Abstract
Evidence from various epidemiological studies and experimental animal studies has linked adverse intrauterine circumstances with health problems in adult life. This field of investigation is known as Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Studies investigating the relation between developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adulthood and birth weight have yielded inconsistent results: PCOS is described more often in women with low birth weight and high birth weight, while other studies have failed to establish any relation. In this retrospective case–control study, we evaluated whether women diagnosed with PCOS had lower birth weight compared to women with a regular menstrual cycle (controls). Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the data and correct for known confounders. About 65 women with PCOS and 96 controls were recruited for this purpose. The average birth weight of PCOS women (3357 g) did not differ from the average birth weight of controls (3409 g). Mean age at menarche differed significantly between groups, 13.7 years and 12.8 years (p = 0.006), respectively, for PCOS women and controls. In conclusion, we could not confirm the effect of adverse intrauterine conditions, reflected in birth weight, on developing PCOS.
Highlights
Evidence from epidemiological studies and experimental animal studies has linked adverse intrauterine circumstances with health problems in adult life, recognized as Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) [1]
In this retrospective case–control study, we evaluated whether women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had lower birth weight compared to women with a regular menstrual cycle
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common fertility-related disorder associated with high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and subfertility has an estimated prevalence of up to 20% depending on the diagnostic criteria [8]
Summary
Evidence from epidemiological studies and experimental animal studies has linked adverse intrauterine circumstances with health problems in adult life, recognized as Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) [1]. Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease are among the well-documented sequelae of intrauterine growth restriction [10]. Animal studies suggest that elevated prenatal testosterone levels during critical periods of gestation can cause a PCOS like phenotype and intrauterine growth restriction mediated through impaired placental function [11]. PCOS and insulin resistance have been suggested to find their joint origin in fetal growth restriction mediated by excessive serine phosphorylation [12]. While other studies have failed to establish an association between PCOS and birth weight [17,18].
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