Insulin resistance and ovarian hyperandrogenism

Interest in and research on the mechanisms and the clinical significance of the relationship between insulin resistance and ovarian hyperandrogenism have both increased rapidly over the past 10 years. This article will review all of the clinical syndromes of insulin resistance and ovarian hyperandrogenism but will focus primarily on the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common disorder in which these abnormalities occur together. It will also discuss the mechanisms of insulin action and the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in these disorders, as well as potential reasons for the association of insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism.