Polycystic ovaries. Presentation and response to wedge resection.

Polycystic ovarian disease has been recognised for quite a long time, although its presentations have varied from place to place. In a report of cases of polycystic ovaries seen in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, over a six-year period, it was shown that the syndrome of Stein-Leventhal identifies only a very small and probably artificial fraction of the much larger number of patients who actually have polycystic ovarian disease. It was further shown that the benefit derived from wedge resection in our cases was marked. Of the cases that were subsequently seen at follow-up, there was restoration of regular ovulatory menstrual flow in 83.3% and achievement of pregnancy in 33.3%. Hence, the observation that wedge resection is beneficial, and at times curative in polycystic ovarian disease seems to have a sound foundation.