Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous, systemic disease that occurs under the influence of genetic and environmental factors, clinically characterized by hyperandrogenism, menstrual irregularity and chronic anovulation, often starting in adolescence and seen in 6-20% of women of reproductive age. In this study, it was aimed to determine the clinical features of cases diagnosed with PCOS and to evaluate the relationship of PCOS with obesity and insulin resistance.

Material and Method: Clinical, laboratory and radiological data of 52 cases diagnosed with PCOS were retrospectively evaluated by scanning patient files.

Results: Average age of 52 patients was 16.12±1.21 years, body mass index (BMI); 26.67± 5.69 kg/m2, mean BMI SDS was found to be 1.41±1.47. The mean FGS was 10.77 ±3.64 and the FG score of 32 cases (61.5%) was found to be above 8. Total testosterone was found to be above 50 ng/dl in 48 cases (92.3%). BMI SDS and ALT, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were found to be statistically significantly different in the insulin resistant group (p =0.001, p =0.031, p =0.005, respectively). Overweight and obese subjects (group1) were compared with normal weight and underweight subjects (group2). While HOMA-IR, ALT, triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly higher in Group1, LH, LH/FSH ratio, estradiol (E2) and SHBG levels were significantly higher in Group2.

Conclusion: Insulin resistance and obesity were absent in approximately half of the adolescent PCOS cases. Low SHBG levels were found to be associated with insulin resistance, obesity and hirsutism. In our study, SHBG levels were found to be significantly lower in group 1 when compared to overweight and obese subjects (group1) and normal weight and underweight subjects (group2). Although insulin resistance and obesity are not necessary criteria for the diagnosis of adolescent PCOS, they may have roles in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Obesity and insulin resistance may lead to hyperandrogenism by decreasing SHBG levels and increasing free androgens.