POLYCYSTIC OVARIES AS A RELATIVE PROTECTIVE FACTOR FOR BONE-MINERAL LOSS IN YOUNG-WOMEN WITH AMENORRHEA

Objective: To examine the impact of polycystic ovaries (PCO) on bone mineral density in amenorrheic women of reproductive age. Design: A retrospective analysis and comparison of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with non-PCOS amenorrheic women. A subgroup of patients with ultrasound (US)-diagnosed PCO was also investigated. Setting: Specialist clinic in reproductive endocrinology. Patients, Participants: Six hundred ten consecutive cases, mean age of 29.8 +/- 7.5 years, with current history of amenorrhea of various causes. Main Outcome Measure: Bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (L1 to L4) as measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry, in relation to PCOS, US-diagnosed PCO, and US findings of normal ovaries. Results: Amenorrheic patients with PCOS were found to be younger (P < 0.001), with higher body mass index (P < 0.001), were more estrogenized, as measured by endometrial thickness and uterine cross-sectional area (P < 0.001), and had higher bone mineral density (P < 0.001) compared with non-PCOS amenorrheic patients. Conclusions: Patients with amenorrhea because of PCOS and those with US-diagnosed PCO have a higher bone density compared with amenorrheic patients with normal ovaries as detected by US scan.