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Adolescent PCOS Diagnosis

Meaning

The clinical process of identifying Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in female adolescents typically relies on modified diagnostic criteria due to the physiological immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis during puberty. Diagnosis necessitates the presence of both clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism and persistent menstrual irregularity. Polycystic ovarian morphology is frequently excluded from the initial diagnostic criteria in the early years post-menarche to avoid over-diagnosis. This assessment is critical for early intervention, addressing both the immediate symptoms and the substantial long-term metabolic and reproductive health risks associated with this complex endocrinopathy.