Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i2.50631Keywords:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Female Infertility, Female Endocrinopathy, PCOS.Abstract
Objective: To conduct a systematic analysis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), including its characteristics and symptoms. Literature review: As an endocrine disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome is common in women of reproductive age. The main symptoms of PCOS are menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth (hirsutism), hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), polycystic ovaries in the ovaries, and difficulty getting pregnant (infertility). The main complications include weight gain (obesity), insulin resistance, which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and psychological problems such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Acne and dark spots (acanthosis nigricans) can also trigger psychological factors in women with this syndrome, such as low self-esteem.Physical exercise combined with good eating habits is one of the treatments. Final considerations: PCOS is a metabolic endocrine disorder that affects women during their reproductive years and causes various physical and psychological problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a thorough medical evaluation based on some of the symptoms mentioned, so that early diagnosis can be made and treatment can be successful. Pharmacological treatment for women with this syndrome should also be prioritized, such as physical activity and a balanced diet.
References
Agnol, T. L. D., Hoffmann, K. R. S. S., Batista, L. P. S., Castelo, J. T., Marino, I. E., Alves, S. C. O., & Portella Filho, C. S. A. (2024). Síndrome dos ovários policísticos e saúde mental: Uma revisão sobre o impacto psicológico e transtornos associados. Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação, 10(8), 3942–3950. https://doi.org/10.51891/reig.v10i8.15124
Azziz, R. (2016). Epidemiology and pathogenesis of the polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 12(6), 321–352. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2016.39
Azziz, R. (2018). Polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 132(2), 321–336. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002698
Azziz, R. (2024). Polycystic ovary syndrome: A history. Fertility and Sterility, 121(4), 551–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.01.033
Azziz, R., & Rudd, M. (2025). Developing public health policy for addressing PCOS is hampered by the paucity of high-quality epidemiologic studies. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 10(1), bvaf200. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf200
Barbosa, M. A., & Silva, R. C. (2021). Diagnóstico diferencial da síndrome dos ovários policísticos: Uma revisão. Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia, 65(3), 210–219.
Costa, M. F, (2021). Achados hormonais e ultrassonográficos em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, 43(9), 550–557. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1735483
Costa e Silva, L. M., Ferreira, J. S., & Santos, R. T. (2025). Estratégias de medicina de precisão no manejo da síndrome dos ovários policísticos: Uma revisão sistemática. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, 47(1), e-2024098.
Dokras, A. (2020). Mood and anxiety disorders in women with PCOS: New evidence and clinical recommendations. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 32(4), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.1097/GCO.0000000000000631
FEDERAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DAS ASSOCIAÇÕES DE GINECOLOGIA E OBSTETRÍCIA. (2025). Síndrome dos ovários policísticos (Série Orientações e Recomendações FEBRASGO, nº 9).
Ferriman, D., & Gallwey, J. D. (1961). Clinical assessment of body hair growth in women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 21(11), 1440–1447. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-21-11-1440
Genazzani, A. D., et al. (2024). Inositol as a second messenger: Relevance in PCOS treatment. Gynecological Endocrinology, 36(5), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2020.1725966
Goodman, N. F., et al. (2015). American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology, and Androgen Excess and PCOS Society disease state clinical review: Guide to best practices in the evaluation and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocrine Practice, 21(11), 1291–1300. https://doi.org/10.4158/EP15748.DSC
Junqueira, P. A. A., Fonseca, A. M., & Aldrighi, J. M. (2020). Manejo clínico da síndrome dos ovários policísticos. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 66(Suppl. 1), 60–65. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.66.S1.60
Legro, R. S., et al. (2020). Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. The New England Journal of Medicine, 382(13), 1228–1240. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1508090
Lima, B. V. (2021). Avaliação hormonal e diagnóstico laboratorial do hiperandrogenismo. Revista de Endocrinologia Contemporânea, 4(1), 15–28.
March, W. A., Moore, V. M., Willson, K. J., Phillips, D. I., Norman, R. J., & Davies, M. J. (2010). The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a community sample assessed under contrasting diagnostic criteria. Human Reproduction, 25(2), 544–551. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dep399
Martins, L. R., (2022). Aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais da síndrome dos ovários policísticos. Clínica & Ciência, 18(2), 120–129.
Mendes, A. C., & Junior, V. S. (2024). Impacto do estilo de vida e novos agonistas de GLP-1 na síndrome dos ovários policísticos: Evidências recentes. Revista Conexão na Saúde, 17(9), 102–115.
MINISTÉRIO DA SAÚDE (Brasil). (2020). Protocolo clínico e diretrizes terapêuticas para atenção integral às pessoas com infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (IST). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Departamento de Doenças de Condições Crônicas e Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis. https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/protocolos-clinicos-e-diretrizes-terapeuticas-pcdt
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. (2021). Evidence-based methodology workshop on polycystic ovary syndrome. NIH Publications.
Oliveira, K. P., Souza, R. T., & Silva, J. M. (2021). Síndrome dos ovários policísticos: Análise diagnóstica. Revista Saúde e Pesquisa, 14(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.17765/2176-9206.2021v14n1e8605
Pereira, A. S., Shitsuka, D. M., Parreira, F. J., & Shitsuka, R. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. Núcleo de Tecnologia Educacional da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.
Risenberg, R., Wakin, M., & Shitsuka, R. (2026). A importância da metodologia científica no desenvolvimento de artigos científicos. E-Acadêmica, 7(1), e0171675.
Rodrigues, M. F., (2018). Exames laboratoriais no hiperandrogenismo. Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia, 62(3), 301–309.
Santos, M. F. (2024). Biomarcadores precoces e sinalização celular no diagnóstico da síndrome dos ovários policísticos: Uma análise sistemática da última década. International Journal of Gynecological Endocrinology, 39(4), 210–225.
Silva, C. M., Pardini, D. P., & Karter, J. M. (2006). Aspectos clínicos e metabólicos da síndrome dos ovários policísticos. Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia, 50(1), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-27302006000100003
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Teede, H. J., Misso, M. L., Costello, M. F., Dokras, A., Laven, J., Moran, L. J., Piltonen, T. T., Norman, R. J., & International PCOS Network. (2018). Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Human Reproduction, 33(9), 1602–1618. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey256
Teede, H. J., Tay, C. T., Laven, J. S., Dokras, A., Moran, L. J., Piltonen, T. T., Costello, M. F., Joham, A. E., Stener-Victorin, E., Yildiz, B. O., Rice, M. E., Hillman, J., & Norman, R. J. (2023). International evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome 2023. Monash University.
Teede, H. J., Misso, M. L., & Costello, M. F. (2024). Polycystic ovary syndrome: Global challenges in diagnosis and management. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 12(1), 209–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00289-4
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Kate Kristiny da Silva Pacheco, Cristiane Pereira Novaes, Daniela Sousa Oliveira, Daniel Pereira Novaes, Esli Souza Costa, Emanuella Soares Fraga Fernandes, Agnes Claudine Fontes De La Longuiniere
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
