The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Phenotype in Unselected Populations study: ethnic variation in population-based normative cut-offs for defining hirsutism
Authors' conclusion
This study confirms the 2023 International PCOS Guidelines recommendations defining hirsutism as an mFG score between 4 and 6 for the majority of populations studied, with few exceptions. However, we also highlight ethnic variation in mFG cutoff scores, suggesting that clinicians consider ethnicity in optimal diagnosis and personalized interventions.
Study context
- Population
- Unselected, medically unbiased participants aged 18–45 years from 12 community-based studies in 8 countries (China, Iran, Italy, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, US)
- Participants
- 9,829 participants12 studies
- Exposure
- Modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) normative cutoffs across ethnic groups
- Outcome
- Ethnicity-specific normative cutoffs for the mFG score
Methodological detailsk-means cluster analysis, community-based studies, multinational
- K-means cluster analysis
- Community-based studies
- Multinational
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
mFG cutoff score for hirsutism (cluster analysis)
White Iranians
8
White Italians
7
Black Africans
7
Asian Han Chinese
5
White Russian
5
Turkish
5
Black Americans
5
White Americans
4
Asian Koreans
4
Asian Russians
4
Mixed Russians
4
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Comparison of medians and mFG cutoffs across ethnicities
- Comparing medians and mFG cutoffs across ethnicities confirmed the same differences
Original publication
The PCOS Phenotype in Unselected Populations study: ethnic variation in population-based normative cut-offs for defining hirsutism. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 1 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →