title: The phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome ameliorates with aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of aging on the features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective longitudinal follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PCOS, diagnosed according to the 2003 Rotterdam criteria, who visited the outpatient clinic on consecutive occasions with a minimum interval of 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparisons were made between the first visit and the consecutive visit grouped by intervals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in clinical and endocrine characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 254 women visited the outpatient clinic on 2 occasions each. Consecutive visits were grouped into 0.5 to 3.9 years (n = 172; mean follow-up, 2.6 years) and 4.0 to 7.0 years (n = 82; mean follow-up, 5.5 years). At their second visit, significantly more women had regained a regular cycle. The total antral follicle count was similar. Serum levels of testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate had decreased significantly. Plasma glucose levels had increased, whereas serum insulin levels and homeostasis model assessment score had significantly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCOS phenotype changed with aging, suggesting an amelioration of the phenotype and ovarian dysfunction as indicated by the increase in number of regular menstrual cycles, decrease in serum androgen levels, and decrease in insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Zoe A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Yvonne V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Louwers
authors.forename: Sharon Lie
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Valkenburg
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birnie
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Bart C J M
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Fauser
authors.forename: Joop S E
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Laven
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009426:Netherlands; D010053:Ovary / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate