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Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive problems, and obesity exacerbates these symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive profiles of women with PCOS, as well as to investigate how body mass index (BMI) influences these variables. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 113 PCOS-diagnosed women at Azadi Teaching Hospital's Gynaecology Department in Duhok, Iraq. Clinical, biochemical, and hormonal data were gathered, and individuals were divided into two groups depending on their BMI: normal and elevated. Results: Elevated prolactin (>23.4 ng/mL) was observed in 38.9% of patients, 16.8% had an LH/FSH ratio ≥ 2, and 8.8% had raised testosterone (>0.73 ng/mL). Metabolic disturbances were common: elevated LDL-C (46.0%), low HDL-C (20.4%), elevated fasting blood sugar (21.2%), and dyslipidaemia in a substantial proportion. Women with an elevated BMI exhibited significantly higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and lower HDL-C levels compared to those with a normal BMI (all p < 0.05), whereas fasting blood sugar, pulse rate, and hormonal parameters did not differ. Reproductive abnormalities were frequent, including oligomenorrhoea (49.6%), amenorrhoea (38.1%), hirsutism (87.6%), and acne (70.8%). Subfertility was reported in 75.8% of married patients and was significantly higher in women with elevated BMI (p = 0.009). A positive family history of PCOS was more common in the elevated BMI group (p = 0.027). Conclusion: PCOS is linked to a variety of clinical and metabolic problems. Even in the absence of severe hormonal abnormalities, an elevated BMI is strongly associated with poor metabolic outcomes and infertility. These findings underscore the importance of BMI-based risk assessment and early metabolic screening in women with PCOS to support appropriate management methods.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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