Variety in Criteria and Diagnostic Methods of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Lina Zabulienė, Zita Aušrelė Kucinskienė, Jonas Ališauskas, Janina Tutkuvienė
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of most important endocrine metabolic dis orders of re pro ductive-aged women, which affects 2-28 percent women from different populations and determines androgen excess, menstrual dysfunction, other body changes and worsens quality of life. Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome may vary at different age from hirsutism and menstrual dysfunction in adolescence to infertility at maturity. It is known, that insulin resistance is an important trigger for development of PCOS, and these women may be suffering from obesity, developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, early atherosclerosis, other cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumours. Syndrome is difficult to recognize, because up to now there is dispute on well-defined and universally accepted diagnostic criteria and this is the rea son, why iden tifi ca tion and prevalence data of PCOS varies so much. Lack of knowledge of further evolution and prognosis of PCOS, taking into account individual and environmental factors (nutrition, physical activity, stress and other factors) is obvious. In addition, there is no united at- tifude, by whom and how to monlfor and treat these patients. Because of multiple phenotypic expressions, insidious course and various treatment options of this syndrome, pafients seek help of many specialists (internal medicine or family doctors, paediatricians, gynaecologists, dermatologists and endocrinologists). Evaluation of PCOS, detection and elimination of early risk factors may prevent of this syndrome and it’s outcomes: the diagnosis of PCOS requires complex clinical, biochemical and body composition indicators (which would allow a more rational choice of preventive and curative measures, which project the patient from the syndrome or delay it’s consequences). Since for the care of PCOS women it is import ant not only well- timed diagnosis, correction of existing symptoms, but also prevention of risk factors, it is necessary to initiate more com pre hensive PCOS studies, involving morphology (body composition), as well as the subjective and objective clinical signs and markers, and make effective programma (plan) for the treatment and prevention of it’s consequences.
Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, criteria, hyperandrogenism.
