Risk Factors for Incident Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Diagnosis.

Objective: While highly prevalent, risk factors for incident polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are poorly delineated. Using a population-based cohort, we sought to identify predictors of incident PCOS diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A matched case-control analysis was completed utilizing patients enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Washington from 2006 to 2019. Inclusion criteria included female sex, age 16-40 years, and ≥3 years of prior enrollment with ≥1 health care encounter. PCOS cases were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes. For each incident case (n = 2,491), 5 patients without PCOS (n = 12,455) were matched based on birth year and enrollment status. Potential risk factors preceding diagnosis included family history of PCOS, premature menarche, parity, race, weight gain, obesity, valproate use, metabolic syndrome, epilepsy, prediabetes, and types 1 and 2 diabetes. Potential risk factors for incident PCOS diagnosis were assessed with univariate and multivariable conditional logistic regressions. Results: Mean age of PCOS cases was 26.9 years (SD 6.8). PCOS cases, compared with non-PCOS, were more frequently nulliparous (70.9% versus 62.4%) and in the 3 years prior to index date were more likely to have obesity (53.8% versus 20.7%), metabolic syndrome (14.5% versus 4.3%), prediabetes (7.4% versus 1.6%), and type 2 diabetes (4.1% versus 1.7%) (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). In multivariable models, factors associated with higher risk for incident PCOS included the following: obesity (compared with nonobese) Class I-II (body-mass index [BMI], 30-40 kg/m2; odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-4.2), Class III (BMI > 40 kg/m2; OR, 7.5, 95% CI, 6.5-8.7), weight gain (compared with weight loss or maintenance) of 1-10% (OR, 1.7, 95% CI, 1.3-2.1), 10-20% (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-2.4), and >20% (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.9-3.6), prediabetes (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.1-3.4), and metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.8: 95% CI, 1.5-2.1). Conclusion: Excess weight gain, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction may play a key role in the ensuing phenotypic expression of PCOS. Treatment and prevention strategies targeted at preventing weight gain in early reproductive years may help reduce the risk of this syndrome.

Vigorous vs. moderate exercise to improve glucose metabolism in inactive women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: a pilot randomized controlled trial of two home-based exercise routines.

Objective: To study the impact of vigorous vs. moderate exercise on metabolic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Unsupervised home-based exercise program. Patients: Patients with PCOS on the basis of the Rotterdam criteria with insulin resistance. Interventions: Participants were block randomized to a home-based exercise program of 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, for 8 weeks total. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance. Results: In total, 36 participants were randomized, of whom 20 completed the study. The percentage changes from baseline at 4 and 8 weeks for fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance did not significantly differ between the groups, except for the change in the 8-week glucose level, which was more favorable in the moderate arm (8.06% [standard deviation, 6.44%] in the vigorous group compared with -0.32% [standard deviation, 4.91%] in the moderate group). The absolute values of the main outcomes (fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance) at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks did not significantly differ between trial arms. When assessing the change from baseline at 4 and 8 weeks, overall and within each trial arm, only the 8-week fasting glucose level was significantly greater than the baseline value in the vigorous arm (93.5 [95% confidence interval, 88.7-98.3] vs. 86.8 [95% confidence interval, 81.1-92.4]). Conclusions: Unsupervised short-term exercise programs may not achieve significant metabolic improvements in patients with PCOS, regardless of vigorous vs. moderate intensity. Future studies should investigate this question in larger sample sizes and longer or structured exercise programs. Clinical Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02303470.

Metabolic and endocrine status associate with obstructive sleep apnea risk among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Risk of obstructive sleep apnea appears to be increased among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the underlying physiology is unclear. We sought to identify predictors of OSA risk among patients with PCOS. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of patients evaluated for PCOS at a single tertiary center from 2017 to 2022 was completed. Inclusion criteria included: age 18-44, Rotterdam criteria for PCOS, and had completed a Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) for OSA risk assessment. All patients underwent standardized anthropometric, ultrasound, endocrine, and metabolic phenotyping. RESULTS: Of the 572 patients screened during the study period, 309 patients with PCOS met inclusion criteria, and 104 (33.7%) had a high risk BQ. Those with high-risk BQ, compared to those without, had significantly (p<0.05) higher waist:hip ratio, LDL-C, triglycerides, fasting insulin, 2-hour insulin, fasting glucose, 2-hour glucose, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, CRP, free testosterone, free androgen index, and lower HDL-C and SHBG. In multivariable modeling controlling for all significantly differing variables in univariate analyses, HbA1c (ß (S.E.) 1.05 (0.45), p=0.02), CRP (0.09 (0.04), p=0.01), and SHBG (-0.02 (0.01), p=0.02)) associated with high risk BQ. CONCLUSIONS: Dysglycemia, inflammation, and androgen status independently associate with predicted OSA risk by BQ. Future studies are needed to comprehensively assess the impact of treatment of OSA on these outcomes among patients with PCOS to better clarify the directionality and clinical implications of these associations.

