resistant ovary syndrome

Last reviewed 01/2018

"Resistant ovaries" result from a functional disturbance of the gonadotrophin receptors in the ovarian follicles. It may be a cause of primary or secondary amenorrhoea and is resistant to exogenous gonadotrophin stimulation.

Diagnosis of this condition requires that the patient has a normal 46,XX karyotype, normal secondary sexual characteristics, elevated plasma FSH and LH - in the menopausal range - and that normal, multiple follicles are seen on ovarian biopsy.

Spontaneous reversal of the receptor blockade may occur.