Glycolysis in polycystic ovary syndrome: pathogenesis and treatment

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynaecological endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age and is often accompanied by clinical symptoms such as acne, obesity, menstrual disorders, and ovulation disorders. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of PCOS are still unknown despite the condition’s extremely complex underlying mechanism, recent studies suggest that glycolysis may be involved in PCOS pathogenesis, including hyperandrogenism, inflammation, ovulatory dysfunction, and diminished endometrial receptivity and infertility. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the pathogenesis and treatment of glycolysis in patients with PCOS. The present review discusses the mechanism of glycolysis, the association between glycolysis and diverse features of PCOS, the molecular mechanism underlying the involvement of glycolysis in the pathogenesis of PCOS, and some common treatment strategies involving glycolysis in patients with PCOS. More prospective studies using advanced detection technologies such as Seahorse are needed to elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms through which glycolysis is involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.