Clinical Characteristics in Taiwanese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The document from 2015 examines the clinical characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Taiwanese women, noting that symptoms and complications vary with factors like phenotype, body weight, age, and ethnicity. It states that obese women with PCOS are more prone to issues such as irregular periods, hyperandrogenemia, and insulin resistance, and that the LH to FSH ratio is a key diagnostic tool, particularly for oligomenorrhea. Taiwanese women with PCOS tend to have less hirsutism but more acne compared to Caucasian women. The study also indicates that obesity worsens PCOS symptoms and increases the risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, the document reports that PCOS features change with age, with younger women experiencing more severe hyperandrogenism but lower insulin resistance and BMI compared to older women. A cross-sectional study of 453 women with PCOS showed these age-related differences. The document concludes that while younger women with PCOS face hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation, older women are more affected by insulin resistance and metabolic issues due to increased body weight. Factors like early menarche, high inflammatory markers and liver enzymes, and low SHBG levels are linked to higher cardiovascular and metabolic risks. Overweight and obesity are highlighted as major determinants of cardiovascular and metabolic disturbances in women of reproductive age.