Deswal, R., Narwal, V., Dang, A., & Pundir, C. S. (2020). The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review. Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, 13(4), 261-271. https://doi.org/10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18
Deswal R, Narwal V, Dang A, Pundir CS. The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2020;13(4):261-271. doi:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18
Deswal, Ritu, et al. "The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review." Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, vol. 13, no. 4, 2020, pp. 261-271.
Center for Medical Biotechnology, MD University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
Department of Biochemistry, MD University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
Linked to ROR, the Research Organization Registry
RRM Academy Synopsis
PMOS / PCOS prevalence varies by country and diagnostic criteria
A systematic review of 27 surveys reports a pooled mean prevalence of about 21 out of 100 for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PMOS / PCOS prevalence varied widely by country and diagnostic criteria. The Rotterdam criteria gave higher rates.
Key Findings
The 27 surveys involved 32,125 participants and gave a pooled mean prevalence of 21.27% across different diagnostic criteria.
The Rotterdam criteria were used in 19 surveys and the NIH criteria in 11. Surveys using the Rotterdam criteria reported higher prevalence than the other two methods.
The text reports 2.2% in southern China, 3% in Iran, and 15% to 20% in Australia, Turkey and Denmark.
Twenty surveys were cross-sectional, and only five had more than 1000 participants.
Interpretation
This systematic review pooled 27 surveys. The surveys used several designs: cross-sectional, prospective, cohort and case-control. Some surveys used community samples. Others used selected groups, such as women seen for acne or infertility. The authors report that more women were diagnosed over the last decade. The results text states that 1 in 10 women worldwide is diagnosed. The findings support more surveys that use one consistent standard for diagnosis.
RRM Context
In 2026 an international consensus in The Lancet renamed the condition. The new name is polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The authors called the old name inaccurate. It implied ovarian cysts and hid the many endocrine and metabolic features. Restorative reproductive medicine looks for the drivers in each woman.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Background
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the major endocrinopathy among reproductive-aged women, is not yet perceived as an important health problem in the world. It affects 4%-20% of women of reproductive age worldwide. The prevalence, diagnosis, etiology, management, clinical practices, psychological issues, and prevention are some of the most confusing aspects associated with PCOS.
Aim
The exact prevalence figures regarding PCOS are limited and unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize comprehensively the current knowledge on the prevalence of PCOS.
Materials and Methods
Literature search was performed through PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (up to December 2019). All relevant articles published in English language were identified following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Results
Our analysis yielded 27 surveys with a pooled mean prevalence of 21.27% using different diagnostic criteria. The proportion of women with PCOS also increased in the last decade.
Conclusion
The current review summarizes and interprets the results of all published prevalence studies and highlights the burden of the syndrome, thereby supporting early identification and prevention of PCOS in order to reverse the persistent upward trend of prevalence.
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