Common endocrine disorders associated with the polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction
Screening of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women for hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia was suggested, because the undiagnosed hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia can aggravate the PCOS symptoms.

Aim
To determine whether the insulin resistance (IR), hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinemia are common endocrine disorders associated with the PCOS.

Material and methods
One hundred and twenty PCOS women were compared to 120 non-PCOS controls in this study. Participants’ day 2-3 hormonal profile and insulin resistance (IR) using the fasting glucose and fasting insulin were evaluated. Collected data were analyzed to determine whether the IR, hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinemia are common endocrine disorders associated with the PCOS.

Results
TSH and prolactin were significantly high in PCOS women (6.4 ±4.2 and 934 ±102.3, respectively) than controls (3.5 ±3.3 and 445 ±77.5 mIU/ml, respectively) (p = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively). The PCOS women had significantly high relative risk of IR (RR 3.0 (95% CI: 1.9-4.7) p < 0.0001), hypothyroidism (RR 3.4; 95% CI: 1.7-6.9) (p = 0.0005), and hyperprolactinaemia (RR 3.15; 95% CI: 1.8-5.6) (p = 0.0001) than controls. The PCOS women had higher odds of IR (OR 4.8; 95% CI: 2.6-8.8) (p < 0.0001), hypothyroidism (OR 4.29; 95% CI: 1.9-9.4) (p = 0.0003), and hyperprolactinaemia (OR 4.27; 95% CI: 2.1-8.5) (p < 0.0001) than controls.

Conclusions
TSH and prolactin were significantly high in studied PCOS women, and 47.5% of the studied PCOS women had IR. The PCOS women had significantly higher odds and relative risks of IR, hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinemia than controls. IR, hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinemia are common endocrine disorders associated with PCOS.