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Chapter 3 - The Epidemiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2022

By
Larisa Suturina
Edited by
Gabor T. Kovacs ,
Bart Fauser  and
Richard S. Legro
Gabor T. Kovacs
Affiliation:
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Bart Fauser
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
Richard S. Legro
Affiliation:
Penn State Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
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Summary

The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common female endocrine disorders, depends on the diagnostic criteria used and the study population (referral or unselected). It is also thought to be influenced by race and ethnicity. This chapter presents the current knowledge on the epidemiological aspects of PCOS and its prevalence based on the different diagnostic criteria – National Institutes of Health (NIH) 1990; European Society of Human Reproduction (ESHRE) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) (Rotterdam 2003); and Androgen Excess and PCOS (AE-PCOS) Society 2006 – estimated in the selected and the unselected medically unbiased populations. The evidence-based data regarding the relationship between PCOS and race as well as ethnicity are also discussed. Finally, this chapter presents the key points on the best practices for epidemiologic studies in PCOS as outlined in the current guidelines.

Keywords

PCOSepidemiologyprevalencepopulationdiagnostic criteriaraceethnicity
Type
Chapter
Information
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome , pp. 21 - 28
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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