Women with polycystic ovary syndrome wedge resected in 1956 to 1965: a long-term follow-up focusing on natural history and circulating hormones

To determine if the hormonal imbalance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) continues into and after menopause and to analyze factors constituting an increased risk for developing metabolic disorders.

The study was a transectional retrospective cohort follow-up of patients with PCOS.

The women with PCOS were recruited from hospital clinics, and referents were randomized from a population study of women.

Thirty-three women ages 40 to 59 years with ovarian histopathology typical of PCOS at wedge resection 22 to 31 years previously; 132 age-matched referents were analyzed.

Clinical data were collected via a questionnaire supplemented with an interview in connection to a clinical examination that also included fasting venous sampling.

Infertility, hirsutism, and oligomenorrhea were more common among the subjects with PCOS, but there was a considerable spontaneous restitution of cyclic regularity with time. Women with PCOS were more often hysterectomized and entered menopause later compared with referents. The hormone data show a typical profile for PCOS. Compared with referents women with PCOS showed marked increase in prevalence of central obesity, higher basal serum insulin concentrations, and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Perimenopausal women with PCOS have an increased morbidity in hypertension and diabetes mellitus that adds to the classic symptoms, such as anovulation, hirsutism, and infertility.