Being born preterm or with low weight implies a risk of infertility and premature loss of ovarian function; a national register study

Abstract

Background: Being born with non-optimal birth characteristics has several long-term consequences on health in general but also for the individual’s reproductive pattern. In premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) the follicles are depleted or dysfunctional. This results in menopause before the age of 40, and for most of the affected women, it causes infertility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of being born with non-optimal birth characteristics on the risk of developing POI.

Methods: This population-based cohort register study included all women born in Sweden between 1973 and 1993 who were followed until the end of 2012 (age at the end of follow-up ranged between 39 and 59). Women diagnosed with POI were compared with women without this diagnosis with respect to being born small for gestational age, preterm, or with low birth weight. Data on birth characteristics and diagnosis of POI were collected from national registers.

Results: A total of 1,033,878 women were included. Being born small for gestational age was associated with a slightly increased odds ratio of POI with 10%. Preterm birth and low birth weight were associated with somewhat increased ORs of POI after exclusion of those born small for gestational age. Similarly, being born preterm or with a low birth weight was also found to be associated with POI to the same extent.

Conclusions: Being born with non-optimal birth characteristics may increase the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency.

Keywords:

• Low birthweight
• preterm birth
• primary ovarian insufficiency
• small for gestational age

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gunilla Sydsjö

Gunilla Sydsjö is a certified psychotherapist/MA Behavioural Scientist. PhD and professor in Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Marie Bladh

Marie Bladh, MA Applied Statistics. PhD and research assistant/postdoc, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Katarina Rindeborn

Katarina Rindeborn, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Mats Hammar

Mats Hammar, MD and PhD, Senior Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez

Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez, DVM, MSc, PhD, European Specialist ECAR, Professor in Veterinary Medicine Reproductive Biotechnology-SLU 1991, Professor in Reproductive Biology-LiU 2010, Senior Professor, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Division of Children & Women Health (BKH), Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Elizabeth Nedstrand

Elizabeth Nedstrand, MD, PhD Senior Consultant, Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.