We studied a group of obese hyperandrogenic amenorrheic women to determine the effects of weight loss on anthropometry, hormonal status, menstrual cycles, ovulation, and fertility. Fourteen women had polycystic ovaries, two the hyperandrogenism-insulin resistance-acanthosis nigricans syndrome, one hirsutism of adrenal origin, and three idiopathic chronic anovulation. The duration of amenorrhea before the study ranged from 3-17 months [mean, 8.6 +/- 4.5 (+/- SD)]. All women ate a hypocaloric diet for a period of 8.0 +/- 2.4 months. Weight loss ranged from 4.8 to 15.2 kg (mean, 9.7 +/- 3.1 kg; 1.35 +/- 0.56 kg/month) and the waist to hip ratio, which was used as a measurement of body fat distribution, decreased from 0.86 +/- 0.1 to 0.81 +/- 0.06 (P less than 0.0001). The women's mean plasma testosterone and LH concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.005, respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between the decreases in plasma testosterone levels and the decreases in glucose-stimulated insulin levels. Moreover, the decreases in the waist to hip ratio correlated positively with the decreases in glucose-stimulated insulin levels and inversely with the decreases in plasma 17 beta-estradiol. No relationships were found between weight loss and the changes in plasma insulin, steroid, and gonadotropin concentrations. The responsiveness to the weight reduction program was evaluated by comparing the number of menstrual cycles during the study period with the number reported before it. Eight women had significantly improved menstrual cyclicity (responders), while 12 did not (nonresponders). The clinical characteristics and hormone values were similar in responder and nonresponder women. In the group as a whole, 33% of the menstrual cycles during the study were ovulatory, and 4 pregnancies occurred. Hirsutism improved significantly in more than half of the women, as did acanthosis nigricans when present. We conclude that weight loss is beneficial in all obese hyperandrogenic women regardless of the presence of polycystic ovaries, the degree of hyperandrogenism, and the degree and distribution of obesity.

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Objectives The purpose of this work was to study the role of 2‐dimensional (2D) and 3‐dimensional (3D) sonographic and Doppler techniques in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods A total of 112 young adult lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 52 healthy volunteers with regular ovulatory cycles, matched for age and body mass index, underwent a detailed history, medical examination, hormonal assay, and 2D and 3D sonographic and Doppler flow ovarian evaluation during the early follicular phase. Results The Ferriman‐Gallwey score, circulating androgen levels, ovarian volume, and mean number of small subcapsular follicles on 2D and 3D sonography were significantly higher in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than the controls (P < .001). A stromal score of 1 or 2 was found in all of the patients but none of the controls. The ovarian stromal/total area ratio was 0.32 or higher in 104 of 112 of the patients (93%), which was significantly higher than in the controls (P < .001). On Doppler analysis, the lowest ovarian stromal resistance levels were found in the patients. On 3D sonography, the total ovarian stromal volume, ovarian stroma/total ovarian volume ratio, and stromal mean grayness were significantly higher in the patients than the controls. With 3D power Doppler imaging, ovarian vascularization measurements were significantly lower in the controls than the patients. The ovarian stroma/total ovarian volume ratio was the most accurate predictor of both hyperandrogenemia (area under the curve, 0.915; P < .0001) and hirsutism (area under the curve, 0.891; P < .0001). Conclusions Our data strongly support the use of 3D sonography with analysis of stromal volume and vascularization in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

We longitudinally studied clinical endocrine and ultrasound parameters of the ovaries in 73 healthy adolescents having persistent menstrual irregularities. After the first examination, they were reexamined after a variable period ranging from 2 to 7 y. During the first examination, three basic features of the ovaries were observed: homogeneous (36%), multifollicular (23%), and polycystic (41%). Polycystic ovaries were most frequent, and they generally exceeded the normal adult range. During the last examination, in the entire group of irregular adolescents, homogeneous ovaries decreased (-14%), polycystic ovaries increased (+IS%), and a further higher number of subjects exceeded the normal adult range (+ 10%). The subjects with enlarged ovaries had the highest values of LH, testosterone, and androstenedione. Fourteen subjects out of 46 (30%), with normal ovarian volume in the first examination, registered an ovarian enlargement in the last examination, exceeding the normal range. Moreover, a change from the homogeneous or multifollicular structure to the polycystic one was observed. Twenty-one subjects out of 27 (78%) with enlarged ovaries in the first examination confirmed the high ovarian volume and the unchanged structure in the last examination, whereas six subjects (22%) showed ovaries within the normal adult range; the polycystic structure was substantially confirmed. These results indicate the following. I ) Homogeneous, multifollicular, and polycystic ovaries can usually be found in the postmenarcheal period. 2) Enlarged ovaries, polycystic structure, hyperandrogenemia, and high LH values are strongly linked, and they are frequent in irregular cycles even in the absence of signs of hyperandrogenism. These characteristics may all persist or in various aggregations become a permanent feature. 3) Only a few subjects may lose ovarian enlargement and show a change in the polycystic structure; however, they frequently maintain hyperandrogenemia. 4) During the postmenarcheal period, normal ovarian characteristics may suddenly change, and the ovaries may take on a polycystic structure and increase in volume. Moreover, some endocrine parameters may reach pathologic levels. (Pediatr Res 38: 974-980, 1995)

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