Reprint of: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome wedge resected in 1956 to 1965: a long-term follow-up focusing on natural history and circulating hormones

Abstract

Objective To determine if the hormonal imbalance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) continues into and after menopause and to analyze factors constituting an increased risk for developing metabolic disorders. Design The study was a transectional retrospective cohort follow-up of patients with PCOS. Setting The women with PCOS were recruited from hospital clinics, and referents were randomized from a population study of women. Participants Thirty-three women ages 40 to 59 years with ovarian histopathology typical of PCOS at wedge resection 22 to 31 years previously; 132 age-matched referents were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures Clinical data were collected via a questionnaire supplemented with an interview in connection to a clinical examination that also included fasting venous sampling. Results Infertility, hirsutism, and oligomenorrhea were more common among the subjects with PCOS, but there was a considerable spontaneous restitution of cyclic regularity with time. Women with PCOS were more often hysterectomized and entered menopause later compared with referents. The hormone data show a typical profile for PCOS. Compared with referents women with PCOS showed marked increase in prevalence of central obesity, higher basal serum insulin concentrations, and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Conclusion erimenopausal women with PCOS have an increased morbidity in hypertension and diabetes mellitus that adds to the classic symptoms, such as anovulation, hirsutism, and infertility.