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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): From Diagnosis to Personalized and Integrated Treatment

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Obstetrics & Gynecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 737

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, 200 Old Country Road, Suite 350, Mineola, NY 11501, USA
Interests: PCOS; endometrium; implantation; ART outcomes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and heterogeneous reproductive endocrine disorder affecting approximately 10–13% of women worldwide. Clinical diagnosis is primarily a diagnosis of exclusion and is based on the Rotterdam criteria, which require the presence of two of three features: (1) oligo- or amenorrhea, (2) clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and (3) polycystic ovarian morphology. The expression and severity of these diagnostic features, as well as their associated comorbidities, vary widely among affected individuals, underscoring the substantial phenotypic heterogeneity of the syndrome.

Beyond menstrual irregularities and endocrine abnormalities, expanding evidence demonstrates that women with PCOS experience a broad spectrum of associated comorbidities, with considerable variability in prevalence and clinical impact. These include metabolic dysfunction, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health and quality-of-life impairments, in addition to anovulatory infertility and adverse obstetric outcomes. Although a subset of women with PCOS exhibit a lean phenotype, obesity frequently coexists with PCOS and appears to have a bidirectional and modifying relationship with the disorder that, even if not strictly causal, substantially influences its clinical and metabolic manifestations.

Taken together, this growing recognition of PCOS as a multisystem and lifelong condition highlights the limitations of a one-size-fits-all management approach. Effective care increasingly requires integrated and personalized strategies that address individual reproductive, metabolic, and mental health needs across the life span.

In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit manuscripts reporting translational and clinical research on advances in PCOS diagnosis; the role of nutraceuticals; comorbidities and obesity; and evolving personalized and integrated approaches to PCOS care.

Dr. Satu Kuokkanen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • PCOS
  • integrated treatment model
  • metabolic abnormalities
  • mental health
  • adverse obstetric outcomes

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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21 pages, 2333 KB  
Systematic Review
Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
by Katarzyna Stańczyk, Olga Łopacińska, Dominika Kędzia and Oliwia Gawlik-Kotelnicka
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(10), 3582; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15103582 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with a prevalence estimated at 4–20%. Among the conditions often co-occurring with PCOS are depressive and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to determine [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with a prevalence estimated at 4–20%. Among the conditions often co-occurring with PCOS are depressive and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in women with PCOS. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Directory of Open Access Journals databases for studies published before May 2025. The analysis was conducted on a group of 5857 women (study group: 3610; control group: 2247) obtained from 35 studies, which met the inclusion criteria. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in PCOS patients and the controls, according to the BDI, HADS-D, Mini-NPI and PHQ assessment tool, was 42.11% (95% CI: 32.6–52.2) vs. 13.62% (95% CI: 8.4–21.5; p < 0.001); 28.90% (95% CI: 20.7–38.8) vs. 15.80% (95% CI: 11.3–21.7; p = 0.010); 59.10% (95% CI: 30.9–82.4) vs. 65.90% (95% CI: 24.2–92.1; p = 0.792); and 26.50% (95% CI: 8.0–59.9) vs. 9.10% (95% CI: 1.8–35.1; p = 0.255). The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in the PCOS group and the control group, according to the HADS-A assessment tool, was 48.25% (95% CI: 36.1–60.6) vs. 31.40% (95% CI: 18.8–47.4; p = 0.098), respectively. Conclusions: The study confirms the higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in women with PCOS compared to the general population. These findings indicate the necessity of conducting psychiatric examinations and providing support for women with PCOS. Full article
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