Prevalence of polycystic ovaries in women with anovulation and idiopathic hirsutism.
Polycystic ovaries were defined with ultrasound imaging in a series of 173 women who presented to a gynaecological endocrine clinic with anovulation or hirsutism. Polycystic ovaries were found in 26% of women with amenorrhoea, 87% with oligomenorrhoea, and 92% with idiopathic hirsutism--that is, hirsutism but with regular menstrual cycles. Fewer than half the anovulatory patients with polycystic ovaries were hirsute, but in 93% of cases there was at least one endocrine abnormality to support the diagnosis of polycystic ovaries--that is, raised serum concentrations of luteinising hormone, raised luteinising hormone: follicle stimulating hormone ratio, or raised serum concentrations of testosterone or androstenedione. This study shows that polycystic ovaries, as defined by pelvic ultrasound, are very common in anovulatory women (57% of cases) and are not necessarily associated with hirsutism or a raised serum luteinising hormone concentration. Most women with hirsutism and regular menses have polycystic ovaries so that the term "idiopathic" hirsutism no longer seems appropriate.
D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000858:Anovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone