Evidence-based guidelines in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) update and expansion project

Date: 07/04/17

One of the major projects  of the Centre for Research Excellence in PCOS is to update and expand the  Evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of PCOS, approved by  the NHMRC in 2011.  The update to the guideline is an international  collaboration involving many internationally recognised researchers and  multidisciplinary clinicians as well as consumers with PCOS and is proposed to  be the primary, international evidence-based guideline in PCOS.  Many national and international societies/  organisations have agreed to collaborate/ partner with us and to contribute  funding.

The project is governed by a Project Board, with  guidance from an International Advisory Committee and directed by Professor  Helena Teede.  The guideline will be  developed in compliance with the Australian National Health and Medical  Research Council rigorous practices for developing evidence-based guidelines  and will be submitted for NHMRC Council approval in approximately June 2018.

Progress  to date:

  • Extensive national  and international stakeholder consultation has occurred to identify topic  priorities for inclusion in the guideline via a Delphi survey.  To date, more than 600 survey responses have  been received.
  • Five international  guideline development groups have been formed to develop evidence-based or  consensus (where evidence is lacking) clinical guidance in the following theme  areas:
    • Screening,  diagnostic assessment, risk assessment, life-stage and adolescents
    • Screening,  diagnostic assessment and management of emotional wellbeing
    • Lifestyle  management and models of care
    • Medical treatment  (ie metformin/OCP etc. for features of PCOS)
    • Screening,  diagnostic assessment and management of infertility
  • Guideline  development groups have determined topic priorities and clinical questions to  be addressed in the guideline.
  • Evidence synthesis  is well underway for all of the prioritised clinical questions to be answered  in the guideline
  • International  guideline development group meetings have been arranged in July 2017 in Geneva and  November 2017 in San Antonio to consider evidence reviews and develop guideline  content.
  • An extensive international  campaign has been undertaken to invite collaboration in the project with  national/ international peak societies/ organisations in PCOS.  Uptake of the invitation has been  phenomenal.  We now have 15 international  and 6 national societies which have agreed to partner/ collaborate in the  project.
  • A public  consultation process will occur in late 2017/ early 2018.  We will invite all stakeholder groups  (societies/organisations), both nationally and internationally to comment on  draft guideline content prior to finalising.

For further information about the CRE-PCOS please refer towww.pcos-cre.edu.au