A recent study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility has found that fertility treatments are equally effective in females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as in those without the condition.
PCOS is a common cause of female infertility and affects approximately 5 million females in the United States alone. Individuals with PCOS often have irregular or no ovulation, making conception difficult.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, evaluated the fertility treatment pathways used by participants with and without PCOS to determine which pathways resulted in more live births
The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using survey data collected between 1996 and 2022 from females born between 1973 and 1978 who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. They also used linked data on fertility treatments between 1996 and 2021.
A total of 1,109 participants accessed fertility treatment during the study period
This included ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. Of these participants, 10% had PCOS, and 25% of those seeking fertility treatment had PCOS.
The results showed that participants with PCOS were more likely to begin fertility treatment with ovulation induction compared to those without PCOS.
Of those with PCOS who started treatment with ovulation induction, 46% went on to more escalated fertility treatments. However, fewer participants with PCOS required in vitro fertilization compared to females without the condition.
Overall, 63% of participants who accessed fertility treatment had a live birth, and the birth rates were similar regardless of the fertility treatment pathway.
Participants with PCOS had birth rates equivalent to those without PCOS
The lead investigator of the study, Katrina M. Moss, Ph.D., and her colleagues concluded that individuals with PCOS are not disadvantaged when starting fertility treatment with less invasive methods as recommended in clinical guidelines.
Do you have PCOS? Have you gone ahead with fertility treatment? We would love to know your story by emailing mystory@ivfbabble.com
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