Human reproduction
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Polycystic-appearing ovaries (PAO) on ultrasound have been described in a variety of endocrinopathies and also occur in ovulatory women. By some investigators this is merely referred to as 'PCO' (polycystic ovaries). Although there is controversy in this regard, we do not consider women with PAO/PCO who have no known endocrine disturbance to have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and therefore prefer not to use the term 'PCO' which is often equated with PCOS. ⋯ On an individual basis, an elevation of at least one serum androgen value was found in 33% of women with PAO/PCO. These data confirm that increased body weight accentuates the metabolic alterations in PCOS, but suggest that subtle endocrine disturbances, similar to those that are found in PCOS, may be uncovered in up to a third of ovulatory women with PAO/PCO. It appears that a disturbance of the IGF/IGFBP-1 axis is common and apparently closely associated with alterations in ovarian morphology.