How should Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) be diagnosed?
PCOS should be diagnosed by a credible physician who will begin with a basic physical examination. He/she may also want to have an ultrasound done of your ovaries and require a number of blood tests. Be sure to let your physician know if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of PCOS. There are a number of doctors who feel that a woman must have at least three of the symptoms prior to diagnosing PCOS. Other doctors may make the diagnosis based on the emphasis on lack of ovulation.
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How are polycystic ovaries diagnosed by ultrasound?
Ovary ultrasound showing cystic ovaries courtesy of LearningRadiology.com
An ultrasound of the ovaries is usually done by placing a probe into the vagina to view the ovaries. Sometimes, an abdominal ultrasound is done but a transvaginal ultrasound is preferred.
A classic PCOS ovary is enlarged and has a “string of pearls” appearance, where the “pearls” are the cysts. Usually ultrasound diagnosis of polycystic ovaries is made if there are at least 8-10 cysts that are less than 10mm in size on each ovary. The polycystic ovary tends to be enlarged to 1.5-3 times the size of a normal ovary.
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Is it possible to have polycystic ovaries without having the syndrome?
Yes. It is estimated that out of 20 to 30% of women, only 5 to 10% will be diagnosed as having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome based on their symptoms. Having cysts on your ovaries is not a definitive criteria to having PCOS. However, a large number of women with ovarian cysts also display other symptoms hormonally of having a predisposition for PCOS.
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Is it possible to have PCOS without having cysts?
The medical jury is still out on this subject. Some physicians believe that if a woman is exhibiting a number of PCOS symptoms but do not have cysts, that does not necessary mean that they do not have the syndrome. However, it is difficult to make a firm diagnosis of PCOS without the presence of either an increased number of small cysts or ovarian enlargement. Furthermore, in most cases, if a patient is displaying other symptoms, the likelihood of some ovary irregularities.
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