Maternal polycystic ovary syndrome may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes

To determine whether maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in a population of Italian parturients.

Retrospective study carried out in an academic hospital in Bologna, Italy, including 516 consecutive Italian women who delivered between January and April 2006. PCOS women, women with hyperandrogenic features not configuring PCOS (Intermediate group) and non-hyperandrogenic controls were identified by a telephone survey of 229 women. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA or chi-square.

PCOS women, accounted for 6.6% of our cohort. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was significantly more frequent in the PCOS group than in the other groups (20% vs. 3.6% and 4%; P<0.01). The association of GDM and pregnancy-induced hypertension occurred in one subject in the PCOS group but in none of the other groups (P<0.001). Preterm birth was more frequent in the PCOS group than in control group (20% vs. 6.9%; P<0.05), whereas mean length of gestation was not different. The higher occurrence of adverse outcomes may be, at least partly, related to a higher weight gain during pregnancy in PCOS group with respect to the other groups (P<0.05).

Women affected by PCOS carry an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.