Insulin sensitivity does not differentiate by hirsutism in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Hirsutism is one of the component of polycystic ovary syndrome. According to the Rotterdam Consensus has concluded that principially obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) should be evaluated for the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the insulin sensitivity in PCOS women with and without hirsutism regardless of obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical characteristics, sex hormones and fasting glucose and insulin levels of fifty-eight women with PCOS were analyzed. Hirsutism has been evaluated through the Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) map scoring system. RESULTS: Twenty-two women (38%) were hirsute. They were not any significant difference between hirsute and nonhirsute women for their sex steroids and insulin sensitivity (P>0.05). There were no correlation among sex steroids, WHR and insulin sensitivity in relation to FG score in the subgroup with hirsutism (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that normal weight and overweight women with hirsutism can have normal insulin sensitivity and normal levels of circulating androgens in PCOS women.