Women who have the hormone
disorder polycystic ovary syndrome may be able to improve their fertility
through weight loss and exercise, according to the results of a new study.
Published
in the Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism, the study could be good news
for the estimated 5 million women across the US that have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of female infertility.
"The
findings confirm what we have long suspected - that exercise and a healthy diet
can improve fertility in women who have PCOS," says study co-author Dr.
Richard S. Legro, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health
sciences at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA.
PCOS can occur when women produce more male
hormones, such as testosterone, than
normal and can lead to the formation of fluid-filled sacs known as cysts on the ovaries. Symptoms of the condition
include pelvic pain, excess hair growth, weight gain and acne, as well as irregular
menstrual periods and infertility.
At present, women with PCOS may be
prescribed birth
control pills
to regulate hormone production. Previous studies have demonstrated that
short-term courses of birth control pills can improve fertility in women with
the condition.
In this
new open-label study, the researchers aimed to compare different interventions
for PCOS - including the birth control pill - assessing the impact they had on
fertility.
A total
of 149 women with PCOS were randomly assigned to one of three intervention
groups. One group was prescribed birth control pills, one group underwent
lifestyle modification consisting of dieting, exercise and weight-loss
medication, and one group underwent a combination of the two interventions.
Each group undertook their mode of intervention for 4 months.
The
participants in the study were all 18-40 years old and were either overweight
or obese - a known risk factor for both PCOS and female infertility - but
otherwise healthy.
Lifestyle
changes 'important' for overweight, obese women with PCOS
After
the 4-month intervention period had been completed, each participant underwent
four cycles of ovulation induced by medication.
The
researchers found that five of the 49 women in the birth control pill group
gave birth. In comparison, 13 of the 50 women in the lifestyle modification
group and 12 of the 50 women in the combination intervention group delivered
babies.
Combining birth control pills with
lifestyle modification had several beneficial outcomes. The women who undertook
this intervention were more likely to ovulate than those who were solely
prescribed birth control pills, while also having better insulin sensitivity and lower levels of
triglycerides in the blood.
Dr.
Legro outlines the study's findings:
"The
research indicates preconception weight loss and exercise improve women's
reproductive and metabolic health. In contrast, using oral contraceptives alone
may worsen the metabolic profile without improving ovulation. Lifestyle change
is an important part of any fertility treatment approach for women with PCOS
who are overweight or obese."
As all
the participants in the study were overweight or obese, it remains to be seen
whether or not lifestyle modification in the form of regular exercise and
adhering to a healthy diet is effective at improving fertility among women with
PCOS who already have a healthy weight.
Despite
a potential limitation to the study, Dr. Legro promotes this lifestyle
intervention. "Making preconception lifestyle changes is beneficial,
either alone or in combination with other pretreatment options," he
concludes.
Earlier this year, Medical
News Today reported
on a study that found women with PCOS are twice as likely as other women to be hospitalized and show a greater risk
of diseases such as heart
disease, diabetes and uterine cancer.
Written by James McIntosh
Copyright: Medical News Today
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