A prospective study of the prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome in unselected Caucasian women from Spain

We prospectively estimated the prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as defined by the NIH/NICHHD 1990 endocrine criteria, in a populati on of 154 Caucasian women of reproductive age reporting spontaneously for b lood donation. Anthropometric data; the presence of hirsutism, acne, and an drogenic alopecia; and the menstrual history were recorded by a single inve stigator. In 145 women, blood samples were also obtained for measurement of serum androgen levels. PCOS was defined by the presence of 1) oligomenorrh ea, 2) clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and 3) exclusion of hy perprolactinemia, thyroid disorders, and nonclassic al-hydroxylase deficien cy. Hirsutism was defined by a modified Ferriman-Gallwey score of 8 or more , acne was considered as a sign of hyperandrogenism when persistent after t he second decade of life, and hyperandrogenemia was defined by an increase in circulating testosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or an increas e in the free androgen index above the 95th percentile of the control value s derived from the nonhirsute, nonacneic women having regular menses who we re not receiving hormonal therapy. PCOS was present in 10 (6.5%), hirsutism was present in 11 (7.1%), and acne was present in 19 (12.3%) of the 154 wo men. Our results demonstrate a 6.5% prevalence of PCOS, as defined, in a mi nimally biased population of Caucasian women from Spain. The polycystic ova ry syndrome, hirsutism, and acne are common endocrine disorders in women.