News | Study Finds Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome More Likely to Have Multiple Other Conditions
A study found that by the later reproductive years, around age 46, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, including migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, and endometriosis. Their health burden was significantly greater than that of women without PCOS.
Led by Terhi T. Piltonen, MD, PhD, of the University of Oulu in Finland, the study was published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
The study compared 246 women with PCOS or PCOS symptoms with 1,573 healthy women of the same age. Participants had a mean age of 46, when female fertility naturally declines.
Results showed:
Women with PCOS were more likely to be diagnosed with migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, and endometriosis;
They used medication significantly more often than controls;
They also rated their own health more poorly.
PCOS is more than a fertility issue—it can signal broader health risks
“We often view PCOS as a fertility problem, but most patients can become pregnant with assisted reproductive technology,” senior author Professor Terhi T. Piltonen said. “What is truly overlooked is the lifelong risk of multimorbidity and ongoing health burden among women with PCOS.”
Piltonen emphasized that clinicians should not focus only on ovulation and pregnancy, but should also watch for other chronic conditions that may develop as patients with PCOS age.
The study found that the increased risk persisted even after accounting for body mass index (BMI), meaning health risks remain even in PCOS patients without obesity.
Earlier diagnosis and comprehensive care are essential
“We hope all women with PCOS are identified earlier and receive systematic health management, including blood pressure, joint, hormone, and pain care,” Piltonen said. “These issues can easily be dismissed as minor, but together they create persistent effects on quality of life and health.”
The team urged that PCOS be viewed not simply as irregular periods or difficulty becoming pregnant, but as the beginning of a lifelong health concern.
News | Study Finds Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome More Likely to Have Multiple Other Conditions
News | Study Finds Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome More Likely to Have Multiple Other Conditions
A study found that by the later reproductive years, around age 46, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, including migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, and endometriosis. Their health burden was significantly greater than that of women without PCOS.
Led by Terhi T. Piltonen, MD, PhD, of the University of Oulu in Finland, the study was published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
The study compared 246 women with PCOS or PCOS symptoms with 1,573 healthy women of the same age. Participants had a mean age of 46, when female fertility naturally declines.
Results showed:
Women with PCOS were more likely to be diagnosed with migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, and endometriosis;
They used medication significantly more often than controls;
They also rated their own health more poorly.
PCOS is more than a fertility issue—it can signal broader health risks
“We often view PCOS as a fertility problem, but most patients can become pregnant with assisted reproductive technology,” senior author Professor Terhi T. Piltonen said. “What is truly overlooked is the lifelong risk of multimorbidity and ongoing health burden among women with PCOS.”
Piltonen emphasized that clinicians should not focus only on ovulation and pregnancy, but should also watch for other chronic conditions that may develop as patients with PCOS age.
The study found that the increased risk persisted even after accounting for body mass index (BMI), meaning health risks remain even in PCOS patients without obesity.
Earlier diagnosis and comprehensive care are essential
“We hope all women with PCOS are identified earlier and receive systematic health management, including blood pressure, joint, hormone, and pain care,” Piltonen said. “These issues can easily be dismissed as minor, but together they create persistent effects on quality of life and health.”
The team urged that PCOS be viewed not simply as irregular periods or difficulty becoming pregnant, but as the beginning of a lifelong health concern.
Story source:
Collected online