The monocystic ovary syndrome.

Three patients with oligomenorrhoea and hirsutism thought to have the polycystic ovary syndrome were found to have only one ovarian cyst. Endocrine findings were similar to those found in the polycystic syndrome, but apart from the single cyst the ovaries were histologically normal; a biopsy specimen of a cyst showed normal follicular appearances and no evidence of luteinisation. These cysts may be the cause of this condition, producing abnormal amounts of ovarian steroids which modify the pituitary response. Further studies are needed, however, to determine this possibility.