Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2016; 76 - P262
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593093

Obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Greek adolescents. Our experience

C Bouschanetsis 1, Z Koukouli 1, P Naoumis 1, B Manav 1, A Liberis 1, P Tsikouras 1
  • 1Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandroupolis, Griechenland

Introduction: Obesity in adolescence is associated with inheritance, hormonal disorders and reduced physical activity. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is often also present in obese teenagers. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PCOS in obese adolescents.

Methods: From August, 2006 to December, 2014 150 teenagers, 15 to 18 years old, were examined for abdominal pain in the Adolescent Medicine Department in Democritus University of Thrace. 45 teenagers (group A) were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2), while 55 teenagers with BMI < 25 kg/m2 served as the control group (group B). The participants had no health problems and received no oral contraceptives at the time of the study. All completed a menstrual history questionnaire at recruitment and were followed up for the next six months. The diagnosis of PCOS was based on Rotterdam criteria (oligomenorrhoea, biochemical or clinical hyperandrogenism with Ferriman-Gallway score > 8, polycystic ovaries on ultrasound). LH and LH/FSH ratio were also estimated.

Results: LH and androgen concentrations were significantly higher in in group A. Also irregular menstrual cycles occurred more often in obese teenagers. The prevalence of PCOS in obese adolescents was 37.7%, while it was 9.0% in the control group (p = 0.006, chi-square test).

Conclusion: PCOS often presents in adolescence and early diagnosis is of great importance. Moreover, controlling obesity in adolescents would restrict the cutaneous and reproductive manifestations, as well as the longer-term effects of metabolic disorders associated with PCOS.