PCOS is the most common reason for infertility. It directly impacts 7–10% of women of childbearing age. Approximately 5 to 6 million women live with PCOS in the US, although the condition is still underdiagnosed.
PCOS is diagnosed in women who meet two of the following criteria: ovulatory failure, androgen excess, and polycystic ovaries.
New research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism by the Endocrine Society suggests that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Alabama may be more likely to have increased hair growth and insulin resistance, whereas women with PCOS in California may have higher testosterone levels.
PCOS affects 7-10% of reproductive-age women and is the most common cause of infertility. Approximately 5 to 6 million women live with PCOS in the US, although the condition is still underdiagnosed. Women who meet two of the following criteria—androgen excess (high male sex hormones like testosterone), ovulatory failure, and polycystic ovaries—are diagnosed with PCOS.
The findings of the new study show “geographical differences in PCOS in black and white women, suggesting there are both genetic and environmental influences on how this disease manifests,” says Margareta D. Pisarska, M.D., of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
According to the researcher, ongoing research is required to uncover modifiable risk factors for PCOS that may be racially and ethnically specific in order to implement precision medicine in the treatment of this disease
The researchers analyzed data from 1,620 white and back PCOS women in Alabama and California. They discovered regional variances in how these women fit PCOS diagnosis criteria and symptoms, with some disparities between black and white women.
Overall, there were a lot of PCOS symptoms that the races had in common. In contrast to women with PCOS in California, who were more likely to have greater testosterone levels, PCOS patients in Alabama were more likely to have excessive hair growth and insulin resistance.
The average body mass index (BMI) for black women with PCOS in Alabama and California was the same, however for white women with PCOS, the average BMI was higher in Alabama than in California.
“Since we have now identified that there are geo-epidemiologic differences, we intend to do follow up studies comparing black and white women with PCOS, controlling for geo-epidemiologic differences,” Pisarska adds.
“Furthermore, we are trying to look at factors that are contributing to these differences in order to tailor treatments based on specific needs for improvements in care for all women with PCOS.”
Source: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
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