Frequency of Phenotypes and their Clinical and Hormonal Characteristics of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in patients presenting with sub-fertility, and to compare the clinical and hormonal characteristics among them.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Forest View Specialist Clinic, Peshawar, Pakistan, from August 2022 to January 2023.

Methodology: The study included 662 female patients presenting with menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and infertility to the clinic. PCOS was diagnosed on the basis of the Rotterdam criterion and clinical features and classified into different phenotypes on the basis of the National Institute of Health (NIH) panel criteria. Data were entered and analysed by IBM SPSS VERSION 23.0. The frequency of four phenotypes was calculated and phenotypes were compared for age, weight, hormonal profiles, and history of miscarriages. A p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Frequency of PCOS in patients with infertility was 59.76%. Phenotype A was seen in 58.2%, phenotype D in 23.3%, phenotype C in 16.9%, and phenotype B in 1.7% of cases. The LH/FSH ratio was statistically significant in phenotype A as compared to other phenotypes, while other parameters were non-significant.

Conclusion: The frequency of PCOS is high in patients with infertility. Phenotype A is the most common variant and is associated with significant impairment of the LH/FSH ratio.

Key words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Subfertility, Phenotypes of PCOS, Hyperandrogenism, Anovulation, R-C1.