2. • Major health problem affecting
women of all ages.
• The prevalence appears to be rising
because of the current epidemic of
obesity.
• Accounts for 90-95% of women
who attend infertility clinics with
anovulation.
• Unwanted facial and bodily hair,
acne, obesity and infertility have
profound effects on the quality of
life for these women.
Background
3. Presence of two of the three following criteria is diagnostic of the condition.
• Polycystic ovaries(either 12 or more peripheral follicles) or increased ovarian volume
(greater than 10 cm).
• Oligo or anovulation.
• Clinical and/ or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism.
OA
~
Oligo-Anovulation
HA
~
Hyper-androgenism
PCOM
~
Polycystic Ovarian Morphology
Diagnosis
4.
5. Diagnosis can only be made when other aetiologies
have been excluded :
• Thyroid dysfunction.
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
• Hyperprolactinaemia.
• Androgen-secreting tumours.
• Cushing syndrome.
Diagnosis of PCOS
6. Figure1: The aetiological, hormonal and clinical
features of polycystic ovary syndrome.
adapted and reproduced from Teede et al. with permission from the
Royal Australian College of general Practiotioner (Teede HJ, MJA 2011)
11. • Periods often irregular from the start.
• Periods may be delayed from the start.
• Fewer than nine menstrual periods in a year.
• No menstrual periods for three or more consecutive months.
• Cycles are usually anovulatory, resulting in infertility.
Menstrual dysfunction
12. Metabolic consequences of PCOS:
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Cholesterol abnormalities.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Obstructive sleep apnoea.
• Increased bone mass.
Cancer and PCOS:
• Endometrial hyperplasia /malignancy.
• No additional risk for ovarian or breast malignancy.
Pregnancy and PCOS:
• Higher risk of Gestational diabetes and other complications of
pregnancy.
PCOS long term consequences
16. • Diet
• Exercise
• Bariatric surgery may be considered for obese
• PCOS pts.
• Pharmacological Rx
• Bariatric Surgery
Not recommended for
Ovulation Induction
Wt. loss is the first line therapy in obese women with PCOS
Ref. Palomba et.al. Hum. Reprod. 2010 , Nov. 25 :11
Obesity in PCOS-treatmrnt
17. • 5 % - 10% wt. loss can improve I.R, ovulation rate,
• pregnancy rate even if BMI > normal range
• No consensus on commencement of fertility Rx
• based on optimal BMI.
Ref. Practice Committee of ASRM – Obesity & Reproduction Fertil Steril 2008, 90:S21-9
Contd…
Ref. Clark AM, et. al. Hum Reprod 1998;13:1502-5
It recommends that though BMI of < 35 should be achieved before conception,
“the benefits of postponing pregnancy to achieve wt. loss must be balanced against
risk of declining fertility with advancing age.
Weight loss in infertile obese PCOS
18. Dietician
• Lifestyle modification
• Moderate exercise (30 minutes
/week)
• Target to normalize BMI
• Reduction of adipose tissue >
Reduces peripheral sites for
Androgen production
• Is the most important aspect of treatment.
• Causes spontaneous resumption of
ovulation
• Improves fertility.
• Increases sex hormone binding globulin
levels.
• Reduces insulin resistance.
• Normalizes the glucose metabolism.
MX of PCOS
19. • Metabolic control
• IGT / Insulin Resistance
• Risk of Metabolic syndrome secondary to
Obesity
• Higher incidence of Depressive / Anxiety
Disorders
Physician/Endocrinologist
MX of PCOS
20. • Mainstay of managing insulin
resistant PCOS is with insulin
sensitizers.
• Commonest drug used is
Metformin.
• Dose of 1500 –1700mg/day in
divided doses.
• Causes G.I. side effects
Insulin Sensitizers
21. • Metformin is effective as a treatment for anovulatory infertility amongst women with PCOS.
• The clinical pregnancy rate for metformin versus placebo was significantly increased in RCTs
• The advantages of Metformin Vs clomiphene are more.
• Women with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilisation should be offered metformin to reduce
their risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
• Women who have proven to be resistant to clomiphene alone (when clomiphene is used as a
first line agent), the use of metformin alone or in combination with clomiphene is a choice
• Metformin may be a suitable alternative to the OCP for treating hyperandrogenic symptoms
of PCOS including hirsutism and acne.
• Consideration should be given to continuing metformin through the first trimester rather than
stopping metformin abruptly once pregnancy has been diagnosed.
Metformin in PCOS
22. • There is no clear role for insulin sensitising drugs in
the management of PCOS, and should be restricted to
those patients with IGT or DM-2 rather than those with
just insulin resistance.
• Therefore, on current evidence Metformin is not a first
line treatment of choice in the management of PCOS.
The ESHRE & ASRM Consensus:
Reference: Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group
23. • two inositol isomers, Myo-inositol (MI) and Dchiro- inositol(DCI), is nutritional supplement
which act as insulin sensitizers
• Decreases circulating insulin & serum total testosterone.
• They act as insulin's secondary messengers and mediate different functions of insulin.
• MI and DCI reduce the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/FSH ratio and testosterone levels
• MI and DCI can be synergistically integrated by combining them in a ratio of 40:1
• Helps restoring ovulation and normalizing other parameters of PCOS
• improves FSH sensitivity, ovarian function and oocyte development.
• Improves follicles with matured and fertilized oocyte, have higher follicular fluid (FF) volume
• improved oocyte quality in IVF/ICSI
• Reduces acne & weight.
Drug therapy Myo-Inositol and dchiro- inositol
27. • Weight loss 5-10% of body weight (>50% return of ovulatory cycles).
• First line drugs triggers ovulation in 80%.- Clomiphene Citrate /
Tamoxifen.
• Gonadotropin Therapy.
• Metformin /InoFolic.
• Ovarian drilling (reserved for selected anovulatory women with a
normal BMI.)
Treatment of infertility
29. • First line of treatment is lifestyle improvement. Weight Reduction , exercise,
No smoking/No alcohol
• Inositols may improve insulin sensitivity, ovulation rate and oocyte quality
• Melatonin can be added for regular sleep
• Vitamin D, vitamin B12 and thyroxin could be supplemented if deficient.
• The metabolic and hormonal milieu should be as physiologic as possible and exposure
to pollutants should be kept to a minimum, particularly in the periconceptional
period.
• If a pharmacological treatment is necessary, the same advice could accentuate the
effects of drugs and/or reduce their risks, like multiple pregnancies or ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome.
Conclusion