Nonhormonal Therapies for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms.

This JAMA Insights in the Women's Health series describes the use of fezolinetant and neurokinin B antagonists as nonhormonal therapies for menopausal vasomotor symptoms.

Incidence, prevalence, and trends in polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis: a United States population-based study from 2006 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, yet US incidence estimates do not exist, and prevalence estimates vary widely. OBJECTIVE: A population-based US study estimated the incidence, prevalence, and trends of polycystic ovary syndrome by age, race and ethnicity, and diagnosing provider type. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Washington from 2006 to 2019 was conducted. All members identified as female, aged 16 to 40 years with at least 3 years of enrollment and at least 1 healthcare encounter during that time, were eligible for inclusion. Individuals were excluded if they had a history of oophorectomy or hysterectomy. Polycystic ovary syndrome cases were identified using the International Classification of Diseases diagnosis codes (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, 256.4 or International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, E28.2). Individuals with a polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis before study entry were excluded from incidence rate estimations. The incidence rates were adjusted by age using direct standardization to the 2010 US census data. Temporal trends in incidence were assessed using weighted linear regression (overall) and Poisson regression (by age, race and ethnicity, and provider type). Prevalent cases were defined as patients with a polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis at any time before the end of 2019. Medical record review of 700 incident cases diagnosed in 2011-2019 was performed to validate incident cases identified by International Classification of Diseases codes using the Rotterdam criteria. RESULTS: Among 177,527 eligible patients who contributed 586,470 person-years, 2491 incident polycystic ovary syndrome cases were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 26.9 years, and the mean body mass index was 31.6 kg/m2. Overall incidence was 42.5 per 10,000 person-years; the rates were similar over time but increased in individuals aged 16 to 20 years from 31.0 to 51.9 per 10,000 person-years (P=.01) and decreased among those aged 26 to 30 years from 82.8 to 45.0 per 10,000 person-years (P=.02). A small decreasing temporal trend in incidence rates was only observed among non-Hispanic White individuals (P=.01). The incidence rates by diagnosing provider type varied little over time. Among the 58,241 patients who contributed person-time in 2019, 3036 (5.2%) had a polycystic ovary syndrome International Classification of Diseases diagnosis code; the prevalence was the highest among the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander group (7.6%) followed by Native American and Hispanic groups. Medical record review classified 60% as definite or probable incident, 14% as possible incident, and 17% as prevalent polycystic ovary syndrome. The overall positive predictive value of polycystic ovary syndrome International Classification of Diseases diagnosis code for identifying definite, probable, or possible incident polycystic ovary syndrome was 76% (95% confidence interval, 72%-79%). CONCLUSION: Among a cohort of nonselected females in the United States, we observed stable rates of incident polycystic ovary syndrome diagnoses over time. The incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome was 4- to 5-fold greater than reported for the United Kingdom. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (5.2%) was almost double before the published US estimates (2.9%) based on the International Classification of Diseases codes. Race and ethnicity and provider type did not seem to have a major impact on temporal rates. Incident diagnoses increased over time in younger and decreased in older age groups, perhaps related to shifting practice patterns with greater awareness among practitioners of the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on long-term health outcomes and improved prevention efforts. Moreover, increasing obesity rates may be a factor driving the earlier ages at diagnosis.

Current Guidelines for Diagnosing PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder of reproductive-aged women. Much of the confusion surrounding PCOS diagnosis stems from the broad heterogeneity of symptomology experienced by women with PCOS. The diverse features of the syndrome have led to a number of diagnostic criteria over the years. This manuscript describes each of the current composite criteria and individually breaks down each component. The importance of accurate diagnosis for both clinical care and research is emphasized.

