The Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Criteria Are Insufficiently Robust for Clinical Research
August 2007
in “
Clinical Endocrinology
”
Studysummary This review discusses the diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome and reports no new results; the authors propose more robust criteria to address diagnostic variability and measurement uncertainty. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
In the 2007 review, the authors criticized the diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as being insufficiently robust for clinical research. They pointed out the high phenotypic variability of PCOS, the low positive predictive value of single luteinizing hormone measurements, and the lack of a clear definition for hyperandrogenemia. The review also noted significant bias and variability in the assessment of anovulation and ovarian imaging, with inter-observer agreement as low as 51% for ultrasound imaging. The authors proposed new criteria for diagnosing PCOS, including validated scoring systems for clinical hyperandrogenism, specific protocols for blood sample analysis, cited methods for progesterone measurement, and consideration of insulin sensitivity. They concluded that the current diagnostic strategies were too vague, leading to potential misdiagnosis and hindering research into PCOS.
