Heritability of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Dutch Twin-Family Study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. There is evidence for a genetic component in PCOS based on familial clustering of cases.

In the present study, the heritability of PCOS was estimated. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: Data from 1332 monozygotic twins (genetically identical) and 1873 dizygotic twins/singleton sisters of twins (who share on average 50% of their segregating genes) registered with The Netherlands Twin Register were used. PCOS was defined as less than nine menstrual cycles and acne or hirsutism in agreement with the 2003 Rotterdam consensus.