Furthermore, there were increases in the MMP-9/TIMP-1, MMP-9/TIMP-2, and MMP-9/TIMP-3 ratios in PCOS, suggesting that the increase in MMP-9 may either be due to increased levels per se or, as seen for TIMP-2, due to a reduction in the inhibitor protein. Here, TIMP2 is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome.