. 2011 Mar;20(3):413–419. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2010.2303

Table 1.

Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Individual Components by Select Characteristics

	PCOS^a n = 938	Oligomenorrhea^b n = 939	Hirsutism^c n = 1157	High testosterone^d n = 800
Overall, %	10.7	29.0	23.3	10.3
Race, %	n = 938	n = 939	n = 1157	n = 800
White	10.7	27.7	24.1	7.3
Black	10.6	30.2	22.5	12.6
p value	0.9	0.4	0.5	0.02
Parental education (baseline), %	n = 889	n = 890	n = 1093	n = 751
≤High school	13.7	32.7	25.1	14.2
>High school	9.0	26.5	23.3	8.4
p value	0.03	0.05	0.5	0.01
Education (year 15), %	n = 886	n = 887	n = 1087	n = 748
≤High school	8.1	29.4	20.2	12.5
>High school	12.1	28.3	25.1	8.1
p value	0.05	0.7	0.06	0.05
BMI (year 2),%	n = 900	n = 901	n = 1111	n = 785
Underweight (<18.5)	11.3	25.7	27.3	0
Normal (18.5–24)	9.5	29.4	20.4	7.8
Overweight (25–29)	10.6	27.8	24.7	13.7
Obese (≥30)	14.4	31.0	28.5	14.3
p value	0.4	0.9	0.08	0.01
Obesity (year 2),%	n = 900	n = 901	n = 1111	n = 785
Obese (BMI≥30)	14.4	31.0	28.5	14.3
Nonobese (<30)	9.9	28.8	21.9	9.1
p value	0.09	0.6	0.04	0.04
High waist circumference (year 2), (%)	n = 897	n = 898	n = 1107	n = 781
>88 cm	15.4	32.2	25.8	18.1
≤88 cm	9.7	28.5	22.5	8.5
p value	0.04	0.4	0.3	0.0006

^{^a}

PCOS: Defined as irregular menses (≥34 or <20 days between cycles) or taking oral contraceptive (OC) pills to regulate periods) during ages 20–30 and either unwanted hair growth (during their 20–30s) or high free (0.65) or total testosterone (T) (>80) measured at year 2 for those not on OC. These measures were also considered for the past year (year 16) for those aged <40 who had no PCOS based on recall information from ages 20–30; for these same women, current OC use (year 16) to regulate periods/vaginal bleeding was considered a marker of oligomenorrhea.

^{^b}

Oligomenorrhea: Defined as ≥34 or <20 days between cycles or taking OC pills to regulate periods during ages 20–30 or ≥34 or <20 days between cycles in past year if <40 years old and no menopause or hysterectomy) for women <40 years of age. Current OC pill use (year 16) to regulate periods/vaginal bleeding was also considered a marker of oligomenorrhea.

^{^c}

Hirsutism: Self-reported unwanted hair growth at ages 20–30 or in past year (only for women <40 years).

^{^d}

High testosterone: Total T>80 or free T>0.65 at year 2 or year 16 (restricted to those not on OC pills during those years and to those aged <40 for year 16 values).

BMI, body mass index; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome.