Evaluation of Biochemical Hyperandrogenism in Adolescent Girls with Menstrual Irregularities

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate fertility hormone levels in adolescent girls and ten years older women with menstrual irregularities and with or without polycystic ovaries on ultrasound examination. The study population consisted of 276 patients aged 12-18 years and 469 patients aged 22-28 years who had menstrual irregularities with or without polycystic ovaries on ultrasound examination. METHODS: All subjects underwent a comprehensive medical assessment including documentation of the detailed history, physical and gynecological examination, measurement of the essential laboratory variables, and measurement of the fertility hormone levels. RESULTS: Within 745 patients (mean age: 21.4±4.8), 276 patients were aged 12-18 years (group 1) and 469 patients were aged 22-28 years (group 2). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) (237.7 (22.6-721.5) vs. 162.5 (2.4- 660.7) respectively; p<0.001) was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2. There were 74 subjects (26.8%) with LH/FSH ratio > 2 in group 1 and 74 subjects (15.8%) with LH/FSH ratio > 2 in group 2 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical hyperandrogenism is much more valuable in adolescents than in young adult women for the diagnosis of PCOS. Biochemical hyperandrogenism should be tested in adolescents with menstrual irregularities.