Hormonal and metabolic profiles in teenagers and young adults with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

PURPOSE: To evaluate metabolic and hormonal profile in teenagers and young adults with PCOS.

METHODS

In this case-control study, conducted from Jan 2023 and Feb 2025, we enrolled adolescents (below 20 years of age) and young adults (≤ 25 yrs) with PCOS. The assessment of glucose and insulin (Ins) in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) along with lipid profile and hormonal variables including free androgen index (FAI), total testosterone (TT), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S]) was performed among these women.

RESULTS

Both teenagers and young adults with PCOS and with FAI > 5 showed unfavorably changed metabolic profile reflected by higher Ins levels in OGTT along with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in contrary to the remaining group. Adolescents and young adults with overweight/obesity showed insulin resistants reflected by HOMA-IR (4.45 and 4.26, respectively) compared to women with PCOS and with BMI within ranges (1.68 and 1.89, respectively, all p < 0.05). Teenagers with higher BMI showed unfavourable lipid profile reflected by higher triglycerides (TS) and lower HDL-C. Regarding hormonal profile, overweight/obesity was related to increased FAI in teenagers and lower SHBG and DHEA-S in young adults.

CONCLUSION

Both adolescents and young women with PCOS represent unfavorable metabolic profile related to elevated FAI and higher BMI.