title: Prevalence of hyperandrogenic states in late adolescent and young women: epidemiological survey on italian high-school students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most of the estimates of the prevalence of hyperandrogenic states refer to the general adult population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of hyperandrogenic states in late adolescence and youth and to evaluate potential independent predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in high schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients included female students, aged 16-19 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study protocol was designed with 3 possible levels of participation: the first level consisted of a self-compiled questionnaire; the second level added a medical examination; and the third level added a blood sample for laboratory testing. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure total testosterone, and a reference interval was established in-house.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We offered participation to 2052 students, and 1469 of those compiled the questionnaire. Of these, 1038 were examined, and 519 also provided blood samples. Two hundred three of the 1038 examined students and 125 of the 519 students who provided blood samples were subsequently excluded because of treatment with oral contraceptives or because of endocrine disorders. In the sample of women with a questionnaire + a medical examination, 13% were affected by isolated menstrual irregularity, 16.1% by isolated clinical hyperandrogenism, and 3.8% by both states. A similar prevalence of isolated menstrual irregularity (10.2%) and isolated clinical hyperandrogenism (16.7%) was found in the subsample of women with laboratory tests; in addition, 6.6% showed isolated hyperandrogenemia, and 4.3% proved to be affected by polycystic ovary syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides for the first time a reliable assessment of the prevalence of hyperandrogenic states in late adolescent and young females and confirms that hyperandrogenic disorders originate at a young age.
authors: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, St Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Gambineri
authors: Flaminia
authors: F
authors: Fanelli
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Prontera
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Repaci
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Di Dalmazi
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Zanotti
authors: Uberto
authors: U
authors: Pagotto
authors: Maria Elena
authors: ME
authors: Flacco
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Guidi
authors: Giovanni Andrea
authors: GA
authors: Fava
authors: Lamberto
authors: L
authors: Manzoli
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Pasquali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000465:Algorithms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult