Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Unselected Black and White Women of the Southeastern United States: A Prospective Study

    Eric S. Knochenhauer, Timothy J. Key, Melissa Kahsar-Miller, W. Waggoner, Larry R. Boots, Ricardo Azziz
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    TLDR PCOS affects a similar percentage of Black and White women in the Southeastern United States.
    In a prospective study from 1998, the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was assessed in 369 women (174 White and 195 Black) aged 18-45 in the Southeastern United States. PCOS was defined by oligoovulation, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and exclusion of other disorders. Out of 277 women who underwent a history and hormonal evaluation, 4.0% were diagnosed with PCOS, with 4.7% of White women and 3.4% of Black women affected. The study found no significant racial differences in the prevalence of hirsutism, which ranged from 2-8%. The findings indicated that PCOS is a common reproductive endocrinological disorder among women in this region.
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