Predicting pregnancy chances leading to term live birth in oligo/anovulatory women diagnosed with PCOS.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Which patient features predict the time to pregnancy (TTP) leading to term live birth in infertile women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? DESIGN: Prospective cohort follow-up study was completed, in which initial standardized phenotyping was conducted at two Dutch university medical centres from January 2004 to January 2014. Data were linked to the Netherlands Perinatal Registry to obtain pregnancy outcomes for each participant. All women underwent treatment according to a standardized protocol, starting with ovulation induction as first-line treatment. Predictors of pregnancies (leading to term live births) during the first year after PCOS diagnosis were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1779 consecutive women diagnosed with PCOS between January 2004 and January 2014 were included. In the first year following screening, 659 (37%) women with PCOS attained a pregnancy leading to term birth (≥37 weeks of gestational age). A higher chance of pregnancy was associated with race, smoking, body mass index (BMI), insulin, total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations (c-statistic = 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of an increased chance of a live birth include White race, no current smoking, lower BMI, insulin and total testosterone concentrations, and higher SHBG concentrations. This study presents a nomogram to predict the chances of achieving a pregnancy (leading to a term live birth) within 1 year of treatment.

See one, do one, teach one: Reimagining reproductive endocrinology and infertility training programs to expand access to care.

Objective: To provide a review of the current literature surrounding barriers to reproductive medicine and present examples of how resident and fellow education can be used to overcome these barriers. Design: A review of the relevant literature addressing barriers to reproductive medicine, resident and fellow education, and related materials was completed. Setting: Academic medical institutions. Patients: None. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Health disparities and barriers in access to care. Results: Of barriers in access to care, 3 were reviewed in detail: cost of health care, racial inequities, and marginalization of immigrant communities. The suggested strategies to mitigate these barriers include the following: reducing racial inequities through improved diversity within reproductive medicine and through antiracism training, developing opportunities for trainees to engage in advocacy, strengthening reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinical exposure and educational curricula in training programs, inclusion of residents and fellows in clinical care, and improving the accessibility of fertility care through implementing approaches to optimize the management of infertility in challenging, resource-constrained settings. Conclusions: Infertility is one of the most prevalent reproductive health diseases, yet profound disparities and inequities in access to care exist today in the United States. Lower-income, minority, and immigrant communities are among those most marginalized. Improved access to care begins with broadened obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility trainee education, which acknowledges the barriers these communities face and provides strategies to help overcome these obstacles to care.

Incidence, prevalence, and trends in endometriosis diagnosis: a United States population-based study from 2006 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimates of incidence and prevalence of endometriosis among nonselected cohorts are lacking in the United States, and earlier reports have produced varying results. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to define endometriosis incidence and prevalence in a US population and evaluate factors influencing these estimates over time. STUDY DESIGN: A 10-year retrospective cohort study using Kaiser Permanente Washington electronic health records database was completed. The primary analysis included women enrollees aged 16 to 60 years, from January 2006 to December 2015, who had a uterus, were continuously enrolled for at least 2 years before cohort entry and had at least 1 healthcare utilization. Secondary analysis included all women enrollees aged 16 to 60 years during this time. Incident endometriosis was identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision, diagnosis codes. Annual incidence rates were age-adjusted by direct standardization to the 2015 study population. Secular trends in incidence overall and by 5-year age group, race and ethnicity, diagnosis modality, and practitioner type were assessed using Poisson regression analyses. Prevalent cases were defined as women enrolled in 2015 and had an endometriosis diagnosis before the end of 2015. The prevalence rates of chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision, diagnosis codes in 2006-2015 were estimated. RESULTS: Among 332,056 eligible women who contributed 1,176,329 person-years during the 10-year study period, 2863 incident endometriosis cases were identified for an average incidence of 24.3 cases per 10,000 person-years. In our primary analysis, incidence rates declined over the study interval from a high of 30.2 per 10,000 person-years in 2006 to 17.4 per 10,000 person-years in 2015 and were highest among women aged 36 to 45 years in most years. Incidence rates were similar across race and ethnicity groups. The distribution of the 2863 incident cases by the diagnosis modality was as follows: 45.5% surgical, 5.7% imaging, and 48.8% clinical. Endometriosis incidence rates per 10,000 person-years were similar in women who were surgically and clinically diagnosed and decreased significantly from 2006 to 2015 (surgically diagnosed endometriosis dropped from 13.4 to 7.4 and clinically diagnosed endometriosis dropped from 16.1 to 8.9; P value of <.001 for linear trend over time for each). Incident case distribution by diagnosing provider was as follows: 73.6% obstetrician and gynecologist, 15.7% primary care provider, and 10.7% "other." Incidence of endometriosis diagnosed by an obstetrician and gynecologist and primary care provider decreased over the study interval (P<.001 for linear trend over time for each). Method of diagnosis and provider type did not differ by race and ethnicity. Among 135,162 women who contributed person-time in 2015, 2521 women were diagnosed with endometriosis, a prevalence rate of 1.9%. In our secondary analysis, the frequency of chronic pelvic pain diagnosis increased over the study interval from 3.0% in 2006 to 5.6% in 2015. CONCLUSION: The incidence rates of endometriosis declined over the 10-year study interval and did so uniformly across age groups, races and ethnicities, and the main diagnosing modalities and providers. Declining rates may reflect a shift in practice patterns in the United States away from the diagnosis of endometriosis both clinically and surgically, rather than favoring more general diagnoses of chronic pelvic pain. The prevalence of endometriosis in 2015 in the United States is in keeping with data from recent studies outside the United States using health record data.

