ESTIMATED PREVALENCE OF UNDIAGNOSED GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE FROM HYPERANDROGENIC ANOVULATION AMONG WOMEN REQUESTING ELECTROLYSIS

Objective-Hyperandrogenic anovulation is the principal risk factor for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in young women. Since many of these women undergo depilatory therapy, the purpose of this s tudy was to estimate the probability of undiagnosed glucose intoleranc e associated with hyperandrogenic anovulation among premenopausal wome n requesting electrolysis. Design-Case-series study. Interventions-Wom en (N = 791) attending one of 27 electrology clinics in the United Sta tes, Canada and Germany received questionnaires requesting anthropomet ric data; personal information regarding age, surgery and medication u se; and family histories of excess hair growth in female relatives and diabetes in parents or siblings. Results-Of 652 respondents less than age 50 years, 643 (98.6%) women had hirsutism, of whom 465 had regula r menstrual cycles. One hundred seventy-eight (27.3%) women less than 50 years of age had hirsutism with irregular menses, and one-half of t hese women also were obese. Regardless of adiposity, one-third of hirs ute women with menstrual irregularity knew the cause of their androgen excess, while the remaining two-thirds were unaware of the reason for their excess hair growth. Conclusions-Assuming a 20% risk of glucose intolerance in obese hyperandrogenic anovulatory women by the fourth d ecade of life, the estimated prevalence of undiagnosed glucose intoler ance from hyperandrogenic anovulation is 1.7% among women requesting e lectrolysis before age 50 years.