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Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, 13(4), 261-271, 2021

The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review

ChandraS Pundir , Vinay Narwal , Amita Suneja Dang

Author affiliations (2)
  • Maharshi Dayanand University ROR
  • Center for Medical Biotechnology, MD University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
DOI10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18 PMID33627974
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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.

Topics

PCOSReproductive Endocrinology
PCOS prevalence systematic review, polycystic ovary syndrome epidemiology, PCOS diagnostic criteria comparison, Rotterdam criteria PCOS prevalence, NIH criteria PCOS diagnosis, AES criteria polycystic ovary, worldwide PCOS prevalence rates, reproductive age women PCOS, endocrinopathy prevalence female, PCOS underdiagnosis global
PMID 33627974 33627974 DOI 10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18 10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18

Cite this article

Deswal, R., Narwal, V., Dang, A., & Pundir, C. (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

Related articles

PCOSDiagnostics Open Access

Changes in the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in China over the past decade

Yang R et al., 2022Lancet Reg Health West Pac

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has become a major international public health concern. However, because of controversy about the diagnostic criteria and patient selection, estimates of its absolute prevalence and change with time vary greatly. We conducted two consecutive nationwide epidemiological surveys of the prevalence of PCOS in representative samples of reproductive-aged women in China in 2010 and 2020. Face-to-face interviews were performed by trained interviewers in each survey. All participants completed a questionnaire and underwent a physical examination, blood sampling, and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound. We assessed hyperandrogenism (H), chronic anovulation (O), and polycystic ovaries (P) to classify the presence of PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria. The prevalence of PCOS among reproductive-aged women was estimated after consideration of differential probabilities of selection and population distribution. We conducted a logistic regression analysis by using the probability of PCOS as a function of the survey year to acquire the trend information across the years. 28,739 respondents completed the survey, including 15,924 in the previously published 2010 survey and 12,815 in the new 2020 survey. In 2020, 826 participants could be diagnosed as having PCOS, with a weighted prevalence of 7.8% (95%CI: 7.0%, 9.0%) among women aged 20-49 years, leading to an estimate of 24.0 million women of reproductive age affected by this condition in China as a whole. The estimated prevalence in 2020 was higher than that of a decade ago despite identical research methods suggesting a two-thirds increase over the study period. Women with PCOS in 2020 also appeared to have a more severe phenotype overall than those of a decade ago, possibly reflecting a significantly higher prevalence of obesity, hyperandrogenism, and infertility. The prevalence of PCOS in Chinese women has increased significantly over the past 10 years. PCOS is a significant public health problem in women of reproductive age in China and national policy and guidelines should be re-examined in the light of the current data. National Key R&D Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

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