Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics of reproductive-aged polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Thai women.
Study design: Cross sectional study
Settings: Gynecologic Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital.
Subjects: 250 PCOS Thai women who registered at the Siriraj PCOSprojectfrom May 2007 to January 2009. PCOS were diagnosed using Revised Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Women who were taking medications affecting sex hormones or lipid metabolism within 3 months before registration were excluded from the present study.
Material and method: Patients were interviewed and examined for weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, presence of acanthosis nigricans, and signs of hyperandrogenism. Ovarian ultrasonography was examined using vaginal probe inserting into the vagina or rectum. Venous blood sample of each patient was drawn during 8.00-10.00 o'clock after 12-hour fasting.
Main outcome measures: Clinical characteristics and laboratoryprofiles in PCOS Thai women.
Results: Of all participants, 62% were 20-29.9 years old, 30% had high blood pressure, 57% were overweight to obese, 49% had central obesity, and 27% had acanthosis nigricans. Clinical hyperandrogenism was found in 15.6% of the patients. Approximately 7% of PCOS women had impaired fasting glucose and one third had dyslipidemia. Prevalence of the PCOS criteria presenting in the population were oligomenorrhea and/or amenorrhea (98.4%), hyperandrogenism (49 2%), and ultrasonographic polycystic ovary (97.2%). Of all participants, 44% had three components of diagnostic criteria. Among those who had two components, presence of abnormal menstrual cycle plus polycystic ovary was the most common finding.
Conclusion: Menstrual problem was the most common presenting symptom among the presented participants. Hyperandrogenism/ -emia adds only a little value on making PCOS diagnosis. Most of the PCOS Thai women have menstrual problem. In these patients, ovarian ultrasonography has high value to diagnose PCOS; addition of androgen blood test can diagnose only 3% more PCOS cases. Although the presented PCOS Thai women are stillyoung, approximately 50% already have some parameters of health risk. It is suggested to provide preventive measures for these patients to prevent long term medical problems.