The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Community Sample of Iranian Population: Iranian PCOS Prevalence Study

In 2011, a study involving 1126 Iranian women aged 18-45 found that the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) varied significantly based on the diagnostic criteria used. The prevalence rates were 7.1% using the National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria, 11.7% with the Androgen Excess Society (AES) criteria, and 14.6% according to the Rotterdam consensus (Rott.) criteria. The study highlighted that using the Rotterdam criteria could more than double the reported prevalence of PCOS in community screenings. Additionally, the study revealed that primary infertility rates were higher in women with PCOS and that regional prevalence ranged from 2.2% to 26%, indicating the influence of different diagnostic criteria and recruitment methods. The authors emphasized the need for a consistent and clear method for defining and screening PCOS to enhance the comparability of research findings.