A Prospective Study of the Prevalence of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Unselected Caucasian Women from Spain

In a study conducted from May to June 1999, researchers found that the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among 154 unselected Caucasian women of reproductive age in Madrid, Spain, was 6.5%. The diagnosis of PCOS was based on the presence of oligomenorrhea, clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and the exclusion of other disorders. The study also reported a 7.1% prevalence of hirsutism and a 12.3% prevalence of acne in the sample. Women with PCOS and those with hyperandrogenemia and regular cycles were characterized by younger age and had higher levels of testosterone, free androgen index, and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, along with decreased levels of sex hormone-binding globulin. There were no significant differences in body mass index, waist to hip ratios, or history of carbohydrate intolerance or hypertension among the groups. The findings indicated that PCOS and hirsutism are common among this population of women, especially at younger ages.