It’s normal to have a few small resting follicles on the ovary each month; these are called antral follicles and they are measured by an ultrasound. However, a woman with cystic ovaries has many, many more of these small follicles. They are said to resemble a pearl necklace, in that they look like strings of pearls in the ovary.
Having cystic ovaries is one sign of having PCOS, although it is not the only diagnostic measure. In addition to having cystic ovaries, women with PCOS also have elevated androgen levels, which can cause other symptoms like acne, abnormal hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, and hair loss.
