Research Interests: Dr Dokras directs the Penn Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) trans disciplinary clinical and research program.
Keywords: PCOS, androgens, metabolic risk, mood disorders, cardiovascular disease
Research Details: PCOS, a common endocrine disorder in reproductive age women (prevalence 8-15%) is associated with significant gynecological, dermatologic, metabolic and psychiatric co-morbidities. Our research program has two overarching interests; understanding long term cardiovascular disease morbidity and risk of depression and anxiety disorders in PCOS. Both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mood disorders are associated with significantly physical and emotional morbidity and add significantly to the financial burden of the healthcare system.
Our group has contributed to understanding the burden of cardiovascular disease risk by deep and systematic phenotyping including risk of obesity, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, subclinical atherosclerosis and ASCVD in PCOS. We have explored a variety of determinants of CVD risk by performing studies at both cellular and population levels to understand the independent association of PCOS with ASCVD. We have led several NIH funded clinical trials to understand the impact of first line medications on mental and cardiometabolic health.
Dr Dokras directs the Penn PCOS center which offers comprehensive gynecological, reproductive, dermatological, metabolic, nutritional and psychological care to women with PCOS.
She also Directs the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis program at Penn Fertility Care.
Dr Dokras Directs the Women’s Health Center for Clinical Innovation (WHCCI) at Penn Medicine. Established by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2021, WHCCI’s vision is to drive improvements in patient health and healthcare delivery by utilizing innovative approaches including rapid cycle iterations, digital health and implementation science. The Center offers a variety of programs and resources to aid providers, trainees, and staff in the development of innovative solutions, including project management, consultation, mentorship, monthly events and programming.
Selected Publications
Applebaum J, Kim EK, Sharp M, Dokras A, Shah DK.
: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in fertility treatment provision for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Fertil Steril. S0015-0282(24): 00545-4, Jun 2024.
Lee IT, Rees J, King S, Kim A, Cherlin T, Hinkle S, Mumford SL, Dokras A. : Depression, Anxiety, and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Longitudinal Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Apr 2024.
Cooney LG, Sammel MD, Lee I, Clapp MA, Goldsammler M, Scott E, Bjorkman S, Fisher BT, Dokras A.: The details matter: personalized prediction of live birth following in vitro fertilization in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril.
121(6): 1010-101, Jun 2024.
Stener-Victorin E, Teede H, Norman RJ, Legro R, Goodarzi MO, Dokras A, Laven J, Hoeger K, Piltonen TT.: Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Nat Rev Dis Primers. 10(1): 27, Apr 2024.
Senapati, S, Asch, D, Merchant, RM, Rosin, R, Seltzer, E, Mancheno, C, Dokras, A : The Fast Track to Fertility Program: Rapid Cycle Innovation to Redesign Fertility Care NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery 3(10), 2022.
Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven J, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, Costello MF, Boivin J, M Redman L, A Boyle J, Norman RJ, Mousa A, Joham AE: Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Fertil Steril. 120(4): 767-793, Oct 2023.
Alur-Gupta S, Boland MR, Dokras A: N3C Consortium Risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 119(5): 847-857, May 2023.
Huddleston HG, Dokras A.: Diagnosis and Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. JAMA. 327(3): 274-275, Jan 2022.
Alur-Gupta S, Boland MR, Dokras A; N3C Consortium: Risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 119(2): 847-857, May 2023.
Dokras A.: Does body weight affect cardiometabolic risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?
Fertil Steril 111(1): 56-57, Jan 2019.
Cooney LG, Dokras A.: Beyond fertility: polycystic ovary syndrome and long-term health.
Fertil Steril. 110(5), Oct 2018.
Legro RS, Dodson WC, Kris-Etherton PM, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Fleming J, Allison KC, Sarwer DB, Coutifaris C, Dokras A: Randomized Controlled Trial of Preconception Interventions in Infertile Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100(11): 4048-4058, Nov 2015.
Dokras A, Sarwer DB, Allison KC, Milman L, Kris-Etherton PM, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Fleming J, Coutifaris C, Legro RS: Weight Loss and Lowering Androgens Predict Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with PCOS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101(8): 2966-2974, 2016.
Gibson-Helm M, Teede H, Dunaif A, Dokras A: Delayed diagnosis and a lack of information associated with dissatisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 102(2): 604-612, Feb 2017.
Legro RS, Dodson WC, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Kris-Etherton PM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Allison KC, Sarwer DB, Diamond MP, Schlaff WD, Casson PR, Christman GM, Barnhart KT, Bates GW, Usadi R, Lucidi S, Baker V, Zhang H, Eisenberg E, Coutifaris C, Dokras A: Benefit of delayed fertility therapy with preconception weight loss over immediate therapy in obese women with PCOS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101(7): 2658-2666, Jul 2016
Dokras A, Saini S, Gibson-Helm M, Schulkin J, Cooney L, Teede H: Gaps in knowledge among physicians regarding diagnostic criteria and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril May 2017 Notes: [Epub ahead of print]
Dokras A, Playford M, Kris-Etherton PM, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Sarwer DB, Allison KC, Coutifaris C, Mehta N, Legro RS: Impact of hormonal contraception and weight loss on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol efflux and lipoprotein particles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Clin Endocrinol 86(50): 739-746, May 2017.
Copp T, Jansen J, Doust J, Mol BW, Dokras A, McCaffery K: Are expanding disease definitions unnecessarily labeling women with polycystic ovary syndrome? BMJ 358: j3694, Aug 2017 Notes: Erratum in: BMJ, Nov 2017, 359: j5380.
Dokras A, Stener-Victorin E, Yildiz BO, Li R, Ottey S, Shah D, Epperson N, Teede H.: Androgen Excess-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society: position statement on depression, anxiety, quality of life, and eating disorders in polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertility and Sterility 109(5): 888-899, May 2018.
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Last updated: 10/19/2025
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