Clinical Features of Polycystic Ovarian Disease

Abstract

The original description of the syndrome which bears the names of Stein and Leventhal (880) emphasized the association of amenorrhea, hirsuitism and sterility with enlarged polycystic ovaries. They established specific criteria for the diagnosis of their syndrome that included bilaterally enlarged ovaries, normal urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and absence of virilization. These criteria were established as a basis for their selection of patients for bilateral ovarian wedge resection (521,876,878,879). Using the classic description of patients originally de-scribed in 1935, Stein (874), in 1964, reported only 108 patients who conformed to the original description. In this strictly defined group he was able to report a 95% return to ovulatory cycles and an 85% conception rate following bilateral ovarian wedge resection. Subsequent reports by numerous investigators have emphasized that enlarged ovaries are not necessarily present, nor is infertility or anovulation always present (347,349,852,905,909,945).