11-Oxygenated androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): impact of PCOS phenotypes and first-line interventions
Authors' conclusion
11-oxygenated androgens are elevated in PMOS in a phenotype-specific manner and are strongly suppressed by OCPs, with modest response to metformin and no short-term effect from LSM
Study context
- Population
- Women with Rotterdam-defined PCOS/polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and controls, two academic medical centres
- Comparison
- PMOS vs controls; and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) vs metformin vs lifestyle modification (LSM)
- PCOS/PMOSn = 276
- Controlsn = 97reference
- Primary endpoint
- Serum 11-OHT, 11-KT, 11-KA4 and 11-OHA4 (LC-MS/MS) and total testosterone (TT)
- Follow-up
- Baseline and end of study
Methodological detailsOWL-PCOS, COMET-PCOS, AMIGOS, two academic medical centres
- OWL-PCOS, COMET-PCOS, AMIGOS
- Two academic medical centres
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
11-OHT and 11-KT, adjusted for age and BMI · baseline
| Group | Value | 11-KT median |
|---|---|---|
| PCOS/PMOS | median 11.0 ng/dL | 31.9 ng/dL |
| Controls | median 7.8 ng/dL | 25.6 ng/dL |
Value
PCOS/PMOSmedian 11.0 ng/dL
Controlsmedian 7.8 ng/dL
11-KT median
PCOS/PMOS31.9 ng/dL
Controls25.6 ng/dL
- PCOS/PMOS vs Controls: P = 0.01
- PCOS/PMOS vs Controls: P = 0.03
Further findings
Change in 11-oxygenated androgens with treatment · end of study
- OCPs suppressed 11-KT, 11-KA4 and 11-OHT, comparable to total testosterone (TT) reductions
- all P < 0.001
- Metformin produced modest reductions in 11-OHT and 11-KT
- P < 0.05
- LSM had no effect
- Changes independent of BMI, glycaemia and HOMA-IR
Original publication
11-Oxygenated androgens in PCOS: impact of PCOS phenotypes and first-line interventions. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 13 August 2026. doi:10.
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