Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and its Impact on Iranian Women's Qua lity of Life:  A 
population -based study  
 
Version: 1 Date: 03 Aug 2018  
 
Reviewer: Ricardo Azziz  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Fereidooni et al submit a study assessing quality of life (QOL) in PCOS women. Their study is 
of interest and this reviewer has the following suggestions:  
1) This reviewer is seeing the revised manuscript for the fi rst time and has not bee involved in 
prior evaluations. So comments apply only to the revised version.  
 
2) 316 women were approached and only 200 entered. The authors should describe what were 
the reasons for excluding the 116 subjects not included.  
 
3) Notably, there are no controls in the population, so any conclusions regarding whether QOL 
is greater or less in PCOS women need to be removed from the 'Results' section, 
understanding that the QOL tools used have been assessed previously in the populatio n 
studied (Iranian women). However, comparisons within the PCOS group (by phenotype, by 
domain, etc.) are still valid.  
 
4) The details of how the features of the Rotterdam definition (i.e. ovulatory dysfunction, 
PCOM and hyperandrogenism) were defined nee ds to be included.  
 
5) How did the phenotype of PCOS relate to QOL? Current standards (see NIH consensus 
recommendations 2012) recommends that when using Rotterdam the phenotype of PCOS (A 
thru D) also be recorded.  
 
6) It would be helpful if in Table 1 t he % of women with hirsutism (how defined?) would be 
included. Also if the ethnic variations were noted (what are the different ethnicity in the 
Iranian women studied?)  
 
Minor comment: The paragraphs, particularly in the 'Discussion' section, continue to be too long. 
The authors should note that one paragraph is not meant to include ALL narrative pertinent to 
one subject or topic. Instead, one paragraph should be no more than 3 -5 sentences long, divided 
along some logical flow.     
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is requ ired in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects req uire further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of  competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, eithe r now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents r elating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing inter ests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any att achments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal