Transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of benign ovarian cysts.

In our study, we evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of benign ovarian cysts in selected patients. A total of 46 women with benign ovarian cysts were referred to our outpatient clinic. The aspirated fluid was collected and sent for cytological analysis. All women were re-evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure. The cytological analysis was negative for malignancy in all cases. Our study showed an overall recurrence rate for ovarian cysts of 39.1%. Women with endometriotic ovarian cysts have an increased incidence of recurrence, 62.5% (n = 5), in comparison with serous cysts, 35.2% (n = 12) and serous-haemorrhagic cysts, 15% (n = 1), χ(2) = 9.913, df = 2, p = 0.007. The results of our study reveal that transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of benign ovarian cysts is a simple, safe and effective procedure.

The influence of obesity on androstenedione to testosterone ratio in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hyperandrogenemia.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of obesity and insulin resistance on testosterone formation from androstenedione and its contribution to biochemical hyperandrogenemia in all different phenotypic subgroups of PCOS patients. The case-control study included 1087 PCOS women and 206 regularly menstruating, ovulatory controls. The main clinical measurements included anthropometric and basal hormonal characteristics and evaluation of hyperandrogenic and insulin resistance-related features. The results were the following: In PCOS women with biochemical hyperandrogenemia, obesity significantly lowers serum A levels and increases T to A ratio. These findings were not present in PCOS women with clinical hypeandrogenemia and in normal ovulatory controls.