Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in girls aged 14-18 years in Isfahan, Iran.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of clinical polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in 14- to 18-year-old high school girls in Isfahan, Iran.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 1,000 high school girls (14-18 years old) were selected by multi-stage random sampling from different high schools in Isfahan. Following physical examination, a single physician recorded the presence of hirsutism, severe acne, androgenic alopecia, menstrual dysfunction and obesity using a validated questionnaire. Clinical PCOS was diagnosed if menstrual dysfunction and clinical hyperandrogenism were detected.


RESULTS
Clinical PCOS was present in 30 (3%), hirsutism in 60 (6%), menstrual dysfunction in 74 (7.4%) and severe acne in 47 (4.7%) of the population studied.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of clinical PCOS in our study population was similar to those of other studies; however, the prevalence could have been higher with hormonal assessment.
Hashemipour
Mahin
M
Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Isfahan, Iran. emrc@mui.ac.ir
Faghihimani
Sussan
S
Zolfaghary
Behzad
B
Hovsepian
Silva
S
Ahmadi
Fahimeh
F
Haghighi
Sassan
S
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000453:epidemiology; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*