Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Multidisciplinary Outpatient Clinic（番禺院区）

1. Areas of expertise: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with infertility; PCOS with severe obesity; PCOS with recurrent miscarriage; PCOS with endometrial lesions; adolescent PCOS; PCOS with endometriosis; management of PCOS during pregnancy; PCOS with metabolic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia); PCOS with anxiety and depression. 2. Expert profile: Doctoral supervisor, chief physician of obstetrics and gynecology, Doctor of Medicine, one of the first outstanding young medical talents of Guangdong Province, a 2016 “Guangzhou Good Doctor,” a 2018 and 2019 “China Good Doctor,” a Guangzhou women’s science and technology talent, a Guangzhou popular-science master, a Guangzhou health-science expert, an expert at the Jiusan Famous Doctors Workstation, a popular-science expert at the Southern Guangdong Family Health Lecture Series, an instructor at the national Level IV gynecological endoscopy training base, and an outstanding teacher of Guangzhou Medical University. She has engaged in clinical and basic research in obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive endocrinology, adolescent gynecology, and related fields for 29 years. Her research areas include adolescent gynecology, polycystic ovary syndrome, various menstrual disorders, endometriosis, various disorders of sexual development (such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen insensitivity syndrome, and Kallmann syndrome), and reproductive tract malformations (such as MRKH syndrome). She is highly proficient in performing Class III–IV hysteroscopic and laparoscopic procedures. Clinically, she specializes in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. She has helped many patients with difficult-to-treat PCOS complicated by endometrial precancerous lesions successfully deliver healthy babies; she has also helped patients with PCOS complicated by severe obesity and depression regulate menstruation, metabolism, and psychological health, earning widespread praise from patients. As the principal investigator, she has undertaken 17 projects, including projects funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance, Innovation and Development Project, the Guangdong Province International and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan High-Level Talent Exchange Special Program, and key special projects of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has published more than 50 articles in international and domestic core journals and authored 3 monographs. “A standardized series of minimally invasive treatments for menorrhagia” received the Second Prize of the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award in 2013 and the First Prize of the Jinyu Award for Technological Progress in Eugenics and Reproductive Health of Guangdong Province in 2014. She has obtained 1 national invention patent and 1 computer software copyright. 3. Department profile: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common risk factor for irregular menstruation, infertility, recurrent miscarriage, various pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preterm birth, macrosomia, and large-for-gestational-age infants), and endometrial lesions in women. The global prevalence of PCOS is as high as 8%–13%; it causes infertility in 75% of patients and miscarriage in 20% of patients. PCOS has become an important disease affecting female fertility. PCOS has a profound impact on women’s health. It begins in adolescence and causes irregular menstruation, severe acne, and obesity; patients of reproductive age may experience infertility and recurrent miscarriage; after giving birth, women with PCOS also face the risk of endometrial lesions and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Because of its effects on fertility and its frequent long-term complications, PCOS can easily cause mental health problems; depression and anxiety are the most common psychological disorders among patients with PCOS. PCOS is a chronic disease involving the entire female life cycle—from adolescence through reproductive age and into older age—and encompassing endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. It seriously affects female fertility and quality of life. The multidisciplinary PCOS clinic team led by Director Li Li of Guangdong Provincial Women and Children’s Hospital includes experts from various intersecting disciplines, including gynecologic endocrinology, reproductive endocrinology, traditional Chinese medicine gynecology, internal medicine, nutrition, dermatology, and psychology. The team focuses on clinical diagnosis, treatment, and pre-treatment at every age of patients with PCOS; helps adolescent patients regulate menstruation and treat acne; helps reproductive-age patients with PCOS improve fertility and have healthy babies; and helps women with PCOS receive long-term health management and prevent long-term complications such as endometrial lesions and diabetes. Based on the regional characteristics of Lingnan, the team uses integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, individualized treatment, and multidisciplinary intervention for PCOS, and has established a multidisciplinary, whole-life-cycle PCOS clinic. PCOS accounts for 26.60% of the gynecologic endocrinology outpatient visits at our hospital, and patients come from all over the country. We have helped many patients with difficult-to-treat PCOS complicated by endometrial precancerous lesions successfully deliver healthy babies. We have also helped patients with PCOS complicated by severe obesity and depression regain confidence in life, earning widespread praise from patients. The team’s standardized treatment for menstrual disorders received the Second Prize of the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award and the First Prize of the Jinyu Award for Technological Progress in Eugenics and Reproductive Health of Guangdong Province. Team leader Director Li Li was one of the first outstanding young medical talents of Guangdong Province and was named a “Guangzhou Good Doctor,” among other honors. In the past 5 years, the team has received funding for more than 10 projects, including the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Province International and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan High-Level Talent Exchange Special Program, the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan, key special projects of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Third Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation Project.