Differences in clinical and endocrine features between obese and non-obese women in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Abstract

Background and objectives: The polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the commonest endocrine disturbance affecting 5-8% of reproductive age women. It is a heterogenous disorder that mainly presents with features of hyperandro- genism and anovulation. These clinical features are further affected by body mass index at presentation. This study aimed to estimate the impact of obesity on the clinical features of polycystic ovary syndrome and to compare hor- monal and ultrasonography features between obese and non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome women.Methods: a cross-sectional comparative study carried on 230 infertile women with criteria of polycystic ovary syndrome attend- ing Private Hawler Centre for Infertility and in vitro fertilization, Erbil, Iraq, in the period between the 1st of October 2015 and the 1st of April 2016. Results: Out of 230 polycystic ovarian syndrome women, the BMI was 25 kg/m2 in 123 ladies (53.48%); 32 ladies 13.9% were overweight and 91 ladies 39.5% were obese. Obese polycystic ovary syndrome women had more sedentary life, more family history of polycystic ovary syndrome and associated with higher miscarriage rate. Amenorrhea and oligomenorrhoea were found more frequently in obese women 24.4% and 62.6% respectively than non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome women 21.5% and 53.3%. Conclusions: Obesity has a significant impact on the appearance of clinical features of polycystic ovary syndrome among infertile women, signs of hyperandrogenism, maximum ovarian volume and mean serum level of hormones including luteinizing hormone, progesterone and testosterone were significantly more reported in obese than non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome women.