Lora Shahine
University of Washington, USA
Title: Polycystic ovarian syndrome and recurrent pregnancy loss: Update on evidence and treatment for 2015
Biography
Biography: Lora Shahine
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women resulting in a wide range of health issues including insulin resistance, obesity, cardiovascular disease and reproductive issues. PCOS is associated with chronic anovulation and elevated androgen hormones which result in difficulty with reproduction. Women with PCOS suffer not only from difficulty conceiving but a higher rate of early miscarriage compared to women of the same age without PCOS. Women with PCOS are more likely to have multiple miscarriages and suffer from recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), defined as 2 or more miscarriages for the purposes of evaluation by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The specific etiology of pregnancy loss in PCOS remains unknown. Several factors have been implicated as potential contributors to miscarriage in PCOS such as obesity, endometrial defects, and hormonal imbalances and we will review the current evidence.