%0 Journal Article
%T Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among reproductive age women from Kashmir valley: A cross-sectional study.
%A Ganie MA
%A Rashid A
%A Sahu D
%A Nisar S
%A Wani IA
%A Khan J
%J Int J Gynaecol Obstet
%V 149
%N 2
%D May 2020
%M 32080845
%F 4.447
%R 10.1002/ijgo.13125
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To estimate the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women of reproductive age across educational institutions in the Kashmir valley.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2013 to May 2015. Eligible girls and women aged 15-40 years were included using a multistage random selection process from five out of 12 districts in turn housing 14 educational institutions. They were screened through a brief questionnaire in a staged manner. After obtaining consent, women underwent detailed clinical, biochemical, hormonal, and sonographic evaluation to satisfy Rotterdam 2003 criteria. The participants were also evaluated using NIH and AE-PCOS criteria.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Out of a total of 3300 eligible women, 964 women were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Among these, 446 (46.4%) were identified as "probable PCOS" cases. Out of 171 probable PCOS women who completed all biochemical, hormonal, and sonographic assessment, 35.3% qualified for a diagnosis of PCOS using Rotterdam criteria. The prevalence of PCOS was 28.9% by NIH criteria and 34.3% by AE-PCOS criteria.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The prevalence of PCOS is high among Kashmiri women and is probably the highest in a published series globally. A countrywide systematic prevalence study is warranted to reconfirm the findings.