Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Conference

Biography

Biography: Rashmi Kudesia

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can manifest in different forms – with phenotypes ranging from lean women who have irregular menses and polycystic ovaries to overweight women with insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism and high risks for worsening metabolic disease over the lifetime. Despite the different presentations, women who raise the clinical suspicion of PCOS require detailed and thoughtful evaluation to (1) confirm the condition, particularly in adolescents in whom diagnosis can be particularly challenging, (2) evaluate for specific phenotype and co-morbidities with ongoing screening intervals reflective of their individualized disease risks, and (3) counsel women regarding their lifelong reproductive and metabolic risks. Prior evidence has suggested that provider specialty and training influences how many of these goals are actually met, and thus more training and emphasis is required for both women with PCOS and their healthcare providers. The proposed talk could be tailored to cover the individual topics within this session, including managing PCOS in primary care settings, in adolescents, and/or over the long term. Detailed review of the evidence and available guidelines regarding risks, screening and treatments would be featured alongside tips to address common barriers to provision of complete care, such as provider discomfort with lifestyle counseling. An emphasis will be placed on prevention of co-morbidity development, particularly among young girls and adolescents, in whom the ongoing childhood obesity crisis raises concerns for increasing rates of PCOS.