Cardiometabolic health in offspring of women with PCOS compared to healthy controls: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suffer from an unfavorable cardiometabolic risk profile, which is already established by child-bearing age. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The aim of this systematic review along with an individual participant data meta-analysis is to evaluate whether cardiometabolic features in the offspring (females and males aged 1-18 years) of women with PCOS (OPCOS) are less favorable compared to the offspring of healthy controls. SEARCH METHODS: PubMed, Embase and gray literature databases were searched by three authors independently (M.N.G., M.A.W and J.C.) (last updated on 1 February 2018). Relevant key terms such as 'offspring' and 'PCOS' were combined. Outcomes were age-specific standardized scores of various cardiometabolic parameters: BMI, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, lipid profile and the sum scores of various cardiometabolic features (metabolic sum score). Linear mixed models were used for analyses with standardized beta (ß) as outcome. OUTCOMES: Nine relevant observational studies could be identified, which jointly included 1367 children: OPCOS and controls, originating from the Netherlands, Chile and the USA. After excluding neonates, duplicate records and follow-up screenings, a total of 885 subjects remained. In adjusted analyses, we observed that OPCOS (n = 298) exhibited increased plasma levels of fasting insulin (ß = 0.21(95%CI: 0.01-0.41), P = 0.05), insulin-resistance (ß = 0.21(95%CI: 0.01-0.42), P = 0.04), triglycerides (ß = 0.19(95%CI: 0.02-0.36), P = 0.03) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations (ß = 0.31(95%CI: 0.08-0.54), P < 0.01), but a reduced birthweight (ß = -116(95%CI: -195 to 38), P < 0.01) compared to controls (n = 587). After correction for multiple testing, however, differences in insulin and triglycerides lost their statistical significance. Interaction tests for sex revealed differences between males and females when comparing OPCOS versus controls. A higher 2-hour fasting insulin was observed among female OPCOS versus female controls (estimated difference for females (ßf) = 0.45(95%CI: 0.07 to 0.83)) compared to the estimated difference between males ((ßm) = -0.20(95%CI: -0.58 to 0.19)), with interaction-test: P = 0.03. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol differences in OPCOS versus controls were lower among females (ßf = -0.39(95%CI: -0.62 to 0.16)), but comparable between male OPCOS and male controls (ßm = 0.27(95%CI: -0.03 to 0.57)), with interaction-test: P < 0.01. Total cholesterol differences in OPCOS versus controls were also lower in females compared to the difference in male OPCOS and male controls (ßf = -0.31(95%CI: -0.57 to 0.06), ßm = 0.28(95%CI: -0.01 to 0.56), interaction-test: P = 0.01). The difference in HDL-cholesterol among female OPCOS versus controls (ßf = 0.53(95%CI: 0.18-0.88)) was larger compared to the estimated mean difference among OPCOS males and the male controls (ßm = 0.13(95%CI: -0.05-0.31), interaction-test: P < 0.01). Interaction test in metabolic sum score revealed a significant difference between females (OPCOS versus controls) and males (OPCOS versus controls); however, sub analyses performed in both sexes separately did not reveal a difference among females (OPCOS versus controls: ßf = -0.14(95%CI: -1.05 to 0.77)) or males (OPCOS versus controls: ßm = 0.85(95%CI: -0.10 to 1.79)), with P-value < 0.01. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: We observed subtle signs of altered cardiometabolic health in OPCOS. Therefore, the unfavorable cardiovascular profile of women with PCOS at childbearing age may-next to a genetic predisposition-influence the health of their offspring. Sensitivity analyses revealed that these differences were predominantly observed among female offspring aged between 1 and 18 years. Moreover, studies with minimal risk of bias should elucidate the influence of a PCOS diagnosis in mothers on both sexes during fetal development and subsequently during childhood.

