Session 04: PCOS

• Published in: Human Reproduction
• Main Authors: Papunen, L. Morin -, West, S., Pinola, P., Bloigu, A., Pouta, A., Järvelin, M.R., Franks, S., Lashen, H., Tapanainen, J.S., Homburg, R., Ray, A., Bhide, P., Gudi, A., Shah, A., Timms, P., Grayson, K., Hendriks, M.L., König, T., Korsen, T., Schats, R., Hompes, P.G.A., Kaaijk, E.M., Twisk, J.W.R., Lambalk, C.B., De Cicco, S., Lanzone, A., Gagliano, D., Immediata, V., Tartaglia, C., Zumpano, A., Cirella, E., Romualdi, D., Guido, M., Grigorescu, V., Zhang, Y., Kissin, D., Sauber-Schatz, E., Sunderam, M., Kirby, R., Diop, H., McKane, P., Jamieson, D., Soleman, R., Kreukels, B.P.C., Veltman, D.J., Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., Drent, M.L.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2013
• Subjects: Monday 8 July 2013; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/28/suppl_1/i6; https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/det159

Study question To investigate the reproductive health [polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility problems, rates of pregnancies, miscarriages and deliveries] in early adulthood (at age 26) in women with a history of menstrual disorders and/or hyperandrogenaemia at age 16. Summary answer Menstrual disorders at age 16 are associated with an increased risk of menstrual disorders, PCOS and infertility, but not acne, hirsutism, miscarriages and childlessness at age 26. Significantly higher Free androgen indices at age 16 were associated with PCOS, hirsutism and acne at age 26. What is known already PCOS is the most frequent cause of anovulatory infertility, but few studies have investigated the reproductive capacity of women with PCOS. In a population-based, unselected birth cohort (Northern Finland Birth Cohort-1966), women with PCOS symptoms, studied at age 31 had more infertility problems and less often had more than two children than controls. We have recently reported that menstrual disorders at adolescence were a good marker of hyperandrogenaemia and a risk factor for development of PCOS in adulthood. Study design, size, duration Prospective cohort study using postal questionnaires on menstrual disorders [Is your menstrual cycle often (more than twice a year) longer than 35 days?], hirsutism (self-reported Ferriman&Gallwey's score), contraceptive use and reproductive health targeting girls in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 at ages15-16 ( n = 4567) and 26-27 ( n = 4503). Participants/materials, setting, methods Questionnaires were sent at ages 16 (response rate 80.3%, n = 3669) and 26 (response rate 49.1%, n = 2211). The girls answering “yes” to the question were classified as having menstrual disorders. 3373 (74%) underwent clinical examination including blood samples at age 16. Pregnant women and hormonal contraceptive/hormone users were excluded from the laboratory analyses. Main results and the role of chance Women with menstrual disorders at age 16, more often exhibited at age 26 menstrual ...