Fig. 1Boxplots representing the distribution of total modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) scores in the non-polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) group (A) and the PCOS group (B). The mean total mFG scores for the two groups were: non-PCOS group, 2.0±2.2; PCOS group, 4.3±3.0.
Table 12003 Rotterdam Criteria for the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Rotterdam criteria (must meet 2 out of 3 of the following) |
(1) Hyperandrogenism |
(2) Oligo-ovulation or anovulation |
(3) Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound |
Clinical and/or |
Biochemical |
Hirsutism (mFG score ≥8) Acne |
Elevated TT or FT |
Bleeding interval <21 days |
Presence of 12 or more follicles 2–9 mm in diameter in either ovary and/or |
Male-pattern alopecia |
Elevated A4 |
Bleeding interval >35 days <8 episodes of menses/year |
Increased ovarian volume >10 mL (without a cyst or dominant follicle) in either ovary |
mFG, modified Ferriman-Gallw droepiandrosterone sulfate. |
Elevated DHEA |
Infertility |
|
|
Elevated DHEAS |
No menstruation for 3 consecutive months in the last 12 months |
|
Table 2Clinical Characteristics of the Study Population
Characteristic |
PCOS (n=28) |
Non-PCOS (n=100) |
P value |
Age, yr |
27.7±4.7 |
27.5±4.4 |
0.808 |
History of hair removal |
3 (10.7) |
16 (16.0) |
0.764 |
History of parity |
4 (14.3) |
17 (17.0) |
1.000 |
Age of menarche, yr |
12.0±1.3 |
11.7±1.2 |
0.198 |
Co-morbidities |
|
|
|
Diabetes |
4 (14.3) |
0 |
0.002 |
Hypertension |
0 |
0 |
- |
Dyslipidemia |
1 (3.6) |
1 (1.0) |
0.391 |
Family history of polycystic ovary syndrome |
10 (35.7) |
17 (17.0) |
0.039 |
Body mass indexa, kg/m2
|
28.5±5.9 |
23.9±4.5 |
<0.001 |
Waist-to-hip ratio |
0.9±0.1 |
0.8±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg |
110±11.9 |
102.6±11.8 |
0.004 |
Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg |
76.4±8.7 |
71.6±10.1 |
0.023 |
Clinical hyperandrogenism |
13 (46.4) |
4 (4.0) |
<0.001 |
Acne |
9 |
0 |
|
Hirsutism |
4 |
4 |
|
Biochemical hyperandrogenism |
6 (21.4) |
0 |
<0.001 |
Oligo-ovulation or anovulation |
27 (96.4) |
0 |
<0.001 |
Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound |
26 (92.9) |
20 (20.6) |
<0.001 |
Table 3Mean Biochemical Characteristics of the Study Population
Characteristic |
PCOS (n=28) |
Non-PCOS (n=100) |
P value |
Total testosterone, ng/mL |
0.5±0.1 |
0.3±0.1 |
<0.001 |
Sex hormone-binding globulin, nmol/L |
23.5±16.0 |
41.9±28.0 |
0.001 |
Free androgen index |
10.4±7.6 |
3.2±2.2 |
<0.001 |
Calculated free testosterone, pmol/L |
39.8±18.2 |
16.8±8.5 |
<0.001 |
Thyroid-stimulating hormone, μIU/mL |
1.8±0.6 |
1.6±0.8 |
0.282 |
Prolactin, ng/mL |
12.4±5.5 |
14.9±5.3 |
0.089 |
17-Hydroxyprogesterone, ng/mL |
1.4±0.3 |
1.4±0.4 |
0.931 |
Table 4Modified Ferriman-Gallwey Score of the Study Population
Site |
PCOS (n=28) |
Non-PCOS (n=100) |
P value |
Upper lip |
1.2±0.7 (0.9–1.4) |
0.7±0.6 (0.5–0.8) |
<0.001 |
Chin |
0.1±0.3 (0–0.2) |
0.1±0.3 (0–0.1) |
0.882 |
Chest |
0.0±0.2 (0–0.1) |
0.0±0.2 (0–0.1) |
0.879 |
Upper back |
0.5±0.7 (0.3–0.8) |
0.3±0.5 (0.2–0.4) |
0.029 |
Lower back |
0.2±0.4 (0.1–0.4) |
0.1±0.3 (0–0.2) |
0.093 |
Upper abdomen |
0.6±0.7 (0.3–0.8) |
0.2±0.4 (0.1–0.3) |
0.001 |
Lower abdomen |
0.8±1.1 (0.4–1.2) |
0.3±0.5 (0.2–0.4) |
0.001 |
Upper arm |
0.2±0.5 (0–0.4) |
0.1±0.3 (0–0.1) |
0.093 |
Thighs |
0.7±1.0 (0.3–1) |
0.3±0.6 (0.2–0.4) |
0.012 |
Total |
4.3±3.0 (3.2–5.4) |
2.0±2.2 (1.6–2.4) |
<0.001 |
Table 5Associations of Hirsutism with Biochemical Test Results
Variable |
Total mFG ≥7 (n=10) |
Total mFG <7 (n=118) |
Adjusted odds ratioa (95% CI) |
P value |
Elevated TT |
1 (10.0) |
5 (4.2) |
2.248 (0.232–21.765) |
0.423 |
Elevated FAI |
4 (40.0) |
18 (15.3) |
3.564 (0.735–17.296) |
0.115 |
Elevated calculated FT |
4 (40.0) |
12 (10.2) |
6.209 (1.190–32.398) |
0.030 |
Table 6Comparison of Modified Ferriman-Gallwey Cut-off Scores across Various Asian Populations
Study |
Country |
Population |
Suggested mFG cut-off score |
Karimah et al. (2016) [17] |
Indonesia |
30 |
≥2 |
Li et al. (2012) [14] |
China |
10,120 |
≥5a
|
Kim et al. (2011) [18] |
Korea |
1,010 |
≥6a
|
Cheewadhanaraks et al. (2004) [19] |
Thailand |
531 |
≥3a
|