Study population
A retrospective analysis of patients seen in a reproductive endocrine
clinic at St Mary’s Hospital, London, UK. 100 consecutive women with FHA
were seen by three experienced endocrinologists (Dr Channa N Jayasena,
Professor Stephen Franks and Miss Lisa J Webber) between January 2016
and February 2020. Due to the lack of universally accepted criteria for
diagnosing FHA, FHA diagnosis was made on clinical suspicion by the
three consultant physicians. Women with FHA and concurrent PCOS features
were also noted. The database was also interrogated to identify 100
consecutive patients with a confirmed PCOS diagnosis between November
2014 and February 2020. PCOS was diagnosed in accordance with the
Rotterdam Criteria (2003).14 Patients were excluded if
taking contraceptive medication or using a contraceptive device at the
time of blood testing, to reduce the influence of these on hormone
levels.