articles on pathobiology, diagnosis, and treatment of PCOS.
Dr. M. A. Karim Rumi
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- PCOS
- endocrine disorders
- insulin resistance
- NAFLD
- metabolic disorders
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