Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Because of the wide variation of symptoms that individual women may experience, the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be difficult to determine. In 2003, a consensus conference established criteria for the diagnosis of PCOS. A diagnosis of PCOS requires two of the following three:

• Oligomenorrhea or anovulation
• Clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism
• Polycystic ovaries - 12 or more follicles in each ovary measuring 2-9 mm in diameter, and/or increased ovarian volume (>10 ml)
• Exclusion of all other metabolic disorders that could cause these hormonal abnormalities such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen-secreting tumors and Cushing's syndrome.