ABSTRACT
Polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders of women at
reproductive age and the major cause of anovulatory infertility. The aim of
this study is to determine hormonal imbalance in women with PCOS in teaching
hospitals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Samples of 110 females (50
freshly diagnosed PCOS subjects and 60 healthy subjects) between the ages of 25 - 45
years old were collected from Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti
and Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Ekiti
State, Nigeria. Serum Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone
(FSH), Total Testosterone, Prolactin, Progesterone, Estradiol and Insulin were
evaluated in subjects’ blood sample using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay
(ELISA). Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis (p < 0.05).
The PCOS subjects showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in the
concentrations of Total Testosterone, Insulin, LH, Estradiol and LH/FSH ratio,
while FSH and progesterone concentrations showed significant decrease (p <
0.05) in comparison with the healthy control group. However, there was no
significant difference in the concentration of Prolactin when compared with the
healthy control group. Also, the PCOS subjects’ age at Menarche was significantly
decreased (p < 0.05) while their age showed no significant difference (p > 0.05)
when compared with the healthy control group. Hormonal values obtained in this
study indicates hormonal imbalance in PCOS. Further
investigation into novel helpful markers is required as it might help in
achieving the therapeutical target in PCOS management research.