PCO or PCOS?
Poly cystic ovaries (PCO) are ovaries that by ultrasonography appear with more follicles or stroma than average ovaries. The definition is as follows:
- More than 12 follicles in one or both ovaries
- One or both ovaries is lager than 10 CC
- PCO is frequently seen, among 20-33 % of all women. It might seem that women with PCO more frequently need fertility treatment than women with normal ovaries
Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
The difference between PCO and PCOS is:
- PCO is an transvaginally ultrasound diagnosis of the appearance of the ovaries. PCOS is a complex of symptoms with at least 2 of the following symptoms:
- One or both ovaries are polycystic
- Long menstrual cycles with absence or seldom ovulations
- Sign of hyperandrogenaemia either evaluated clinically or found by blood testing
- The frequency of PCOS is increasing and presently seen among 7-10% of the population
Diagnosis
PCO is as mentioned a transvaginally ultrasound diagnosis. Eventual endocrine disorders should be excluded, such as hyper prolactinaemia and thyroid disease. One may measure FSH, LH; estradiol, progesterone and androgen stat Or clinic has been specialised I the treatment of women with PCO / PCOS since transvaginally ultrasonography was introduced in mid 1980's
