Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a most common, heterogeneous, complex endocrinopathy disease.Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in the treatment of PCOS for many years. However, the mechanism underlying TCM remains obscure and challenging.In the present study, a metabolomics approach based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with linear ion trap Orbi-trap mass spectrometer (LTQ Orbi-trap MS) is used to investigate serum metabolic changes of TCM intervention to PCOS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• PCOS diagnostic criteria: According to the diagnostic criteria revised by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine at the Rotterdam in 2003, PCOS patients can be diagnosed if two of the three criteria are present after excluding congenial adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome, androgen secreting tumors, or other related disorders. The three criteria are (1) oligo- and/or anovulation; (2) clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism (clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism include presence of acne, hirsutism, and androgenic alopecia); (3) polycystic ovaries by ultrasound examination: presence of 12 or more follicles in each ovary measuring 2-9 mm on diameter and/or ovarian volume>10 ml.
• Age between 14 and 40 years.
• 2 years after menarche

Exclusion Criteria:

• Administration of other medications known to affect reproductive function or metabolism within the past three months, including oral contraceptives, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists, anti androgens, gonadotropins, anti-obesity drugs, Chinese herbal medicines, anti diabetic drugs such as metformin and thiazolidinediones, somatostatin, diazoxide, and calcium channel blockers.
• Patients with other endocrine disorders including 21-hydroxylase deficiency, hyperprolactinemia, uncorrected thyroid disease, suspected Cushing's syndrome.
• Patients with known severe organ dysfunction or mental illness.