Women who have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and wish to conceive have the same likelihood of falling pregnant as women without the condition when they undergo fertility treatments, a new study from The University of Queensland has found.
Researchers from UQ’s School of Public Health studied 1109 women who were using fertility treatments and found no difference in births between the women with PCOS and those without PCOS. There was also no difference found between those on different treatment paths.
Women with PCOS responded well to fertility treatments and had the same birth rate as women without the condition.
Dr Katrina Moss, a Research Fellow at the university specialising in reproductive health and assisted reproductive technology said that the latest research indicates that women with PCOS were not disadvantaged when they underwent fertility treatments.
“More women with PCOS used fertility treatment – 38 per cent compared to 13 per cent of women without PCOS, but the birth rate was equivalent,” Dr Moss said.
She believes that the findings should provide some reassurance for women with PCOS who are anxious about their fertility.
In Australia, roughly one in 10 women are diagnosed with PCOS. The condition, which sees increased levels of two hormones in the body, causes women to ovulate irregularly, or not ovulate at all, making conception difficult.
Those with PCOS who wish to conceive are usually taken through a series of steps based on clinical practice guidelines. They are given the option to try ovulation induction (OI) first, before being recommended to undergo intrauterine insemination (IUI) before finally trying IVF.
“According to our analysis, most women with PCOS are following the recommended treatment pathways,” Dr Moss said.
“71 per cent are starting OI compared to 36 per cent of women without PCOS, and fewer women with PCOS progress to IVF.”
“It’s positive that non-invasive treatments like OI are highly effective, and there was no disadvantage to starting with that and progressing to other treatments if needed – suggesting the clinical practice guidelines work well for most women.”
Professor Jenny Doust, a Clinical Prof Research Fellow from UQ said the research should give GPs the green light to assure their female patients who have PCOS that their chances of falling pregnant are just as good as anyone else’s.
“However, it’s possible that this is because women with PCOS are more likely to start fertility treatments earlier, around age 31 compared to age 34 for women without PCOS, and age is a key factor for success,” Professor Doust said.
“We also found that women who need to go on to more invasive treatments such as IUI and IVF were more likely to have other reproductive disadvantages such as endometriosis, obesity or a higher age.”
“These factors should be considered by clinicians and patients when choosing treatment pathways as it’s important to get women into the most effective treatment as early as possible.”