Epidemiological study of clinical characteristics of patients with PCOS attending infertility clinic and awareness of PCOS in a rural set up

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age group. It is a common diagnosis in women presenting with infertility. All the dimensions of PCOS have not been completely explored. In this study we studied the clinical features of PCOS and comparing with non-PCOS infertility patients and simultaneously studied the prevalence of PCOS in infertility patients and its awareness in a rural set up. Methods: It is a prospective observational study carried out over a period of 15 months at infertility clinic Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital in Maharashtra, India in 100 infertility patients. Results: 54 out of 100 infertility patients had PCOS. 16 out of 54 had oligomenorrhoea in contrast to 10 out of 46 in non PCOS. 38 PCOS patients had multiple follicles which only 18 non PCOS had. There was a significant difference in androgenic features of PCOS and non PCOS but not in BMI and WHR. Only 10 patients were aware regarding PCOS. Conclusion: PCOS is one of the important factors causing infertility. It is an ill defined symptom complex needing its due attention. There is a need to increase awareness regarding. The clinical features of PCOS are heterogeneous and thus can be investigated accordingly of selection of appropriate treatment modality. [Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 2013; 2(4.000): 528-532]