Pre-Conception Characteristics Predict Obstetrical and Neonatal Outcomes in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Context: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at increased risk for obstetric and perinatal complications. At present, it is unknown how characteristics of PCOS relate to the likelihood of these complications. Objective: To evaluate which preconception features are associated with obstetric and perinatal disease among infertile women with PCOS. Design: Data from two prospective cohort studies completed from January 2004 until January 2014 were linked to Dutch Perinatal national registry outcomes. Setting: Two Dutch university medical centers. Participants: 2768 women diagnosed with PCOS were included. Participants underwent an extensive standardized preconception screening. Exclusion criteria included: age <18 years or >45 years, language barrier, or failure to meet PCOS criteria. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures were obtained from the Dutch Perinatal national registry and included: preeclampsia, preterm delivery, small for gestational age (SGA), low Apgar score, and any adverse outcome. Results: 1715 (62% of participants) women with PCOS were identified as undergoing a pregnancy with live birth after screening. In fully adjusted models, prepregnancy free androgen index was associated with subsequent preeclampsia [OR (95% CI), 1.1 (1.0 to 1.1)]. Fasting glucose [1.4 (1.2 to 1.7)] and testosterone [1.5 (1.2 to 1.7)] predicted preterm delivery. Fasting insulin [1.003 (1.001 to 1.005)], and testosterone [1.2 (1.1 to 1.4)] predicted any adverse outcome. SGA was only predicted by features nonspecific to PCOS. Conclusions: Primary disease characteristics of PCOS, chiefly hyperandrogenism and impaired glucose tolerance, predict suboptimal obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Increased surveillance during pregnancy should focus on women with PCOS and these features to help mitigate disease risk.

Estrogen deprivation and cardiovascular disease risk in primary ovarian insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between estrogen (E) exposure and deficiency and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted between 1996 and 2016. SETTING: Tertiary referral centers. PATIENT(S): A total of 385 women with POI, defined by amenorrhea and FSH levels ≥40 IU/L before 40 years of age, were recruited. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Women underwent a standardized intake questionnaire including data on menstrual cyclicity. Lifetime E exposure and E-free period were assessed. Serum was analyzed for endocrine and CVD profiles. The Framingham 30-year risk of CVD was calculated. RESULT(S): Lifetime E exposure (mean ± SD) was 19.3 ± 7.0 years, E-free period was 3.1 ± 4.1 years, and age at screening was 34.8 ± 7.4 years. In multivariate models E-free interval associated positively with estimated risk of hard and general CVD events (ß 0.18 [95% confidence interval 0.08, 0.29]; 0.20 [0.05, 0.35], respectively), and lifetime E exposure associated negatively with estimated risk of hard and general CVD events (-0.15 [-0.24, -0.05]; -0.16 [-0.29, -0.03], respectively), as well as low density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.03 [-0.06, 0.00]) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.04 [-0.07, 0.00]). CONCLUSION(S): Prolonged E deprivation is associated with an increased estimated risk of CVD, whereas prolonged E exposure is associated with a reduced estimated risk. These results support the policy of early and continued use of E replacement therapy in women with POI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT0230904.

