Estimated prevalence of undiagnosed glucose intolerance from hyperandrogenic anovulation among women requesting electrolysis.
OBJECTIVE
Hyperandrogenic anovulation is the principal risk factor for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in young women. Since many of these women undergo depilatory therapy, the purpose of this study was to estimate the probability of undiagnosed glucose intolerance associated with hyperandrogenic anovulation among premenopausal women requesting electrolysis.


METHODS
Case-series study.


METHODS
Women (N = 791) attending one of 27 electrology clinics in the United States, Canada and Germany received questionnaires requesting anthropometric data; personal information regarding age, surgery and medication use, and family histories of excess hair growth in female relatives and diabetes in parents or siblings.


RESULTS
Of 652 respondents less than age 50 years, 643 (98.6%) women had hirsutism, of whom 465 had regular menstrual cycles. One hundred seventy-eight (27.3%) women less than 50 years of age had hirsutism with irregular menses, and one-half of these women also were obese. Regardless of adiposity, one-third of hirsute women with menstrual irregularity knew the cause of their androgen excess, while the remaining two-thirds were unaware of the reason for their excess hair growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Assuming a 20% risk of glucose intolerance in obese hyperandrogenic anovulatory women by the fourth decade of life, the estimated prevalence of undiagnosed glucose intolerance from hyperandrogenic anovulation is 1.7% among women requesting electrolysis before age 50 years.
Dumesic
D A
DA
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Herrmann
R R
RR
O'Brien
A M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D000858:Anovulation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003625:Data Collection; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000728:Androgens; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral