title: "Menstrual irregularities in PCOS. Does it matter when it starts?".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  PCOS is presented by a broad spectrum of menstrual irregularities appearing often at puberty or later on during the reproductive years in women suffering from this multifaceted syndrome. To our knowledge, there is no evidence to suggest whether the time of onset of menstrual irregularities (peri or post pubertal) indicates a differential metabolic and/or hormonal profile as well as ovarian ultrasonographic findings, in adulthood in women with PCOS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare anthropometric, hormonal-metabolic profile and ultrasound findings in PCOS women with peripubertal onset of menstrual disorders with the corresponding data obtained from PCOS patients with post pubertal onset of menstrual irregularities, matched for BMI and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  89 PCOS women were evaluated cross-sectionally at the age of 25 years. In 49 subjects menstrual irregularities were present from menarche, whereas in 40 women the irregularities appeared at least 3 years post menarche.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anthropometric parameters were comparable between the 2 groups. The 2 groups did not differ on metabolic and hormonal profile as well as ovarian ultrasound findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that the timing of menstrual irregularities, do not appear to have an impact, on hormonal/metabolic profile and ovarian ultrasound morphology in patients diagnosed with PCOS, later in life.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Medicine, Endocrine Section, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. sarntis@gmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Livadas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karachalios
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xyrafis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boutzios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zerva
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tantalaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palimeri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diamanti-Kandarakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006062:Gonadotropins; D008055:Lipids