"Menstrual irregularities in PCOS. Does it matter when it starts?"

PCOS is presented by a broad spectrum of menstrual irregularities appearing often at puberty or later on during the reproductive years in women suffering from this multifaceted syndrome. To our knowledge, there is no evidence to suggest whether the time of onset of menstrual irregularities (peri or post pubertal) indicates a differential metabolic and/or hormonal profile as well as ovarian ultrasonographic findings, in adulthood in women with PCOS.

To compare anthropometric, hormonal-metabolic profile and ultrasound findings in PCOS women with peripubertal onset of menstrual disorders with the corresponding data obtained from PCOS patients with post pubertal onset of menstrual irregularities, matched for BMI and age.

89 PCOS women were evaluated cross-sectionally at the age of 25 years. In 49 subjects menstrual irregularities were present from menarche, whereas in 40 women the irregularities appeared at least 3 years post menarche.

Anthropometric parameters were comparable between the 2 groups. The 2 groups did not differ on metabolic and hormonal profile as well as ovarian ultrasound findings.

These data indicate that the timing of menstrual irregularities, do not appear to have an impact, on hormonal/metabolic profile and ovarian ultrasound morphology in patients diagnosed with PCOS, later in life.