A Retrospective Study of Prevalence and Clinical Presentations of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Nigerian Women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy affecting women during the peak of their reproductive career. Common symptoms are irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism, and acne as well as a plethora of health risks, infertility, diabetes mellitus, endometrial hyperplasia and cardiovascular/ complications. Despite the extreme burden and severe impact of PCOS on reproduction and public health, prevalence data remain scarce for specific geographic and racial/ethnic populations. Determining the prevalence of PCOS is also challenging due to the heterogeneity of diagnostic criteria, resulting in inconsistent and varied estimates. This retrospective analysis was carried out to determine the prevalence and pattern of clinical presentation of PCOS as a guide to early detection and management. Using a pretested data extraction sheet at COOUTH, Awka over a four-years period (2021-2024), 300 women aged 15 years and older with diagnosis of PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria were analyzed for sociodemographic profile and clinical presentations. Results, The study found a prevalence of 11.13% (95% Confidence Interval 10-12.27%) with common features including irregular menses 70.3% and hirsutism 12.7%. There was significant association between PCOS and the age bracket 26-35years (p