Seasonality, climatic unpredictability, food deprivation and polycystic ovary syndrome

Shaw, L.; Elton, S.

Abstract

Stein and Leventhal’s finding of polycystic ovaries, which they eponymously described as part of a circumscribed clinical syndrome [1], has evolved to become a nebulous entity with polycystic ovaries as a prominent component. Biochemical aspects, both endocrine and non-endocrine, have become part of a wider “polycystic ovary syndrome” (PCOS), recognised as a very common cause of anovulatory infertility [2 – 4]. Whilst the original Stein-Leventhal Syndrome described multiple ovarian cysts, obesity, hirsutism, menstrual abnormalities and amenorrhoea, symptoms of PCOS also include acne and androgenic alopecia. Obesity, when it occurs, tends to include centrally-distributed adipose tissue. These features, singly or together, are not evident in all affected women [5]. Despite this, most show a degree of insulin resistance [6]. PCOS is thus a complex endocrine disorder, for which the diagnosis is not always straightforward [6, 7]. However, many practitioners now agree that it can be defined on the basis of at least two of the following features in combination: presence of polycystic ovaries on ultrasound examination; oligo-/anovulation; clinical or biochemical evidence of androgen excess [5].

Citation

Shaw, L., & Elton, S. (2008). Seasonality, climatic unpredictability, food deprivation and polycystic ovary syndrome. In S. Elton, & P. O’Higgins (Eds.), Medicine and evolution : current applications, future prospects (77-97). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420051377.ch5

• Publication Date: 2008
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Pages: 77-97
• Series Title: Society for the study of human biology series
• Book Title: Medicine and evolution : current applications, future prospects.
• ISBN: 9781420051346
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420051377.ch5