Pregnancy-related outcomes for women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

The polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder that has profound implications for women throughout their reproductive years. A diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with reproductive challenges including a difficulty in conceiving as well as the pregnancy-related complications of miscarriage, hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes and prematurity. Consequently, polycystic ovary syndrome has profound implications for women and their offspring with regard to reproductive function in the short term and in the longer term the risk of chronic illness and congenital anomalies, and health care resources should be directed accordingly to mitigate against these risks.

Keywords: complications; polycystic ovary syndrome; pregnancy; reproduction.

Figure 1.

Incidence of menstrual disorder, infertility and need for IVF treatment by age. Source: Reproduced with permission from Oxford University Press from Hart and Doherty.

Figure 2.

Hospitalizations by age stratified by maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis: (a) metabolic, nutritional and endocrine disorders; (b) acute and upper respiratory tract infections; (c) asthma; and (d) musculoskeletal and connective tissue. In all analyses, the estimated cumulative admission estimates were adjusted for IVF, Ethnicity (Caucasian, Indigenous, Asian and Other), multiple pregnancy, maternal age (<20, 20–29, 30–39, 40+ years), parity (0, 1–4, 5+), time epoch of birth (years <1990, 1990–1999, 2000–2011), smoking during pregnancy (yes, no or unreported), maternal hypertension, asthma and cardiovascular conditions; pre-existing and gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, male gender, gestational age at delivery (<32, 33–34, 35–36, 37–40, 41+ years), being born small-for-gestational age, major congenital anomalies and neonatal admission to special care nursery after birth. Source: Reproduced with permission from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists from Doherty et al.