The ovarian morphology in 149 patients with the clinical syndrome of polycystic ovaries (group I) is described. The ovaries from 10 age-matched women (group II) with no signs of ovarian disorder were investigated as a reference material. The number of cysts documented for group I was twice that of the reference group and the ovarian volume three times that of the normals. No significant difference in follicle number was seen between the two groups. The tunica albuginea was thicker in group I with more pronounced atretic changes. The duration of symptoms for group I correlated significantly with body mass index, thickening of tunica, degree of stromal hyperplasia and the calculated means of ovarian volume. A correlation was also seen between ovarian volume, degree of follicular atresia and stromal hyperplasia, as well as between the thickness of the tunica albuginea, number of follicles and degree of follicular atresia.