The Race for Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (2024)

FAQs

What race is most affected by PCOS? ›

Hispanic women with PCOS have the most severe phenotype, both in terms of hyperandrogenism and metabolic criteria. Non-Hispanic Black women have an overall milder polycystic ovarian syndrome phenotype than Hispanics and in some respects, than Non-Hispanic White women.

Diagnosis criteria

you have irregular periods or infrequent periods – this indicates that your ovaries do not regularly release eggs (ovulate) blood tests showing you have high levels of "male hormones", such as testosterone (or sometimes just the signs of excess male hormones, even if the blood test is normal)

The cause of PCOS is unknown but women with a family history or type 2 diabetes are at higher risk.

Key points about PCOS

PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain. Women with PCOS may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and endometrial cancer.

The age-standardised annual incidence rate of PCOS also varied substantially by country. In 2019, Kuwait [108.6 (95% UI: 71.7 to 151.4)], Qatar [105.1 (95% UI: 68.0 to 147.9)] and Saudi Arabia [103.0 (95% UI: 66.9 to 143.0)] had the highest age-standardised annual incidence rates.

Ethnic Indian women present with altered genetic susceptibility leading to early onset and increased severity of symptoms in most complex diseases, including PCOS [17].

It's usually large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genes and other factors. It involves visceral fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and typically feels hard to touch. A PCOS belly is also characterized by a high waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 (apple body shape).

Results: No significant difference in sex ratio was detected between PCOS and controls, even if it resulted significantly different in the full-blown and non-PCO phenotypes.

The group with PCOS had been diagnosed at a mean age of 27 years. The mean follow-up time was 13.1 years in both groups, during which 1,003 controls and 177 women with PCOS died. The mean age at death was 51.4 years for the PCOS group versus 52.6 years for the control women, a significant difference (P < . 001).

Emma Thompson. The legendary actress has proven that you can achieve great things (um, hello, she won an Oscar) while living with PCOS and clinical depression. After struggling with infertility, Emma underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help her conceive her daughter, Gaia.

At what age is PCOS most common? ›

Experts estimate that 5 to 10 percent of women ages 18 to 44 have PCOS. The syndrome is usually detected in women between ages 20 and 30, but the earliest signs can be evident in younger girls including those who have not yet started menstruation.

While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, experts generally recommend that individuals with PCOS start trying to conceive sooner rather than later. The late twenties and early thirties are considered the best age to get pregnant with PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. Treatment options can vary because someone with PCOS may experience a range of symptoms, or just 1. The main treatment options are discussed in more detail below.

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. There's evidence that genetics play a role. Several other factors, most importantly obesity, also play a role in causing PCOS: Higher levels of male hormones called androgens: High androgen levels prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, which causes irregular menstrual cycles.

PCOS can cause irregular menstruation (periods), and is a common cause of infertility, affecting as many as 5 million people. In addition to infertility, it is a lifelong condition that can have other impacts.

PCOS affects 7–10% of women of childbearing age and is the most common cause of infertility. In the United States, an estimated 5 to 6 million women have PCOS. PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, but many women don't know they have it.

If you have a mother or sister with PCOS or a first-degree relative with diabetes or glucose intolerance, this may mean you're more likely to develop the condition. An estimated one-quarter of people with PCOS have mothers with the condition, and one-third have sisters with the condition.