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Review
. 2019 Sep 3:13:1179558119871269.
doi: 10.1177/1179558119871269. eCollection 2019.

Pathogenesis and Consequences of Disordered Sleep in PCOS

Susan Sam  1 , David A Ehrmann  1
Affiliations
Review

Pathogenesis and Consequences of Disordered Sleep in PCOS

Susan Sam et al. Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. .

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that is characterized by hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularity. Affected women have a high prevalence of insulin resistance and related metabolic complications. The frequency of sleep disturbances appears to be increased in women with PCOS, although most studies so far have included more severely affected obese women with PCOS who are referred to tertiary care clinics and may not represent the general population of women with PCOS. This article provides an overview of sleep disturbances in PCOS with the focus on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most commonly reported sleep disturbance among these women. The pathogenesis and risk factors for OSA in PCOS and its association with metabolic disorders is discussed in detail.

Keywords: Insulin resistance; Obstructive sleep apnea; Visceral adiposity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests:The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism and anovulation. The disorder is also associated with adiposity and insulin resistance. These abnormalities predispose to development of sleep disorders especialy obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea leads to increased sympathetic tone and oxidative stress which in turn worsens insulin resistance associated with PCOS promoting a vicious cycle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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