Christophe Blockeel and Ying Cheong
Estimates suggest that PCOS may affect around 10–15% of women globally.And it doesn’t merely influence fertility: etabolic health and emotional well-being can also be impacted. Over time, knowledge about PCOS has steadily expanded, but it’s become clear that tackling the condition effectively demands multiple viewpoints. This is precisely why ESHRE is hosting the workshop “Reimagining fertility care for PCOS.” The event will highlight the latest findings in pathophysiology, diagnostic tools, lifestyle considerations, ovarian stimulation, and updated laboratory methods to improve fertility outcomes.
Why does PCOS remain important?
PCOS generally has three main elements: anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Yet patients often deal with much more — irregular periods, insulin resistance, weight-management concerns, plus a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular issues. Although many initially seek help due to fertility worries, mental health and body image can also be affected. In short, PCOS calls for a well-rounded approach that integrates medical treatment, lifestyle modifications, and ongoing emotional support.
Against this backdrop, the forthcoming workshop couldn’t be timelier. Understanding of PCOS and the recommended methods for addressing it have evolved markedly. We now see a push towards individualised strategies, and the workshop will use the latest clinical and laboratory evidence to develop more human-centred solutions. By bringing together specialists in endocrinology, embryology and nutrition, the hope is to highlight approaches that genuinely make a difference to patients’ day-to-day lives.
Why revisit the subject?
In the last few years, robust clinical research and revised international guidelines have prompted a rethink of PCOS and how to manage the condition . Scientists have a greater understanding into how elevated androgens, insulin resistance, excessive weight, and underlying genes can all closely connected . There has also been a rise in new protocols, like tailored ovarian stimulation plans, freeze-all embryo procedures, and metabolic medications. Established approaches are still vital, but these newer developments have re-energised the field. Practitioners can fine-tune interventions to a patient’s unique case by combining old and new knowledge.
A key aspect of the workshop is to show how clinicians can embed balanced diets, exercise, and potentially new weight-management drugs into people’s lives in addition to tried-and-tested fertility treatments. It’s becoming more evident that, if well-coordinated, these measures can stabilise blood sugar, enhance ovulatory patterns, and generally improve metabolic health. Additionally, the risk of complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is lower.
A preview of the workshop
Taking place over two days in late March 2025, the ESHRE Campus is interactive from the outset. Ying Cheong and Christophe Blockeel will open proceedings, explaining how examining PCOS through various aspects of reproductive endocrinology can optimise fertility care.
Day one begins with an examination of the “whys” behind PCOS. Specialists including Joop Laven and Stephen Franks will delve into the hormonal and metabolic underpinnings by discussing how insulin and androgens affect a woman’s health across her lifespan. They’ll treat PCOS as far more than just an egg-related or ovarian concern, emphasising its broader endocrine and metabolic reach.
Session two shifts attention to diagnosing PCOS. A long-standing question is whether anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is the top marker for PCOS identification. Antonio La Marca will offer arguments in favour, while Scott Nelson will urge caution, noting how other established diagnostic criteria remain crucial. By the end, attendees should be better placed to evaluate how AMH fits into everyday practice alongside more established methods.
Session three focuses on lifestyle and new weight-management approaches. Speakers will highlight how consistent dietary measures, appetite-regulating medicines, and structured exercise programmes can genuinely boost success in treating PCOS-related infertility. The emphasis is on weaving these interventions into a seamless whole that resonates with day-to-day realities.
On day two, the spotlight turns to an update on PCOS treatments. While high-intensity ovarian stimulation regimens used to be pretty standard, more recent guidelines recommend lowering the odds of OHSS with gentler approaches . Christine Decanter and Ying Cheong will discuss the international PCOS guidelines on how to improve care, optimising gonadotropin doses, and fine-tuning luteal phase support.
Another highlight is the session “Hot Debate in PCOS.” Here, Christine Decanter will argue that existing definitions of PCOS and its diagnosis are adequate, whereas Abha Maheshwari will challenge whether these broadly defined criteria truly capture all nuances. Attendees can weigh new evidence on PCOS subgroups and judge for themselves if the standard framework meets the realities of modern clinical practice.
Finally, the focus turns to novel laboratory solutions, such as in vitro maturation (IVM) for PCOS patients and high-tech imaging techniques that give a more precise look at ovarian function. Stefano Palomba is set to explore PCOS-related impairment of endometrial health. The workshop then ends with some concluding thoughts, ensuring that delegates leave with a proper sense of how to reimagine PCOS management in their clinics.
“Reimagining fertility care for PCOS” speaks to ESHRE’s commitment to bridging gaps and better serving patients. PCOS may be widespread and inherently complex, but a well-integrated approach that emphasises lifestyle, medication, and state-of-the-art reproduction technology can genuinely improve people’s lives.
Through a mix of presentations and discussion, the workshop aims to boost everyone’s knowledge to the benefit of countless individuals dealing with PCOS as they try to build families. While no single, perfect fix exists for this multifactorial condition, data-driven, patient-specific solutions are within reach.
In summary, PCOS care needs to continue evolving to reflect modern research. Every angle matters if we hope to achieve a truly holistic approach. This workshop aims to tie all those strands together including diagnostics, ovulation induction, nutritional advice, exercise, mental well-being, endometrial receptivity, and lab advances—,
The campus will offer practical steps for making these updates part of everyday clinical decisions. Ultimately, that means better reproductive and overall health for women everywhere who are living with PCOS.
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