Available Treatments and Adjunctive Therapies for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Patients of Reproductive Age: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) impacts the health of women worldwide. It is a condition consisting of dysfunctional cystic ovaries resulting in hormonal imbalance. Many women have symptoms such as infertility, increased production of androgens, and insulin resistance. Barriers to effective treatment of PCOS include issues such as delays in diagnosis and inconsistencies in treatment plans among physicians. Despite the current use of available medications to decrease symptomatology, women with PCOS continue to report a decreased quality of life. Using the electronic databases PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and ScienceDirect, a scoping review was conducted on the globally available treatments for PCOS. After applying pre-determined inclusion criteria, 41 studies were included in this scoping review. The literature on the available treatments for PCOS revealed a wide range of therapeutics with evidence of reduction of symptoms and/or improvement in fertility status and pathological processes such as insulin resistance, hormone imbalance, obesity, inflammation, and infertility. Dozens of treatment options for PCOS have been identified, including new medications and modifications to existing treatment regimens. The hormonal drug Fezolinetant demonstrated effective suppression of hyperandrogenism. Drugs used to treat diabetes, such as Liraglutide, were found effective for weight loss. Green cardamom, cinnamon, and other supplements proved effective in treating metabolic dysfunction. Alternative approaches, such as osteopathic manipulative therapy and acupuncture, decreased sympathetic tone and androgen levels. This review provides a succinct overview of PCOS therapies that can be used by those with PCOS and their physicians everywhere. With a better understanding of their options, women with PCOS can become more involved in the decision-making process to improve their health. More research is needed on novel therapies that aim to reduce the primary pathogenesis of PCOS.