Which hormone tests for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome?

Abstract

When typical ovarian ultrasound appearances plus the clinical features of oligomenorrhea and/or hirsuitism were used to define PCOS total testosterone was the best single hormonal marker of the condition. Testosterone, androstenedione or LH, either alone or in combination, were raised in 86% of women with PCOS and these should be the definitive hormonal tests. Using LH/FSH ratio as a biochemical criterion for diagnosis of PCOS should be abandoned because of its low sensitivity. To be of value the normal range for all hormones should be precisely defined in a group of regularly ovulating women in the early follicular phase of the cycle for the assay used in each laboratory.