title: The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a community sample of Iranian population: Iranian PCOS prevalence study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the heavy burden and impact of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in reproduction and public health, estimates regarding its prevalence at community levels are limited. We aimed to ascertain prevalence of PCOS in a community based sample using the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Rotterdam consensus (Rott.) and the Androgen Excess Society (AES) criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling method, 1126 women were randomly selected from among reproductive aged women of different geographic regions of Iran. PCOS were diagnosed using universal assessment of ultrasonographic parameters, hormonal profiles and clinical histories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean +/- SD of age of study population was 34.4 +/- 7.6 years. Estimated prevalence of idiopathic hirsutism was 10.9% (95% CI: 8.9-12.9%); 8.3% of women had only oligo/anovulation and 8.0% had only polycystic ovaries. The prevalence of PCOS was 7.1% (95% CI: 5.4-8.8%) using the NIH definition, 11.7% (95% CI: 9.5-13.7%) by AES criteria and 14.6% (95% CI: 12.3-16.9%) using the Rott definition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At community level, widespread screening of Rotterdam criteria will increase the estimated prevalence of PCOS over twofold. Establishing an explicit and contemporaneous method for definition and screening of each PCOS criteria has important investigational implications and increase the comparability of published research.
authors: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ramezani@endocrine.ac.ir
authors: Fahimeh Ramezani
authors: FR
authors: Tehrani
authors: Masoumeh
authors: M
authors: Simbar
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Tohidi
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Hosseinpanah
authors: Fereidoun
authors: F
authors: Azizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence