The Value of the Free Androgen Index Depends on the Phenotype of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Single-Centre Experience

In 2019, a study involving 312 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was conducted to assess the free androgen index (FAI) in relation to PCOS phenotype and insulin resistance status. The study found that FAI values varied among PCOS patients, with the metabolic PCOS phenotype showing a two-fold higher FAI value than the reproductive phenotype. The correlation between FAI values and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting insulin (FI) was 0.42 and 0.47, respectively. The study concluded that PCOS patients are not a homogenous group in terms of FAI value, suggesting the need for further studies on the metabolic and androgenic status of different PCOS phenotypes.