title: Is the polycystic ovary a cause of infertility in the ovulatory woman?
abstract: Ovulatory women with polycystic ovaries (PCO) were compared with ovulatory women with normal ovaries, using high-resolution ultrasound and biochemical parameters to compare precise points in the menstrual cycle taking the day of ovulation as day 0. The PCO group had higher median follicular phase LH (days 'menses', -5, -3), FSH (days -5, -3) testosterone (days -3, -2) and free androgen index (days -5, -3, -1) than the controls. Women with PCO had a longer follicular phase and larger follicles. These results suggest that abnormal secretion of LH and free testosterone may contribute to the subfertility of women with PCO, possibly by premature activation of the oocyte or by interfering with folliculogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Place
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alaghband-Zadeh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone