title: The Rotterdam criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome: evidence-based criteria?
abstract: The Rotterdam criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are used by a wide range of medical professionals and researchers. However, the development of these criteria was based on expert meetings and not on evidence-based treatment guidance. Over the last decade, the Rotterdam criteria have been useful in guiding research, and a number of clinical studies on PCOS have been published consequently. We plead to revisit the Rotterdam criteria based on the available evidence in prognostic studies and randomized controlled trials. In this opinion paper, we provide arguments of the strengths and limitations of the Rotterdam criteria in guiding treatment selections and predicting prognoses in women with infertility. While the Rotterdam criteria have shown their advantages in predicting reproductive prognosis, the next step is to evaluate whether they can guide treatment choices in infertility as well as other health aspects of the syndrome. Based on available data in clinical studies, we should be able to determine whether the Rotterdam criteria are evidence-based criteria.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, 55 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.|Reproductive Medicine Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, 55 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.|The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben Willem J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
keywords: Rotterdam criteria; anovulation; diagnostic criteria; infertility; polycystic ovary syndrome