Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Complications
PCOS Complications has a mild nature at the beginning, but it can lead to severe health problems if not controlled. Thus, diagnosing PCOS at an early stage is vital to prevent its worsening, which can cause severe polycystic ovarian syndrome complications.
Women with PCOS complications are at a high risk of developing the following conditions:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Cholesterol and lipid abnormalities: High levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL; bad cholesterol) and low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL; good cholesterol)
- Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of signs and symptoms that indicate a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) — a severe liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation
- Anxiety and depression
- Sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing periodically during sleep)
- Endometrial cancer (cancer caused by thickening of the lining of the uterus) caused due to exposure to high levels of estrogen
- Breast cancer
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Pregnancy Complications
If a woman with PCOS happens to get pregnant, the pregnancy is designated as “high-risk,” and your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in “high-risk pregnancy” cases.
Although, getting pregnant with PCOS should not be perceived as something detrimental, but one with PCOS should be cautioned of the risks involved. A woman with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Pregnancy Complications is at a higher risk of events such as miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and premature delivery. Hence, it requires thorough monitoring.
Below mentioned are a series of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Pregnancy Complications that a pregnant woman with PCOS is likely to encounter.
Early & Recurrent pregnancy loss
Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome pregnancy symptoms are at risk of EPL. It is clinically tested that a first-trimester miscarriage can occur in 50% of pregnant women with PCOS, a rate which is three times higher than that in women without PCOS. Treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome pregnancy with ovulation-induction agents has higher rates of EPL compared to those in naturally conceiving women.
Androgens and early pregnancy loss?
Androgens and EPL: Elevation in the testosterone ratios and isolated elevated free and total testosterone levels can be one of the major causes of EPL in PCOS women in two different studies.
Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are associated with EPL in women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome complications.
Endometrial Dysfunction and Early Pregnancy Loss: Endometrial secretory proteins (proteins secreted by the inner layer of uterus/womb) are imperative for the development of fertilized egg and maintenance of pregnancy. The loss or abnormally low concentrations of these proteins are found in women with PCOS suffering from EPL, thus representing a strong association between these proteins and EPL.
Women with PCOS are at high risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This may mandate a vigilant approach and thorough monitoring at every stage of pregnancy until the time of parturition.
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before the 20th week of pregnancy. The occurrence of this adverse event is highly common in women with PCOS.
