Endocrinological meaning of hyperandrogenism in patients with polycystic ovary

In the light of excessive ovarian androgen hormone production in cases of polycystic ovarian disease (PCO), we have made an endocrinological, symptomatological and morphological study of PCO in women with high serum testosterone levels. The following results were obtained: (1) High serum testosterone levels were found in 18.1% of the infertile women. (2) Morphologically, 44.4% of these women had PCO (the PCO group), and 55.6% did not have PCO (non-PCO group). (3) No significant differences between these groups were found in mean testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrone (E1), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels, or the E1/E2 ratio, but the LH/FSH ratio was significantly higher in the PCO group. (4) The incidence of menstrual irregularities and hirsutism were significantly higher in the PCO group, but the incidence of obesity did not differ between the groups. (5) No correlation between testosterone and LH or E1 levels was found in the PCO group, but strong positive correlations were found in the non-PCO group. From the above findings it is suggested that in women with high peripheral blood testosterone levels, the presence of morphological abnormalities on the ovaries has effects on gonadotropin production and therefore on the incidence of menstrual irregularities and hirsutism.