Women with polycystic ovaries have increased heart risk

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study shows that women who have polycystic ovary syndrome are more likely to develop heart disease.
Up to ten per cent of women of reproductive age have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is one of the most common forms of female infertility. Doctors at the Medical College of Virginia in the USA looked at the medical records of 106 women with PCOS. Forty six of them also had metabolic syndrome - a clustering of risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

The findings suggested that women with PCOS are twice as likely to have metabolic syndrome as the rest of the population. Those who did have both conditions were also more likely to have severe insulin resistance. The researchers say that it would be worthwhile screening women diagnosed with PCOS for metabolic syndrome so that action can be taken to prevent early-onset heart disease.

Source
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism April 2005

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