Racial and Ethnic Differences in Physiology and Clinical Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders and affects approximately 5 to 10% of women of reproductive age. There exists substantial variation of physical stigmata and clinical symptoms among women, but PCOS has been known to be associated with irregular periods, infertility, increased pregnancy complications, as well as nonreproductive health problems arising from its association with the metabolic syndrome. Over the years, there have been various consensus statements regarding the diagnostic criteria, but the varying pronouncements suggest that the underlying cause is still not well understood and may be multifaceted. Importantly, the interaction of genetic predisposition and local environment is possibly responsible for the heterogeneity of phenotypes seen; it has been demonstrated that there is substantial ethnic and racial variation in the clinical presentations among PCOS patients and related individuals may vary in appearance based on nutritional and other aspects of locale. The differences in phenotype and clinical symptoms of PCOS related to the clinical, hormonal, and metabolic characteristics among various ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, and Indians, need to be considered when assessing and treating these individuals. Future research must address the importance of interactions between genotype and the environment.