TLDR FAI is a reliable marker for identifying and monitoring hyperandrogenism in obese adolescent females with PCOS.
The study assessed the diagnostic value of the free androgen index (FAI) in obese adolescent females with idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It included patients aged 12 to 21 years and calculated FAI as the ratio of total testosterone to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Results indicated that an FAI level under 3.45 suggested healthy participants, while an FAI above 6.15 was indicative of PCOS. The study concluded that FAI is a reliable marker for identifying and monitoring hyperandrogenism in this demographic, and the reference values established could be applied in clinical practice.
71 citations
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July 2015 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Women with PCOS have higher androgen levels that decrease with age but are still higher than in women without PCOS.
17 citations
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February 2014 in “Pediatric Research” 
1514 citations
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December 2011 in “Fertility and sterility” Experts agree that PCOS affects women's health in complex ways, but more research is needed to understand and treat it effectively.
947 citations
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February 2004 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Most women with excess male hormones have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and hormonal therapy can improve symptoms but may cause side effects.
491 citations
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July 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Polycystic ovary syndrome is found in 6.5% of unselected Caucasian women in Spain.
298 citations
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July 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” About 6.5% of young Caucasian women in Spain have polycystic ovary syndrome.
378 citations
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September 1998 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” PCOS affects about 4% of women in the southeastern U.S. equally across Black and White populations.
5 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of Academic Research in Medicine” FAI is a reliable marker for identifying and monitoring hyperandrogenism in obese adolescent females with PCOS.
10 citations
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January 2011 in “Skin therapy letter” Women with PCOS often have acne because of high androgen levels, and the article reviewed how to treat this type of acne.
