Clinical outcome after unilateral oophorectomy in patients with polycysticovary syndrome

The objective of this study is to report retrospectively on the clinical ou tcome of unilateral oophorectomy in 14 women with polycystic ovary syndrome who had undergone this treatment 14-18 years ago in our hospital for clomi phene citrate-resistant anovulation and long standing infertility or for se vere hirsutism, The main outcome measures were menstrual cycle, pregnancy, hirsutism, testosterone concentrations, and premature ovarian failure. Unil ateral oophorectomy restored regular menstrual cycles in 12 of the 14 patie nts. Thirteen years later, nine out of 12 patients still had regular menstr ual cycles. Ten patients wished to become pregnant, Seven of them conceived spontaneously. Eleven patients complained of severe hirsutism, After unila teral oophorectomy, hirsutism regressed subjectively in six. Testosterone b lood concentrations decreased significantly within the first year after uni lateral oophorectomy in 11 patients. None of the women entered menopause wi thin 14-18 years after surgery. Our results indicate that unilateral oophor ectomy restores ovulatory function for many years in the majority of patien ts and does not result in premature ovarian failure. However, unilateral oo phorectomy should not be recommended as a standard treatment for clomiphene citrate-resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.