Polycystic ovarian disease

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) is a common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Its molecular causes remain to be fully defined. Hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism are positively correlated, which suggests that insulin resistance may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOD. Point mutations in the insulin receptor gene that cause insulin resistance appear to be associated with the PCOD phenotype.