Abstract
Objectives: Several inconsistent studies have investigated whether the uterine environment of androgenized pregnant women is a risk factor for an in-utero developmental imprinted predisposition towards subsequent polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) among their female offspring. These are difficult to compare due to variable parameters and subject selection criteria. Few epidemiological studies have analyzed the incidence of PCOS amongst adult daughters of PCOS affected women previously. Our study aimed to investigate risk factors relating to the development of PCOS in the female offspring of PCOS patients. Methods: We used a questionnaire to collect a mother-to-daughter medical history and relevant information, in order to understand risk factors, which might relate to the presence of PCOS daughters of PCOS patients. Results: Of four hundred and one responses, 131 participants were included in the final analysis. There was no statistical association with the subsequent development of PCOS amongst female offspring of women with PCOS. However, there was a significantly higher prevalence of post-term birth among PCOS mothers. Nevertheless, the major determinant of risk of subsequent incidence of PCOS amongst daughters was a higher BMI, regardless of the mothers BMI. Conclusion: Socio-economic family influences, affecting BMI, may be the reason for any mother to daughter association with PCOS.
Highlights
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a frequent female endocrinopathy, estimated to affect at least five percent of women during their reproductive age [1]
Some women do not display all of the diagnostic symptoms and/or do not seek medical help, so the prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may even be as high as 20% [2]
Due to its heterogeneous nature, the exact diagnostic criteria has always been difficult and in 2003, PCOS diagnostic criteria were defined as the presence of two out of three features; oligomenorrhoea and/or anovulation; clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism; and polycystic ovaries [4]
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a frequent female endocrinopathy, estimated to affect at least five percent of women during their reproductive age [1]. The intrauterine environment may play an important role in the aetiology of PCOS: Both animal-based models and human clinical studies, indicate a connection between the exposure of the fetus to elevated androgen levels in utero and the occurrence of PCOS or PCOS-associated features in childhood, adolescence and adult life [7,8,9,10]: Prenatally androgenized female rodents have shown altered regulation of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons [7,8] and the exposure of sheep to androgens in their mid-pregnancy resulted in the reduction of the GnRH network efficiency [7]
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