Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Salvador, Brazil: A Prevalence Study in Primary Healthcare

The study conducted in Salvador, Brazil, with a sample of 859 women, found that the prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was 8.5% using the Rotterdam criteria. Women with PCOS were generally younger, taller, had fewer children, were better educated, and had higher total testosterone levels and a higher LH/FSH ratio compared to those without PCOS. The study also noted the difficulty in diagnosing hirsutism and acne due to cultural and ethnic influences on body image perceptions. This research was significant as it was the first to estimate the prevalence of PCOS in Brazil or South America and suggested that sociocultural factors should be considered in future PCOS research.