Subclinical Hypothyroidism Does Not Influence the Metabolic and Hormonal Profile of Women with PCOS

The study involving 280 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) over 7 years found that subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), present in 21 patients (7.5%), does not significantly affect the metabolic and hormonal profile of these women. There were no notable differences in anthropometric measurements, serum lipids, hormonal parameters (with minor exceptions), ovarian volume, or endometrial thickness between PCOS patients with and without SCH. Although some differences were observed in the 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for glucose and insulin, insulin sensitivity indices were similar across both groups. The study concluded that SCH has a minimal impact on PCOS patients and highlighted the need for larger, multi-institutional studies due to the low prevalence of SCH in the PCOS population. The study also noted that the prevalence of SCH in PCOS patients was lower than previously reported and that there were no increased markers of insulin resistance. Despite its large cohort and thorough clinical and biochemical assessment, the study calls for further research to clarify the relationship between SCH and the metabolic profile of PCOS patients, as current evidence is inconclusive regarding the need for differential treatment. The study was conducted ethically, with no funding or conflicts of interest influencing the results.