Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Management R623

Course Summary

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, lifelong endocrine disorder characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology, with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological implications. This course reviews evidence-based diagnostic criteria, life-stage–specific assessment, and guideline-driven management strategies. Emphasis is placed on lifestyle intervention as foundational therapy, pharmacologic options for non-fertility features, and structured approaches to fertility management and cardiometabolic risk reduction.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I. Introduction
• II. Pathophysiology and Core Features
• III. Screening, Diagnostic Criteria, and Risk Assessment
  • 1. Diagnostic Framework
  • 2. Irregular Menstrual Cycles and Ovulatory Dysfunction
  • 3. Biochemical Hyperandrogenism
  • 4. Clinical Hyperandrogenism
  • 5. Polycystic Ovarian Morphology
  • 6. Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) in Diagnosis
  • 7. Ethnic and Geographic Variation
• IV. PCOS Across the Life Span
  • 1. Adolescents
  • 2. Reproductive Years
  • 3. Menopause and Postmenopause
• V. Cardiometabolic and Medical Risk Assessment
  • 1. Cardiovascular Disease Risk
  • 2. Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Type 2 Diabetes
  • 3. Additional Medical Comorbidities
• VI. Psychological Health and Quality of Life
• VII. Lifestyle Management as Foundational Therapy
  • 1. General Principles
  • 2. Physical Activity
  • 3. Nutrition and Dietary Patterns
  • 4. Behavioral Strategies
• VIII. Weight Management and Obesity in PCOS
• IX. Pharmacologic Management of Non-Fertility Features
  • 1. Menstrual Irregularity and Hyperandrogenism
  • 2. Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Dysfunction
• X. Fertility and Reproductive Management
  • 1. Assessment of Infertility in PCOS
  • 2. Ovulation Induction Strategies
  • 3. Pregnancy-Related Risks
• XI. Models of Care and Shared Decision-Making
• XII. Case Study: Multimodal Management of PCOS-Associated Primary Infertility
  • 1. Background
  • 2. Case Presentation
  • 3. Intervention and Follow-Up
  • 4. Assisted Reproduction and Outcome
  • 5. Discussion
• XIII. Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.