ENDOCRINOLOGIC, ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL FINDINGS IN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT POLYCYSTIC OVARY PATIENTS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

This study was performed to compare clinical and endocrine features an d ultrasonographic data of adolescent (less than or equal to 18 years old) and adult (greater than or equal to 19 years old) patients with u ltrasound-diagnosed polycystic ovaries (PCOs) in our Reproductive Endo crinology outpatient clinic. The adolescent group included 35 PCO pati ents while 125 were in the adult group. Hirsutism was present in 64.7% of the adolescent group and in 49.6% of the adult group. Menstrual ir regularities were detected as oligomenorrhea (42.8%), amenorrhea (20%) and irregular but normal cycles (17.4%) in the adolescent group; the figures for the adult group were 46.4, 8.8 and 23.2%, respectively. Th ese differences were not statistically significant. The mean body mass index of the adult PCO group was significantly higher than the adoles cent PCO group (p < 0.05). The endocrine features (estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, total testo sterone, free testosterone, 17-OH progesterone, androstenedione, thyro id stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)) and th e ovarian volume of both groups were comparable. There was a significa nt positive correlation between ovarian volume and serum LH, total tes tosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione and DHEAS in both groups . We conclude that polycystic ovarian syndrome is a disorder with peri menarchal onset, the clinical, endocrine and ultrasound features of wh ich will not change by age, although patients are prone to gain weight as they get older.