Pelvic floor dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) symptoms in patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and among different PCOS phenotypes. This was a case–control study. All participants were assessed using ultrasonography to determine the presence or absence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) and allocated to the case or control group (having healthy females whose husbands were diagnosed with male infertility). The case group was then further subdivided into the three phenotypes according to the presence or absence of menstrual dysfunction (M), hyperandrogenism (HA) and PCO on ultrasonography. Pelvic floor dysfunction was assessed by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20). Briefly, the reported pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms were higher in PCOS group (p = 0.05). The mean PFD score in the HA + M + PCO group was higher compared to other phenotypes although the difference did not reach significant level (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant positive correlation between luteinising hormone (LH) level and the POP symptom portion of the PFDI-20 (p < 0.05). The reported POP symptoms were higher in PCOS group especially in HA + M + PCO phenotype. The findings suggest that higher levels of LH might correlate to symptoms of POP.