In most of South Asia, prevalences and phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women in the community are unknown. The authors aimed to estimate prevalence and phenotype in a community setting in Sri Lanka and to test a valid, feasible screening approach to early diagnosis. A community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in 2005-2006. A random sample of 3,030 women aged 15-39 years was selected by cluster sampling proportionate to population size. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized to screen for "probable cases" of PCOS based on menstrual history and clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism. Selected "probable cases" underwent clinical, biochemical, and ovarian ultrasound assessment. The response rate was 96.2% (n = 2,915). A total of 220 (7.5%) "probable cases" were identified: 209 women with oligo/amenorrhea (95%) and 11 women with hirsutism (5%). Further evaluation of the 220 probable cases confirmed 164 newly diagnosed cases of PCOS based on the 2003 Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. With 19 previously diagnosed cases already present, total prevalence was 6.3% (95% confidence interval: 5.9, 6.8). Of the women with "oligo/amenorrhea and/or hirsutism," 91.1% were confirmed to have PCOS; 99.4% of women with "regular cycles in the absence of clinical hyperandrogenism" were confirmed as normal. The most common phenotypes of PCOS were oligo/amenorrhea and polycystic ovaries (91.4%) and oligo/amenorrhea and hirsutism (48.3%).

Objective Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with symptoms that affect psychological wellbeing and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We wished to assess psychological distress and HRQoL among Sri Lankan women with PCOS.

Introduction Symptoms typically associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as oligo/ amenorrhoea, hirsutism, obesity, subfenility lead to a significant reduction in quality of life (QOL). At present, no validated questionnaire exists to measure the QOL of women with PCOS. The study was carried out to validate WHOQOL BREF before ilS application to assess quality of life in women with PCOS in Sri Lanka. Methodology The WHOQOL-BREF was validated on 130 women with PCOS attending an endocrine clinic at a teniary care hospital and 130 community controls. Both convergent and discriminant validity of WHOQOL-BREF were measured simultaneously using the Multitrait-Multimethod Mairix technique in comparison with SF 36. Confirmatory factor analysis using principal component analyses was performed 10 test the construct validity. Reliability was measured by assessing internal consistency and Lest-retest reliability. Results Good convergent and discriminant validity was demonstrated by the WHOQOL-BREF for similar and diffe.rent scales respectively in comparison with SF-36. Internal consistency measured using Cronbach's alpha exceeded Nunnaly's criteria of 0.7 for all except the social relationship domain in both groups while the test retest reliability measured using Pearson's correlation coefficienlS exceeded >0.7 (p<0.0 I) in all domains. Conclusions WHOQOL-BREF was found to be a valid and a reliable tool to assess QOL of women with PCOS. It showed good convergent validity, discriminant validity and reliability in all except the social I. Medical officer (Rabies control), Public Health Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health.