The relationship between polycystic ovaries and obesity in women through increased secretion of LH hormone and Type 2 diabetes

The prevalence of obesity in PCOS varies from 16% to 80%, according to the population studied. At the hirsutism outpatient clinic of the Baghdad General Teaching Hospital, Iraq, the prevalence of obesity in PCOS was 34.1%. When overweight women were included in the series, that is, patients with a BMI equal to or greater than 25 kg/m2, this prevalence increased to 65.9%. This prevalence is higher than that observed in the general female population in our country. The prevalence of glucose metabolism disorders (glucose intolerance and type 2 DM) in PCOS is higher than that observed in the general population for the same age group. In the United States, the prevalence of these disorders in PCOS patients was 31.1% for glucose intolerance and 1.5% for type 2 DM; while in Thailand, they were 20.3% and 9.5%, respectively. At the hirsutism outpatient clinic of FMUSP, observed a prevalence of 27.0% for glucose intolerance and 4.8% for type 2 DM. These data are based on blood glucose values obtained at 120 minutes in the oral glucose tolerance test (GTT), according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). On the other hand, in the general Iraq population, the prevalence of glucose intolerance and type 2 DM in individuals aged between 30 and 39 years was 5.9% and 2.7%, respectively. Insulin resistance occurs in women with PCOS both with adequate weight, and with overweight or obesity, but it is of greater magnitude when there is obesity.. It is now known that apart from FSH and LH secreted by the pituitary gland, insulin and some other hormones are involved in the regulation of ovarian function.