MORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY USING TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND

A total of 104 patients with bilateral polycystic ovaries (PCO) diagno sed by transvaginal ultrasound were classified into four groups (A < 5 cysts, B 5 - 10 cysts, C > 10 cysts located under ovarian capsule, D numerous cysts distributed all over the ovary) according to the number of microcysts. Ovarian volume, clinical features (menstrual disturban ce, obesity and hirsutism), endocrine levels [luteinizing hormone (LH) , LH/follicle stimulating hormone ratio, testosterone, andro-stenedion e and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphatel and response to clomiphene were compared for each group and 17 control subjects with normal ovulatory cycles. Ovarian volume in PCO subjects was significantly larger than that in control subjects. As the number of microcysts increased, the o varian volume enlarged and the endocrine abnormality worsened. All end ocrine parameters in PCO subjects with menstrual disturbances were sig nificantly higher than those in PCO subjects without menstrual disturb ances and controls. In PCO subjects without menstrual disturbances onl y andro-stenedione was significantly higher than in controls. Among PC O subjects, the frequency of menstrual disturbances, the percentage of response to clomiphene and the pregnancy rate in groups C and D were significantly higher than in groups A and B. Therefore, screening the ovaries in infertile patients by means of transvaginal ultrasound and subsequent assessment of morphology in PCO may suggest endocrine abnor mality and help in selecting the proper treatment.