The predictive power of endocrine tests for the diagnosis of polycystic ovaries in women with oligoamenorrhea

Various hormonal parameters and the best logistic regression model to predi ct disease probability were evaluated in women with polycystic ovary syndro me (PCOS). Concentrations of LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, testosterone, free test osterone, SHBG and insulin in serum were recorded in 32 women with PCOS and in 25 controls. A model including LH/FSH ratio, insulin and testosterone m easurements yielded the best goodness of fit for classification of women wi th and without PCOS in the logistic regression analysis. Only LH/FSH ratio and insulin were retained as significant variables. The diagnostic characte ristics of LH/FSH ratio and insulin for PCOS when compared by receiver-oper ator characteristic analysis were found to be equally effective. By combini ng these two variables a higher area under curve was obtained. LH/FSH ratio , insulin or the combination of these two can predict the disease probabili ty in women with PCOS.