Presence of polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with longer anogenital distance in adult Mediterranean women

The study conducted between September 2014 and May 2016 with 126 women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 159 control subjects found that women with PCOS had significantly longer anogenital distances (AGD), particularly the distance from the anterior clitoral surface to the upper verge of the anus (AGDAC), even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI), age, and episiotomy. Women in the upper tertile of AGDAC measurements were 2.9 times more likely to have PCOS. These results suggest that longer AGD may be a biomarker for PCOS, potentially due to the influence of the intrauterine hormonal environment on the development of PCOS. However, the study did not find significant associations between AGD and reproductive hormone levels or antral follicle count. Despite its limitations, such as the potential for chance findings and the inability to establish causality, the study provides initial evidence that prenatal androgen exposure may be linked to PCOS in adulthood.