Implicating androgen excess in propagating metabolic disease in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been traditionally perceived as a reproductive disorder due to its most common presentation with menstrual dysfunction and infertility. However, it is now clear that women with PCOS are at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, from impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. PCOS is characterised by androgen excess, with cross-sectional data showing that hyperandrogenism is directly complicit in the development of metabolic complications. Recent studies have also shown that C11-oxy (C19) androgens are emerging to be clinically and biochemically significant in PCOS, thus emphasising the importance of understanding the impact of both classic and C11-oxy (C19) androgens on women’s health. Here we discuss androgen metabolism in the context of PCOS, and dissect the role played by androgens in the development of metabolic disease through their effects on metabolic target tissues in women.