In Vitro Diagnostic Criterion of Androgen Excess in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Community Based Study on Iranian Reproductive Aged Women

Backgrounds and

Androgen excess is a diagnostic criterion for PCOS. There are different cut off points to identify androgen excess in various societies. Since the mean levels of androgens among women of various races vary widely, it has been suggested that the normal ranges or limits of androgen levels should be determined specifically among well-characterized women of each population.

Data from the study of PCOS prevalence was analyzed for purpose of the present cross sectional study. The cut off point for androgen excess was defined using K-means cluster analysis according to the level of androgens among 923 women aged 18-45. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 15.

Serum concentration levels of early follicular phase equal or greater than 8.76, 1.331 nmol/L, 345.07 and 2.9 ng/milL for FAI, TT, DHEAS and A4, respectively were used as cut off levels for androgen excess. Subgroup analysis showed that androgen excess cut off point varies in age and BMI subgroups. FAI cut off for androgen excess in women aged less than 35 years were 5.1, 4.85 and 6.3 in normal weight, over weight and obese women, respectively.

According to the findings of present study hormonal components to define androgen excess vary in early and late ages of reproductive period. Results showed that androgen excess is diagnosed as lower levels of FAI, DHEAS and A4 in women older than 35 in comparison with women aged less than 35. This disorder should also be determined in normal weight, overweight and obese women separately.