A novel association between polycystic ovary syndrome and Helicobacter pylori

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies. Chronic infections may increase the risk of infertility. Helicobacter pylori infection has been found to be associated with infertility, and PCOS is also one of the most common causes of infertility. To the best of our knowledge, the possible association between H. pylori seropositivity and PCOS has never been investigated.

We performed a prospective study between a group of PCOS subjects and an age-matched group of controls. This prospective study included 35 women (mean age, 25 +/- 5 years) with PCOS, selected by using revised diagnostic criteria of European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2003, who were compared with their age-matched control group (50 women; mean age, 26 +/- 5 years). The 1-step H. pylori test device was used to detect IgG-type antibodies to H. pylori in serum, to aid in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

H. pylori seropositivity was found to be significantly higher in the PCOS group (PCOS 40%; control 22%; P = 0.007).

We suggest a possible association between H. pylori seropositivity and PCOS. It is early to state that H. pylori is a new etiological factor for PCOS or the association of PCOS and H. pylori infection is coincidental with these data. Further studies evaluating more subjects are required.