Ferriman Gallwey Self-Scoring I: Performance Assessment in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine performance characteristics of Ferriman Gallwey self-scoring in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. DESIGN: A simultaneous Ferriman Gallwey map scoring design was used. SETTING: The study was performed at the General Clinical Research Center in a university medical center. PATIENTS: Twenty-one hirsute patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included masked patient, physician, and research nurse simultaneous and independent Ferriman Gallwey map scoring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were modified Ferriman Gallwey map scores. RESULTS: Agreement analysis demonstrated that patient self scores, physician scores, and research nurse scores were quite discrepant. CONCLUSION: The modified Ferriman Gallwey Map scoring system has too much variation to be clinically useful.