Lay summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of infertility in reproductive-age women, but the causes remain unclear. One treatment for PCOS is a surgical procedure that targets the ovary, but this procedure is not frequently performed. This research will investigate how the ovary contributes to the progression of PCOS. We hypothesise that ovary hormone production (inhibin and estrogen) is too high in the ovaries of PCOS patients which causes the reproductive hormone system to shut down before an egg can be ovulated. We will use mouse models of PCOS to examine how ovary hormone production is affected. We will also perform ovary surgery to determine how manipulating the ovary can reverse PCOS symptoms. The project aims to discover new therapeutic targets in the ovary. If pharmaceuticals can be developed to target the ovaries, it would reduce the burden on operating theatres, allowing more patients to receive treatment.