Polycystic ovaries - pathological change of structure and function of ovaries on a background of the metabolic disturbances, shown augmentation of both ovaries and a cystic atresia of follicles, frustration of a menstrual cycle (more often as an opsomenorrhea or an amenorrhea), anovulatory sterility, a hypertrichosis and in most cases an obesity. Terms « primary polycystic ovaries » (illness of polycystic ovaries, sclerocystic ovaries) and « secondary polycystic ovaries » (a syndrome of polycystic ovaries) nowadays practically are not used.

Etiology, pathogenesis. On modern representations, polycystic ovaries are consequence of the chronic anovulation resulting disturbance of formation and a rhythm of allocation of gonadotrophic hormones in a zone of a hypothalamus. The quantity of gonadotrophic hormones developed in a pituitary body decreases and the rhythm of their allocation in this connection in ovaries process of body height and maturing of follicles (they is slowed down do not reach a maturity) is broken.

At polycystic ovaries the risk of development of a cancer of mammary glands is raised. The high level of androgens leads to disturbance of a metabolism of lipids that promotes development of an atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. At an obesity the risk of development of a diabetes mellitis raises. Morphological changes of ovaries: a sclerosis and a thickening of an environment, a hyperplasia of cells of a stroma, cells of hiluses of ovaries; a cystic atresia of the follicles reaching in diameter 4-8 mm.