POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest reproductive disorder of women of childbearing age (5–10% of women of this age experience PCOS). Most clinicians agree that PCOS can be clinically diagnosed in a woman who has menstrual disorders or secondary amenorrhea, male pattern hirsutism, obesity and polycystic ovarian morphology in the ultrasound. However, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria of syndrome for women with less than classic symptoms. In 1990 at a symposium held at the NIH, the following minimum criteria were proposed:

• Menstrual disorders with anovulatory cycles.
• Hyperandrogenemia, clinical (male pattern hypertrichosis, acne or male alopecia) and/or biochemical (elevated androgen levels).
• Exclusion of other diseases, which cause hyperandrogenemia.

Severity of menstrual disorders and hirsutism varies. Only the morphology in the ultrasound is inadequate to support the diagnosis of PCOS if the woman has a normal menstrual cycle without hyperandrogenemia.

GRADUATE COURSES IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND DIABETES- DEPARTMENT OF ENDOCRINOLOGY DIABETES AND METABOLISM OF EVANGELISMOS GENERAL HOSPITAL OF ATHENS- 2004