Increased rates of complications in singleton pregnancies of women previously diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome predominantly in the hyperandrogenic phenotype

Objective To study the presence of several maternal and neonatal complications in a cohort of women with hyperandrogenic as well as normoandrogenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and women with PCOS who received different fertility treatments. Design Prospective multicenter cohort study. Setting Hospitals and midwifery practices. Patient(s) One hundred and eighty-eight women with PCOS and singleton pregnancies (study group) and 2,889 women with a naturally conceived singleton pregnancy (reference group). Intervention(s) Observational study. Main Outcome Measure(s) Maternal and neonatal pregnancy complications. Result(s) Women with PCOS had a statistically significantly increased risk of developing gestational diabetes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.07–8.33) compared with the reference group, and their infants were more often born small for gestational age (AOR 3.76; 95% CI, 1.69–8.35). In a subgroup analysis, maternal complications were statistically significantly more often present in women with hyperandrogenic (defined as a free androgen index >4.5) PCOS (n = 76; 40% of all PCOS women) compared with those with normoandrogenic PCOS (n = 97; 52% of all PCOS women) (45% vs. 24%; P=.003); no statistically significant differences were observed between these groups regarding neonatal complications. Conclusion(s) Women with PCOS have an increased risk of maternal and neonatal pregnancy complications, especially women with the hyperandrogenic phenotype. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT00821379.

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