Prevalence of polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome in lesbian women compared with heterosexual women

Agrawal, Rina; Sharma, S.; Bekir, J.; Conway, G.; Bailey, J.; Balen, A.H.; Prelevic, Gordana

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.04.041

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Volume 82, Issue 5 , Pages 1352-1357, November 2004

Prevalence of polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome in lesbian women compared with heterosexual women

These data were selected for press media release at the European Society of Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE) meeting in Madrid, Spain, June 28–July 3, 2003, where they were also presented. The briefings are published over the Internet.

Rina Agrawal, M.D., Ph.D.
- The London Women's Clinic and The Hallam Medical Center, London, United Kingdom
- Reprint requests: Rina Agrawal, M.D., Ph.D., CRM, Park Lorne, 111 Park Road, London NW8 7JL, United Kingdom (FAX: 0044-20761616789
S. Sharma, M.D.
- The London Women's Clinic and The Hallam Medical Center, London, United Kingdom
J. Bekir, M.D.
- The London Women's Clinic and The Hallam Medical Center, London, United Kingdom
G. Conway, M.D.
- University College London Medical School, The Middlesex Hospital, London, United Kingdom
J. Bailey, RGN
- The London Women's Clinic and The Hallam Medical Center, London, United Kingdom
A.H. Balen, M.D.
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Clarendon Wing, Leeds General InfirmaryLeeds, United Kingdom
Gordana Prelevic, M.D.
- University College London Medical School, The Middlesex Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Received 26 January 2004; received in revised form 27 April 2004; accepted 27 April 2004.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in lesbian women compared with heterosexual women undergoing fertility treatment.

Design

A prospective observational study.

Setting

The London Women's clinic and The Hallam Medical Center. Tertiary referral fertility setup.

Patient(s)

Six hundred eighteen women undergoing ovarian stimulation with or without IUI treatment between November 2001 and January 2003. Of these, 254 were self-identified as lesbians and 364 were heterosexual women.

Intervention(s)

Baseline pelvic ultrasound examination and blood tests conducted to measure biochemical parameters such as FSH, LH, E₂, PRL, T, androstenedione (A), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and DHEAS were performed between day 2 and 3 of each woman's menstrual cycle. Tubal patency tests were performed by hysterosalpingography or laparoscopy.

Main outcome measure(s)

Biochemical parameters.

Result(s)

Eighty percent of lesbian women, compared with 32% of the heterosexual women, had PCO on pelvic ultrasound examination. Thirty-eight percent of lesbian women, compared with 14% of heterosexual women, had PCOS. There were no significant differences in the androgen concentrations between lesbian and heterosexual women with normal ovaries. However, lesbian women with PCO and PCOS had significantly higher androgen concentrations compared with heterosexual women with PCO and PCOS. Tubal disease was as common in lesbian women as in heterosexual women.

Conclusion(s)

There is a significantly higher prevalence of PCO and PCOS in lesbian compared with heterosexual women. Lesbian women with either PCO or PCOS had more pronounced hyperandrogenism than did heterosexual women with either PCO or PCOS.

Key words: Heterosexual and lesbian women , PCO , PCOS