Journal
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
Volume 25, Issue 12, Pages 3117-3122Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deq273
Keywords
ovarian follicles; vaginal ultrasound; population-based study; polycystic ovaries; polycystic ovary syndrome
Categories
Funding
- Danish Council for Independent Research
- Danish Ministry of Interior and Health (Research Centre for Environmental Health)
- Danish Council for Strategic Research
- Novo Nordisk Foundation
- Aarhus University Research Foundation
- Frimodt-Heineke Foundation
- National Institute for Occupational Health
- Fonden for Faglig Udvikling af Speciallaegepraksis
- Foundation of Maria Dorthea and Holger From
- Beckett-Foundation
- Research Grant of Organon
- Foundation of Lily Benthine Lund
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According to the Rotterdam 2003 criteria, an ovary is defined as polycystic if 12 or more follicles of 2-9 mm are present, when evaluating the ovary by ultrasonography on Days 3-5 of the menstrual cycle in women not using hormonal contraceptives. The aim of this population-based study was to estimate the prevalence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) in a representative sample of young Danish women according to the Rotterdam criteria. From a Danish pregnancy cohort established in 1988-1989, 267 (61%) young adult daughters agreed to participate in a clinical examination and 174 (40%) consented to vaginal ultrasound. Sufficient image quality in at least one ovary was obtained from 154 women. Both users and non-users of hormonal contraceptives were included and the examination was not restricted to a particular time of the menstrual cycle. The median (range) age was 20.1 (19.5-21.0) years. The median follicle number per ovary was 14 (6-30) and 12 or more follicles were counted in 104 of the 154 women. Thus, the prevalence was estimated to 68% [95% confidence interval (CI): 60-74%]. PCO were present in 80% (95% CI: 65-89%) of non-users (n = 44) of hormonal contraceptives. Of the 104 women with PCO, 41% (95% CI: 32-51%) could be defined as having polycystic ovary syndrome. A very large proportion of the young women had PCO according to the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. As the number of follicles is higher at a younger age, we believe the Rotterdam criteria should be revised, particularly to avoid misdiagnosis in this age group.
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