Ultrasonographic threshold of ovarian structure in premenopausal women of different ethnicity

Abstract

The polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) is a generally accepted ultrasound marker for ovulatory dysfunction, is one of the criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is established based on the assessment of ovarian volume (OV) and the follicle number per ovary (FNPO), taking into account the upper normal values determined in healthy premenopausal women. However, there is a necessity for regular revision of the PCOM characteristics depending on ethnic and age characteristics.The aim. To develop differentiated standards for assessing the ultrasonographic ovary structure in premenopausal women of various ethnicity.Materials and methods. From March 2016 to December 2019, a multicenter cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk region) and in the neighboring Republic of Buryatia. The study included 1134 participants: 715 women of Caucasian origin, 312 Asian women, 107 women of mixed ethnic subpopulation.Results. It has been established that for Caucasians, it is advisable to diagnose PCOM when the ovarian volume is 9 cm3 and/or FNPO ≥ 12; for women of the Asian population – when the ovarian volume is 7 cm3 and/or FNPO ≥ 11; for women of mixed ethnicity – when the ovarian volume is 8 cm3 and/or FNPO ≥ 9. An important advantage of our study is that all participants were recruited from a non-selective multi-ethnic population of women with comparable socio-demographic characteristics living in the same geographical conditions.Conclusion. Differentiated approach for identifying the polycystic ovarian morphology in premenopausal women of different ethnic groups requires using ethnically differentiated normative readings