The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 44(10), 870-874, 1999
Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women seeking treatment from community electrologists. Alabama Professional Electrology Association Study Group
To determine the prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women seeking electrology, clients presenting to nine electrology centers completed a questionnaire.
Study Design
Women with potential risk factors were referred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They underwent a detailed history and physical examination, including hirsutism scoring by a modified Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) method. Serum was assayed for total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.
Results
Three hundred fifteen (40%) of 779 patients had potential risk factors for hyperandrogenism and were referred. Eighty-two (26%) completed their evaluation. Six were excluded secondary to prepubertal or menopausal status. Of the remaining 76 patients, 20% had F-G scores of 7 or 8, 13% had scores of 9 or 10, and 21% had scores > 10. Forty-nine (64%) patients reported irregular menstrual cycles. Sixty-four patients were not receiving hormonal therapy: 25 reported regular menstrual cycles, and 39 reported irregular cycles. Seventeen (68%) of the 25 had at least one abnormal androgen value, while 33 (85%) of the 39 women had at least one abnormal value (nonsignificant difference). Overall, PCOS was evident in 39 of the 76 women, or 12% of the 315 patients who were referred for further evaluation.
Conclusion
Thirty-nine of the 315 referred patients (12%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PCOS. However, they were not receiving medical care for this condition. In addition, this percentage is a conservative estimate in that 74% of the referred patients did not pursue a medical evaluation. Therefore, efforts to educate both electrologists and their clients of the possibility of underlying endocrine disorders and subsequent metabolic morbidity should be undertaken.
Farah, L., Lazenby, A. J., Boots, L. R., & Azziz, R. (1999). Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women seeking treatment from community electrologists. Alabama Professional Electrology Association Study Group. The Journal of reproductive medicine, 44(10), 870-874.
Farah L, Lazenby AJ, Boots LR, Azziz R. Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women seeking treatment from community electrologists. Alabama Professional Electrology Association Study Group. J Reprod Med. 1999;44(10):870-874.
Farah, L., et al. "Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women seeking treatment from community electrologists. Alabama Professional Electrology Association Study Group." The Journal of reproductive medicine, vol. 44, no. 10, 1999, pp. 870-874.
To determine the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among hyperandrogenic women who report normal menses. Prospective observational study. Academic practice in reproductive endocrinology. PATIENT(S): Fifty-eight consecutively seen new patients with hyperandrogenism who reported normal menses. INTERVENTION(S): Ovulatory status was assessed with timed serum progesterone measurements. The following tests also were carried out: vaginal ultrasound examination; measurement of the ovarian response of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) after the administration of leuprolide acetate, 1 mg SC; and determination of fasting serum LH, FSH, E2, 17-OHP, insulin, and androgen levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Determination of ovulatory status, polycystic appearance of ovaries, and increased response of 17-OHP to leuprolide acetate. RESULT(S): Twelve (20.7%) of the hyperandrogenic women were anovulatory and met the usual criteria for the diagnosis of PCOS. The ovulatory patients had lower serum total and unbound testosterone levels. Thirty-one (53.4%) of the ovulatory women had polycystic ovaries on ultrasound examination and/or an increased 17-OHP response to leuprolide acetate, suggesting the diagnosis of PCOS despite the presence of ovulation. Considering both the anovulatory and ovulatory patients, 74% of the hyperandrogenic women studied could have PCOS. CONCLUSION(S): The data suggest that most (74%) hyperandrogenic women who report normal menses have evidence for the diagnosis of PCOS.
Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine-metabolic disorder characterized by reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic disturbances. This study aimed to evaluate the association between clinical features, anthropometric indices, hormonal parameters, metabolic profile, ultrasonographic findings, and the second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio in women with PCOS compared to age-matched healthy controls. Methods A case-control study was conducted, including women diagnosed with PCOS and age-matched healthy controls. Clinical features, anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHtR)), hormonal parameters (luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)), metabolic variables (fasting glucose, lipid profile), ultrasonographic findings, and 2D:4D digit ratio were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate tests, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Women with PCOS exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of menstrual irregularity, polycystic ovarian morphology, hirsutism, and acne (p < 0.001). Hormonal analysis showed significantly elevated LH, FSH, and AMH levels in PCOS cases (p < 0.001). Anthropometric indices, including BMI, WHR, and WHtR, were significantly higher among PCOS cases (p < 0.01), indicating increased general and central adiposity. In contrast, fasting glucose and lipid profile levels did not differ significantly between groups. Additionally, the 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower in PCOS cases (p < 0.01) and showed significant negative correlations with BMI, WHR, WHtR, and cholesterol levels. Conclusion The study demonstrates that PCOS is associated with significant hormonal dysregulation, central obesity, and early metabolic alterations. The lower 2D:4D ratio observed in PCOS supports the role of prenatal androgen exposure in disease pathogenesis. These findings highlight the complex interplay between developmental, metabolic, and endocrine factors in PCOS and underscore the importance of early identification and comprehensive management strategies.
Yin WW et al., 2022·BMC Endocr Disord·
Open Access
The study aims to address whether serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels fluctuate in the short term after medication application, including oral contraceptives (OCs), metformin (MET), Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), vitamin D (VD), clomiphene citrate (CC), and letrozole (LET). Published literature from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane central was retrieved up until 19 September 2021. A total of 51 self-control studies with an average Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS) score of 6.90 were analyzed. The extracted data were entered into Stata software, and the weighted mean difference/standardized mean difference (WMD/SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for data analysis. After OCs treatment the AMH level showed a significant decline in women with normal ovarian function, which was significant within 3 months (WMD = -1.43, 95% CI: -2.05 to -0.80, P < 0.00001). After MET treatment, the serum AMH decreased in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients (WMD = -1.79, 95% CI: -2.32 to -1.26, P < 0.00001), in both obese and non-obese patients. GnRH-a treatment in endometriosis patients led to dynamic changes in the serum AMH levels, that is, ascent at 1 month (P = 0.05), and descent at 3 months (P = 0.02). After DHEA treatment the serum AMH increased in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) / poor ovarian response (POR) patients (WMD = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.27, P < 0.0001). After VD treatment the serum AMH increased, and it was obvious in non-PCOS patients (WMD = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.21, P = 0.0004). After CC treatment the serum AMH decreased significantly in PCOS patients, specifically in non-obese patients (WMD = -1.24, 95% CI: -1.87 to -0.61, P = 0.0001). Serum AMH levels may be affected in the short term after drug application. Specifically, OC, MET and CC lead to decreased AMH level, DHEA and VD lead to increased AMH level, and GnRH-a leads to dynamic variation, which is correlated with PCOS, obesity, age, and duration of medication. The impacts of these medications should be taken into consideration when AMH is used as a marker of ovarian reserve.
Bani Mohammad M et al., 2017·Asian Pac J Cancer Prev·
The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility and a notable proportion of women of reproductive age are affected. It may constitute a risk factor for cancer development. Different factors could result in different manifestations and many of these are related to predispositions. It is essential to establish criteria to achieve an exact diagnosis of PCOS, especially among adolescent patients because of the overlap between features of PCO syndrome and physiological findings in puberty. Day by day the technology of ultrasonography is improving and accuracy is increasing, but remains dependent on the specific equipment available. Some factors are inter-related in determining PCOS prognosis. Serum AMH is synthesized by small antral follicles, which are precisely those seen on ultrasound and could help us to diagnose PCOS but there are many aspects that still require elucidation. In this minireview we have attempted to identify some of these correlations.