Bariatric Surgery Improves Hyperandrogenism, Menstrual Irregularities, and Metabolic Dysfunction Among Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the impact of bariatric surgery on reproductive and metabolic features common to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess the relevance of preoperative evaluations in predicting likelihood of benefit from surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of records from 930 women who had undergone bariatric surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 2009 to 2014 was completed. Cases of PCOS were identified from ICD coding and healthy women with pelvic ultrasound evaluations were identified using Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System coding. Pre- and postoperative anthropometric evaluations, menstrual cyclicity, ovarian volume (OV) as well as markers of hyperandrogenism, dyslipidemia, and dysglycemia were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-four women with PCOS and 65 controls were evaluated. Both PCOS and non-PCOS had significant reductions in body mass index (BMI) and markers of dyslipidemia postoperatively (p < 0.05). PCOS had significant reductions in androgen levels (p < 0.05) and percent meeting criteria for hyperandrogenism and irregular menses (p < 0.05). OV did not significantly decline in either group postoperatively. Among PCOS, independent of preoperative BMI and age, preoperative OV associated with change in hemoglobin A1c (ß 95% (confidence interval) 0.202 (0.011-0.393), p = 0.04) and change in triglycerides (6.681 (1.028-12.334), p = 0.03), and preoperative free testosterone associated with change in total cholesterol (3.744 (0.906-6.583), p = 0.02) and change in non-HDL-C (3.125 (0.453-5.796), p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery improves key diagnostic features seen in women with PCOS and ovarian volume, and free testosterone may have utility in predicting likelihood of metabolic benefit from surgery.

Ultrasound features of polycystic ovaries relate to degree of reproductive and metabolic disturbance in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To reexamine associations between polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) and degree of symptomatology in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using a well-defined PCOS population, newer ultrasound technology, and reliable offline assessments of sonographic parameters. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Academic hospital and clinical research unit. PATIENT(S): Forty-nine women with PCOS as defined by hyperandrogenism and oligoamenorrhea. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number of follicles per follicle size category, antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume (OV), follicle distribution pattern, stromal area, ovarian area, stromal to ovarian area ratio (S/A) and stromal echogenicity index (SI), total (TT), androstenedione, LH, FSH, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A1C, menstrual cycle length, hirsutism score, body mass index (BMI), waist:hip ratio, and blood pressure. RESULT(S): AFC, but not OV, was positively associated with TT (ρ = .610), androstenedione (ρ = .490), and LH:FSH (ρ = .402). SI was positively associated with androgen markers and LH:FSH, while S/A was negatively associated with these variables. Follicles ≤4 mm were negatively associated with various metabolic markers, whereas larger follicles (5-8 mm) showed positive associations. Stromal markers were not associated with cardiometabolic measures. LH:FSH best predicted follicles ≤4 mm, and BMI predicted 5- to 9-mm follicles. Dominant follicles ≥10 mm were best predicted by age. CONCLUSION(S): AFC, and not OV, reflected the severity of reproductive dysfunction in PCOS. Associations among different sized follicles were consistent with recruitable sized follicles, which reflects the severity of metabolic dysfunction in PCOS.

Follicle number, not assessments of the ovarian stroma, represents the best ultrasonographic marker of polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic potential of ultrasonographic markers of ovarian morphology, used alone or in combination, to predict polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: A diagnostic test study using cross-sectional data collected from 2006-2011. SETTING: Academic hospital and clinical research unit. PATIENT(S): Eighty-two women with PCOS and 60 healthy female volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follicle number per ovary (FNPO), ovarian volume (OV), follicle number per single cross-section (FNPS), follicle distribution pattern, stromal area, ovarian area, stromal-to-ovarian area ratio (S:A), and stromal index (SI). RESULT(S): Follicle number per ovary best predicted PCOS (R(2) = 67%) with 85% sensitivity and 98% specificity, followed by OV (R(2) = 44%), and FNPS (R(2) = 36%). Neither S:A nor SI had predictive power for PCOS. In combination, FNPO+S:A and FNPO+SI most significantly predicted PCOS (R(2) = 74% vs. 73%, respectively). The diagnostic potentials of OV and FNPS were substantially improved when used in combination (OV+FNPO, R(2) = 55%). CONCLUSION(S): As a single metric, FNPO best predicted PCOS. Although the addition of S:A or SI improved the predictive power of FNPO, gains were marginal, suggesting limited use in clinical practice. When image quality precludes a reliable estimation of FNPO, measurements of OV+FNPS provide the next closest level of diagnostic potential.