European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

IS POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME PURELY AN INVENTED DIAGNOSIS AND NOTHING OTHER THAN A VARIATION OF NORMALITY?

Dr. Mustafa Al Abousi*

ABSTRACT

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulation, infertility and hyperandrogenism, in addition to many long term unfavorable metabolic sequels in women worldwide. The question of whether the presence of polycystic ovary morphology alone, but without other diagnostic criteria of PCOS, is pathological or a normal variant of ovarian morphology is debated. Several studies have been shown abnormal hormonal responses in women who have polycystic ovary morphology alone, in absence of other features of PCOS, during ovulation induction procedures in addition to a provoked androgenic response and insulin resistance. Furthermore, there is a clear evidence of increased anti-Mullerian hormone levels, which can be considered as a surrogate marker of PCOS, in that subset of women. Based on the above, polycystic ovary morphology is obviously not a normal variant, but rather a mild phenotype of PCOS.

Keywords: Polycystic ovary, anovulation, infertility, hyperandrogenism.