Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria for PCOS.

1990 NIH guidelines: Patient satisfies both criteria: (1) Clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism (2) Oligomenorrhoea or oligo-ovulation Other causes of hyperandrogenism and anovulatory subfertility should be excluded.

2003 ESHRE/ASRM or Rotterdam guidelines: Patient satisfies two of three criteria: (1) Oligomenorrhoea or oligo-ovulation (2) Clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism (3) Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound Other causes of hyperandrogenism and anovulatory subfertility should be excluded.

2006 AES guidelines: Patient satisfies both criteria: (1) Hyperandrogenism: hirsutism or biochemical hyperandrogenism (2) Ovarian dysfunction: oligo-anovulation or polycystic ovaries Other causes of hyperandrogenism and anovulatory subfertility should be excluded.

AES, Androgen Excess Society; ASRM, American Society for Reproductive Medicine; ESHRE, European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology; NIH, National Institute of Health; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome.