Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a population of women of reproductive age using Rotterdam 2003 criteria (literature review)

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered a common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, and the associated health risks persist throughout life. At the same time, there is a wide range of variations in the incidence of the syndrome (4–21 %), which in turn is explained by the influence of the study population characteristics, including ethnicity and race, as well as the applied diagnostic criteria. The aim of the study. To systematize the available data on the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome using the Rotterdam 2003 criteria in a population of women of reproductive age. Materials and methods. The search for information was carried out using Internet resources (PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, eLibrary). Literature sources for  the  period 1990–2023 were analyzed. As a result, the article presents current data on the prevalence of PCOS using the Rotterdam 2003 definitions, the features of the PCOS incidence in hospital and non-selective (medically unbiased) populations, as well as in various ethnic groups. The review also discusses current guidelines for conducting studies on the PCOS prevalence. Conclusion. The latest guidelines on the diagnosis and management of patients with PCOS, published in 2018, propose to consider the provisions adopted in Rotterdam as the basis for the diagnosis of the syndrome; at the same time, the need to take into account racial and age characteristics is noted.