The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a community sample of Iranian population: Iranian PCOS prevalence study

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the heavy burden and impact of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in reproduction and public health, estimates regarding its prevalence at community levels are limited. We aimed to ascertain prevalence of PCOS in a community based sample using the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Rotterdam consensus (Rott.) and the Androgen Excess Society (AES) criteria.MethodsUsing the stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling method, 1126 women were randomly selected from among reproductive aged women of different geographic regions of Iran. PCOS were diagnosed using universal assessment of ultrasonographic parameters, hormonal profiles and clinical histories.ResultsThe mean +/- SD of age of study population was 34.4 +/- 7.6 years. Estimated prevalence of idiopathic hirsutism was 10.9% (95% CI: 8.9-12.9%); 8.3% of women had only oligo/anovulation and 8.0% had only polycystic ovaries. The prevalence of PCOS was 7.1% (95% CI: 5.4-8.8%) using the NIH definition, 11.7% (95% CI: 9.5-13.7%) by AES criteria and 14.6% (95% CI: 12.3-16.9%) using the Rott definition.ConclusionsAt community level, widespread screening of Rotterdam criteria will increase the estimated prevalence of PCOS over twofold. Establishing an explicit and contemporaneous method for definition and screening of each PCOS criteria has important investigational implications and increase the comparability of published research.

Comparison of various adiposity indexes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and normo-ovulatory non-hirsute women: a population-based study

“…Subjects of this study included individuals from two large populationbased studies conducted in five provinces of different geographic regions of Iran, the first study (21) including 1126 women aged 18-45 years living in urban areas of Ghazvin, Kermanshah, Golestan, and Hormozgan, and the second study included 646 reproductive-age women (18-45 years) living in urban areas of Khuzestan province (22); study protocols and the main investigator (F R T) were the same for both of them. Menopausal women, those who had undergone hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, and pregnant women were excluded.…”

Vitamin D and Human Reproduction

“…PCOS is one of the most common female endocrinopathies in reproductive-aged women [147,148] which is characterized by elevated ovarian and adrenal androgen production,…”

Untitled

“…PCOS prevalence worldwide is estimated to be 6-10% or even 15% when the diagnosis is based on Rotterdam criteria. 1 Studies of PCOS in India carried out in convenience samples reported a prevalence of 3.7% to 22.5%, 2, 3 with 9.13% to 36% prevalence in adolescents only.…”