Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Associated With Anogenital Distance, A Marker Of Prenatal Androgen Exposure

The 2017 study examined the link between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anogenital distance (AGD), a potential indicator of prenatal androgen exposure. Including 156 PCOS patients and 180 healthy controls, the research found that women with PCOS had significantly longer AGD measurements. Specifically, those with the longest AGDAF were 18.8 times more likely to have PCOS, and those with the longest AGDAC were 6.7 times more likely to have the condition. Additionally, in the PCOS group, AGD was positively correlated with testosterone levels and the presence of polycystic ovaries. These results suggest that prenatal androgen exposure might contribute to the development of PCOS, although causality cannot be confirmed by this observational study.