Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Active Duty Service Women: A Retrospective Analysis

Women make up 16.3% of the Department of Defense (DoD) active duty military population. January 2016, the Secretary of the Defense opened all military positions to women, including combat positions. Identifying conditions that may impact health and military readiness are essential to maintaining a fit and ready force. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that has significant health and military readiness implications for active duty service women (ADSW). Some of the common manifestations of PCOS, overweight, obesity, and abnormal menstrual cycles, have a direct impact on the deployment readiness of ADSW, which effects military operations. The prevalence of PCOS in ADSW must be identified to ascertain true numbers in the DoD to appropriately support, treat, and manage this population; therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of PCOS diagnosis, in ADSW.

A retrospective analysis of electronic health record data from the Department of Defense Military Health Systems DataMart was conducted for calendar years January 2011 - December 2016, using ICD 9 and 10 codes. ADSW with symptoms and conditions that were present with PCOS but did not have the ICD 9 or 10 code for PCOS were also identified to explore the potential undiagnosed prevalence of PCOS. The diagnosed symptoms and conditions included for analysis were weight gain, obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension, acne, acanthosis nigricans, infertility, and menstrual irregularity.

There are 11,190 (0.2%) ADSW diagnosed with PCOS, and 9,112 (0.17%) diagnosed with symptoms that meet the profile and characteristics present in PCOS, but have no diagnosis. All branches of service and ranks were represented in these numbers.

PCOS is present in ADSW. Obtaining an accurate prevalence rate of this condition helps reveal the extent of its presence, helps increase awareness, and identify that there is a population in need of targeted support and interventions to maintain a fit and ready force.