Pelvic floor dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome

Area of Science:

• Reproductive endocrinology
• Urogynecology
• Women's health

Background:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting reproductive-aged women.
• Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), including pelvic organ prolapse (POP), can significantly impact quality of life.
• The relationship between PCOS and PFD, particularly POP, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) symptoms in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• To examine PFD symptoms across different PCOS phenotypes.
• To identify potential correlations between PCOS characteristics and PFD symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study design was employed.
• Participants were assessed using ultrasonography for polycystic ovaries (PCO).
• Pelvic floor dysfunction was evaluated using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20).
• PCOS cases were subcategorized into phenotypes based on menstrual dysfunction (M), hyperandrogenism (HA), and PCO.

Main Results:

• Women with PCOS reported higher pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms compared to controls (p=0.05).
• The phenotype combining hyperandrogenism, menstrual dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries (HA+M+PCO) showed higher mean PFD scores, though not statistically significant.
• A significant positive correlation was observed between luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and POP symptoms (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• PCOS is associated with an increased prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms.
• Higher luteinizing hormone (LH) levels may be a contributing factor to POP symptoms in women with PCOS.
• Targeting hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularities in PCOS may be beneficial for managing POP symptoms.