Relationship between Luteinizing Hormone/Follicle Stimulating Hormone Ratio and Body Mass Index in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

ABSTRACT Background: The use of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio in the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is controversial. Objective: To correlate LH/FSH ratio with body mass index (BMI) among women with PCOS, and the possible use of LH/FSH ratio as predictive diagnostic tool of PCOS. Materials and Methods: Serum LH and FSH were assayed by the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique using reagents supplied by Monobind, USA. Students-t-test was used to compare the mean values of LH, FSH, and LH/FSH ratio between cases and controls. Pearson correlation was used to associate a measured variable with age and body mass index (BMI). Results: The mean LH and FSH levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) among the infertile women with PCOS when compared to the fertile controls. The LH/FSH ratio was significantly higher (p<0.001) among women with PCOS than control subjects. The serum LH and FSH correlated with age (r=0.318,p<0.05; r=0.320, p<0.05) respectively among women with PCOS. There was a significant correlation between LH and BMI but not between FSH and BMI. On the other hand, LH/FSH ratio correlated with both age and BMI (r=0.319, p<0.05; r=0.309, p