title: Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women seeking treatment from community electrologists. Alabama Professional Electrology Association Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women seeking electrology, clients presenting to nine electrology centers completed a questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with potential risk factors were referred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They underwent a detailed history and physical examination, including hirsutism scoring by a modified Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) method. Serum was assayed for total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred fifteen (40%) of 779 patients had potential risk factors for hyperandrogenism and were referred. Eighty-two (26%) completed their evaluation. Six were excluded secondary to prepubertal or menopausal status. Of the remaining 76 patients, 20% had F-G scores of 7 or 8, 13% had scores of 9 or 10, and 21% had scores > 10. Forty-nine (64%) patients reported irregular menstrual cycles. Sixty-four patients were not receiving hormonal therapy: 25 reported regular menstrual cycles, and 39 reported irregular cycles. Seventeen (68%) of the 25 had at least one abnormal androgen value, while 33 (85%) of the 39 women had at least one abnormal value (nonsignificant difference). Overall, PCOS was evident in 39 of the 76 women, or 12% of the 315 patients who were referred for further evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thirty-nine of the 315 referred patients (12%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PCOS. However, they were not receiving medical care for this condition. In addition, this percentage is a conservative estimate in that 74% of the referred patients did not pursue a medical evaluation. Therefore, efforts to educate both electrologists and their clients of the possibility of underlying endocrine disorders and subsequent metabolic morbidity should be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35233-7333, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lazenby
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Boots
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azziz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015994:Incidence; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors