Can a mother’s polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-related symptoms be used to predict the future clinical profile of PCOS in her adolescent daughter? A pilot study

Abstract

Objective

The aim of the study was to establish whether a mother’s polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms can predict her daughter’s future PCOS clinical profile.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 57 adolescents who attended a paediatric gynaecology clinic between 2017 and 2019 and had an established diagnosis of PCOS according to the 2018 criteria of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. A clinical examination and pelvic ultrasound were performed and the level of total testosterone was measured. A structured questionnaire concerning PCOS symptoms was completed by the girls’ mothers.

Results

It was found that 51% of girls with PCOS and 44% of their mothers had an elevated body mass index (BMI), and 35% of girls had an increased waist–hip ratio (>0.85). The mother’s BMI significantly predicted her daughter’s BMI and waist–hip ratio. It was reported that 40% of mothers had experienced menstrual irregularities, 50% hirsutism and 67% acne, and 12% had a confirmed diagnosis of PCOS.

Conclusion

Our study population had several markers of poor metabolic health (increased BMI and waist–hip ratio) that were passed down from mother to daughter. No direct link was found between a mother’s PCOS symptoms and those of her adolescent daughter. In order to establish definitive links between the symptoms of a mother and those of her daughter, a more comprehensive study should be conducted using a larger study sample. Additionally, a follow-up assessment of our studied adolescents would be appropriate to evaluate the progress of their symptoms.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在研究母亲多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）的相关症状可否用于预测其青春期女儿PCOS未来的临床表现。

方法：这是一项针对于2017年至2019年就诊于儿科妇科门诊并根据欧洲人类生殖与胚胎学会2018年诊断标准确诊为PCOS的57名青少年的横断面研究。进行了临床检查和盆腔超声检查, 并测量了总睾酮水平。这些女孩的母亲们完成了有关PCOS症状的结构化问卷。

结果：发现51％的PCOS女孩和44％的母亲体重指数（BMI）升高, 而35％的女孩其腰臀比增加（> 0.85）。母亲的BMI显著预测其女儿的BMI和腰臀比。调查显示：40％的母亲有月经不调, 50％有多毛, 67％有痤疮, 12％的母亲明确诊断为PCOS。

结论：我们的研究人群中有几个从母亲遗传给女儿的不良健康代谢指标（BMI和腰臀比增加）。未发现母亲的PCOS症状与青春期女儿的PCOS症状之间有直接联系。为了在母亲和女儿的症状之间建立明确的联系, 应在更大规模的样本中进行更全面的研究。此外, 对研究中的青少年进行随访可很好地评估其症状的进展。

Keywords:

• Adolescents
• mother–daughter correlation
• polycystic ovary syndrome

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The study was financially supported by a Riga Stradins University internal research grant.