What May Be the Markers of the Male Equivalent of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

The study explored the possibility of a male equivalent to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by examining 30 men with premature alopecia, which began before age 30. Researchers identified two subgroups: one with hormonal changes similar to women with PCOS and another with no significant hormonal anomalies or only lower levels of SHBG. Both subgroups had similar BMI and age. The subgroup with PCOS-like hormonal changes exhibited significantly higher insulin resistance, akin to the prevalence of PCOS in women. Approximately one-third of the men showed both hormonal shifts and increased insulin resistance, suggesting a potential male phenotype of PCOS. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of allele 3 INS VNTR between the subgroups.