SONOGRAPHIC INCIDENCE OF POLYCYSTIC OVARIES IN A GYNECOLOGICAL POPULATION

The prevalence of polycystic ovaries in a large population of 1078 wom en of reproductive age was determined by pelvic ultrasonography. The o varian ultrasonic appearance of 183 (17%) women met the morphological criteria of polycystic ovaries. Of these women, 147 (80.3%) had irregu lar cycles (group A) and 36 (19.7%) had normal cycles (group B). The r emaining women constituted the control group. Ovarian volume was calcu lated in all women in whom at least one ovary was visualized. Serum le vels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) a nd testosterone were measured in 124 women from group A, 25 from group B and 50 controls. Mean ovarian volume was statistically higher in bo th group A (13.4 ml) and group B (11.8 ml) than in the control group ( 6.2 ml). Mean LH/FSH ratio and mean testosterone values were statistic ally higher in group A only (2.1 and 1.1 ng/ml, respectively) compared with the mean values in the control group (0.7 and 0.7 ng/ml, respect ively). Obesity and hirsutism were more common in group A than in grou p B and the controls. Screening the ovaries in women of reproductive a ge and subsequent assessment of morphology in polycystic ovaries can a id in the diagnosis of this condition in patients who may have a varie d clinical presentation.