Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 3, 612-615,
March 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Polycystic ovaries and recurrent miscarriage—a reappraisal
Department of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary's, Mint Wing, Praed Street, London W2 1PG, UK
The prevalence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) was established amongst 2199 consecutive women (median age 33 years; range 19–46) with a history of recurrent miscarriage (median 3; 3–14). A diagnosis of PCO was made if the ovarian volume was enlarged (>9 ml), there were 
10 cysts of 2–8 mm in diameter in one plane and there was increased density of the stroma. In a cohort study, the prospective pregnancy outcome of 486 of the women scanned who were antiphospholipid antibody negative and who received no pharmacological treatment during their next pregnancy was studied. The prevalence of PCO was 40.7% (895/2199). The livebirth rate was similar amongst women with PCO (60.9%; 142/233) compared to that amongst women with normal ovarian morphology (58.5%; 148/253; not significant). Neither an elevated serum luteinizing hormone concentration (>10 IU/l) nor an elevated serum testosterone concentration (>3 nmol/l) was associated with an increased miscarriage rate. Polycystic ovarian morphology is not predictive of pregnancy loss amongst ovulatory women with recurrent miscarriage conceiving spontaneously. The search for a specific endocrine abnormality that can divide women with PCO into those with a good and those with a poorer prognosis for a future successful pregnancy continues.
Key words: polycystic ovaries/pregnancy outcome/prevalence/recurrent miscarriage
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. Hudecova, J. Holte, M. Olovsson, and I. Sundstrom Poromaa Long-term follow-up of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: reproductive outcome and ovarian reserve Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2009; 24(5): 1176 - 1183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.A. Cocksedge, S.H. Saravelos, Q. Wang, E. Tuckerman, S.M. Laird, and T.C. Li Does free androgen index predict subsequent pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent miscarriage? Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2008; 23(4): 797 - 802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Thessaloniki ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consens Consensus on infertility treatment related to polycystic ovary syndrome Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2008; 23(3): 462 - 477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Ishikawa, T. Harada, T. Kubota, and T. Aso Testosterone inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in human endometrial stromal cells in vitro Reproduction, June 1, 2007; 133(6): 1233 - 1239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M.T.M. Franssen, J.C. Korevaar, F. van der Veen, K. Boer, N.J. Leschot, and M. Goddijn Management of recurrent miscarriage: evaluating the impact of a guideline Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2007; 22(5): 1298 - 1303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Jauniaux, R. Farquharson, O. Christiansen, and N. Exalto Reply: Polycystic ovary-related miscarriage--should metformin be proposed to such frustrated women? Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2007; 22(2): 623 - 624. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M.A. Checa, A. Requena, C. Salvador, R. Tur, J. Callejo, J.J. Espinos, F. Fabregues, J. Herrero, and (Reproductive Endocrinology Interest Group of the Insulin-sensitizing agents: use in pregnancy and as therapy in polycystic ovary syndrome Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2005; 11(4): 375 - 390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Nikolaou and C. Gilling-Smith Early ovarian ageing: are women with polycystic ovaries protected? Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2004; 19(10): 2175 - 2179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. S. Legro, E. Myers, and for the Reproductive Medicine Network Surrogate end-points or primary outcomes in clinical trials in women with polycystic ovary syndrome? Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2004; 19(8): 1697 - 1704. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K.-H. Baek Aberrant gene expression associated with recurrent pregnancy loss Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2004; 10(5): 291 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. De Leo, A. la Marca, and F. Petraglia Insulin-Lowering Agents in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2003; 24(5): 633 - 667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.A.K. Amer, V. Gopalan, T.C. Li, W.L. Ledger, and I.D. Cooke Long term follow-up of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome after laparoscopic ovarian drilling: clinical outcome Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2002; 17(8): 2035 - 2042. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.A.K.S. Amer, T.C. Li, C. Bygrave, A. Sprigg, H. Saravelos, and I.D. Cooke An evaluation of the inter-observer and intra-observer variability of the ultrasound diagnosis of polycystic ovaries Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1616 - 1622. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Tsanadis, G. Vartholomatos, I. Korkontzelos, F. Avgoustatos, G. Kakosimos, A. Sotiriadis, A. Tatsioni, A. Eleftheriou, and D. Lolis Polycystic ovarian syndrome and thrombophilia Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2002; 17(2): 314 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K Lakhani, A M Seifalian, W U Atiomo, and P Hardiman Polycystic ovaries Br. J. Radiol., January 1, 2002; 75(889): 9 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Filicori and G. E. Cognigni Roles and Novel Regimens of Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Ovulation Induction J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2001; 86(4): 1437 - 1441. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|