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POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME IN DUHOK: CLINICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex, heterogeneous disorder that affects 510 % of women in their reproductive age, causing a range of reproductive, metabolic, and endocrine defects characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. It manifests differently depending on many interacting factors, including environmental exposures, genetics, and lifestyle. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical and biochemical findings of local cases of the syndrome. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during the period from 01 June to 01 December 2019, at Duhok Azadi teaching hospital and the outpatient departments of Zakho maternity hospital and Kurdistan medical complex. The 108 eligible patients according to Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM criteria were interviewed and examined by the investigator to find out and document the required data following the adopted questionnaire, which included patient's history, clinical examination, laboratory investigation, and abdominal ultrasound. The statistical package SPSS version 19 was used to analyze study variables. The statistical analyses used were Chi-square, Mann-Whitney test, and Unpaired t-test. Results: The mean age of the enrolled women was 24.3 ± 5.54, the majority (81.5%) was below 30 years old and (70.6%) were overweight, (50.9%) were unmarried, and (68.5%) were having secondary school/college educational levels with (51.9%) giving the family history of PCOS. Menstrual cycle disturbances were detected in (97.2%) and infertility history (27.8%). The most common finding was hirsutism (86.1%), followed by generalized alopecia (62%). Polycystic ovaries were detected in (75.3%) on U/S examination. Conclusions: In local practice, menstrual abnormalities, mostly as hypomenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, constituted the most common presentation. On the other hand, the concurrent presence of hyperandrogenism and positive ultrasound findings were more stable features and may be suggested as a better indicator for establishing the diagnosis of the syndrome locally. Duhok Med J 2020; 14 (2): 97-106