Polycystic ovary syndrome and intervening factors in adolescents from 15 to 18 years old.

OBJECTIVE To assess the factors related to the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study, with female adolescents from 15 to 18 years old, divided into: group 1 (with a medical diagnosis of PCOS) and group 2 (not diagnosed with PCOS). The height-for-age index and the body mass index were used for classifying the nutritional status, and a semi-structured questionnaire was applied. The Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, Spearman correlation coefficients, and logistic regression were used. RESULTS This study evaluated 485 adolescents with an average age of 16.3 ± 0.9 years old. The prevalence of PCOS was 6.2%. No difference was found between the groups regarding anthropometric parameters and period of contraceptive use; however, there were differences regarding the age at menarche (p < 0.004). Older age at menarche was a protection factor against the syndrome. CONCLUSION An association was found between younger age at menarche and the development of the PCOS in adolescents.