Introduction to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

  Polycystic ovary syndrome is complex to describe, so here is a brief introduction to help sisters understand it initially.  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder of endocrine metabolism characterized by increased androgen levels and persistent anovulation.  I. Diagnostic criteria: In 2003, experts from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the European Society for Human Reproductive Medicine jointly proposed the diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome, the so-called “Rotterdam criteria”: two of the following three items can be established.  (1) low or no ovulation; (2) clinical or blood measurement of hyperandrogenism; (3) ultrasound imaging of polycystic ovaries.  Main symptoms: 1. Obesity: about half of the patients have this performance, which is related to excessive androgens, increased proportion of unconjugated testosterone and long-term stimulation of estrogen.  2. Menstrual disorders: sporadic menstruation, secondary amenorrhea, and anovulatory dysfunction after menarche.  3. Bilateral ovarian enlargement: The volume of the ovaries can be determined by direct laparoscopic examination of the ovaries or by ultrasound imaging.  4. Hirsutism: Abundant body hair, male distribution of pubic hair, oily skin, acne, caused by androgen accumulation.  5, Infertility: Infertility after marriage, mainly due to menstrual disorders and anovulation.  6, acanthosis nigricans: that is, the back of the neck, underarms, under the breasts and groin and other places where the skin appears symmetrical gray-brown pigmentation, such as velvet-like, lamellar hyperkeratosis lesions.