Master Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Symptoms and Diagnosis with Picmonic for Medicine

Patients with PCOS have abnormal hormone levels, which disrupts cyclic ovulation. This disorder is the most common cause of infertility in women.

Typically, women present with amenorrhea after developing this disease, which is one of the most common initial complaints.

Due to excess androgens, these patients often develop acne.

As these patients have increased androgens, hirsutism occurs. These patients can end up with male pattern facial hair development.

A large percentage of PCOS patients are obese. Obesity is believed to be one of the many factors which leads to development of this disorder.

Patients with this disorder, when imaged, show enlarged cystic ovaries bilaterally. The syndrome acquired its most widely used name due to the common sign on ultrasound examination of multiple ovarian cysts. These "cysts" are actually immature follicles, not cysts.

Serum hormone studies show an LH:FSH ratio of greater than 3:1. Patients have large increases in LH while FSH levels stay normal or may slightly decrease.

The follicles have developed from primordial follicles, but the development has stopped ("arrested") at an early antral stage due to the disturbed ovarian function. The follicles may be oriented along the ovarian periphery, appearing as a 'string of pearls' on ultrasound examination.