Hyperandrogenic symptoms are a persistent suffering in midlife women with pcos; a prospective cohort study in swedenShow others and affiliations
2023 (English)In: Biomedicines, E-ISSN 2227-9059, Vol. 11, no 1, article id 96Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among women, and the majority suffers from hyperandrogenism. Hyperandrogenism causes psychological morbidity and impaired quality of life in women with PCOS during the reproductive years, but data on prevalence and impact during midlife are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to address whether hyperandrogenism persists into midlife and, if so, what impact it has on quality of life. In order to answer this question, we performed a multicenter prospective cohort study, where we included women already diagnosed with PCOS who had reached the age of 45 years or more and age-matched controls. All participants underwent a physical exam, structured medical interview, biochemical testing and filled out self-assessment questionnaires. More than 40% of the women with PCOS and 82% of those who presented with the hyperandrogenic phenotype at the diagnostic work-up still suffered from hirsutism. Circulating testosterone levels were similar between women with PCOS and controls while free androgen index was higher in women with PCOS, independent of weight. Women with hyperandrogenic PCOS expressed persisting concerns regarding hirsutism at the follow-up assessment. In conclusion, women with PCOS who present with hyperandrogenic symptoms at the time they are diagnosed with PCOS have a higher risk of persistent androgenic symptoms and impaired quality of life in midlife.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2023. Vol. 11, no 1, article id 96
Keywords [en]
hyperandrogenism, PCOS, PCOS phenotypes
National Category
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-204480DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010096ISI: 000914347500001PubMedID: 36672604Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85146764651OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-204480DiVA, id: diva2:1737555
Funder
Erik, Karin och Gösta Selanders Foundation, 464251850Uppsala University2023-02-172023-02-172023-02-17Bibliographically approved