polycystic ovary syndrome: an apparently simple yet challenging diagnosis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos), also known as stein-leventhal syndrome, had first been described in 1935 as amenorrhea associated with bilateral polycystic ovaries (pco). since that moment, its definition has been changed several times. in 1990, according to the national institutes of health criteria, pcos was diagnosed when both ovulatory dysfunction and clinical hyperandrogenism and/or hyperandrogenemia were present, after excluding other endocrinologic disorders, such as non-classic adrenal hyperplasia, androgen secreting tumors, hyperprolactinemia and thyroid disorder. however, these criteria were revised at the rotterdam eshre/asrm consensus conference, in 2003.