Abstract

Objective: No studies have investigated muscle strength and thickness in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We investigated whether there were changes in quadriceps muscle thickness and strength between adolescents with PCOS and controls. Secondly, we evaluated the effects of six months of combined oral contraceptive (COC) treatment on the quadriceps muscle.

Materials and Methods: The study included 20 adolescents with PCOS and 20 healthy adolescents. The isokinetic dynamometer for the knee muscle strengths and hand dynamometer for grip strength, and ultrasound for quadriceps muscle thickness were used. These measurements were repeated after six months of COCs treatment in the patient group.

Results: Age, weight, height, pubertal stage, Physical Activity Questionnaire scores, quadriceps muscle thickness, grip strength and all isokinetic knee strength values were similar between patients and controls (all p>0.05). Compared to baseline, weight, height, quadriceps strength and lipid profile increased (all p<0.05). According to subgroup analyses, significant (and greater) increases in quadriceps muscle strength were found in COC-containing levonorgestrel users (n=6) than in cyproterone acetate users (n=13) (both p<0.05).

Conclusion: Quadriceps muscle thickness and strength values were similar between PCOS patients and controls. Significant and greater increases were observed in quadriceps muscle strength in levonorgestrel users than cyproterone acetate users. Further longitudinal studies with larger samples evaluating the COCs with different androgenic capacity are awaited to confirm our preliminary findings.