Diagnostic Criteria for PCOS: Is There a Need for a Rethink?

The document from October 31, 2016, discussed the need for reassessment of the diagnostic criteria for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The paper highlighted the historical evolution of PCOS diagnosis, from its initial identification in 1935 based on symptoms like hirsutism, chronic anovulation, bilateral ovarian enlargement, and obesity, to the introduction of hormonal assays focusing on increased serum androgen and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. The Rotterdam criteria, which required two out of three criteria (hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries), increased the prevalence of PCOS diagnosis by about 50%. However, the paper suggested that while the fundamental principle of the Rotterdam criteria should not be reviewed, the three items used for classification should be updated due to their lack of sensitivity and/or specificity. The document concluded by emphasizing the need for a new consensus conference to establish rigorous and strict recommendations for PCOS diagnosis.