A recent study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) reveals that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity are more likely to give birth to smaller babies. The research, involving 390 children born to mothers with PCOS, compared their outcomes with approximately 70,000 children from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).
PCOS is a common hormone disorder that affects one in eight women, characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, elevated male sex hormones, and ovarian cysts. While many women with PCOS experience few symptoms, they are at a heightened risk for other conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
The study’s findings indicate that babies born to mothers with PCOS, particularly those with obesity (defined as a BMI over 30), tend to be smaller at birth. These babies showed lower birth weight, shorter length, and smaller head circumference. However, women with PCOS but normal weight did not experience the same outcomes, with only a reduction in birth weight compared to mothers without PCOS.
Professor Eszter Vanky, lead researcher at NTNU’s Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, highlighted the combined effect of PCOS and obesity. “Obesity places an additional burden on mothers with PCOS and their children,” Vanky explained, noting that the placenta in these women often works harder to deliver nutrients to the baby, despite being smaller than average.
Interestingly, although women with PCOS and obesity typically gain more weight during pregnancy and are at risk for gestational diabetes, the babies they carry are smaller than expected. The researchers are still uncertain why this happens, though they suspect it could involve abnormalities in placental function, which might result in insufficient nutrient transfer to the fetus.
One of the key findings was that while the placenta in women with PCOS may be smaller, it works harder to deliver nutrients, which can sometimes lead to placental insufficiency and, in rare cases, fetal death. The research team has not fully determined the cause of these phenomena, but it is hypothesized that factors such as high male sex hormone levels or altered immune profiles during pregnancy may play a role.
The study also found that children born to mothers with PCOS were more likely to develop central obesity by the time they reached age 7, an indicator of future health risks. Other research has linked low birth weight to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. As a result, understanding the impacts of PCOS during pregnancy is crucial for both healthcare providers and women who have the condition.
Moving forward, the NTNU researchers aim to explore the long-term effects of PCOS on the health of children born to affected mothers. They are particularly interested in how lifestyle changes, weight management, and glucose regulation during pregnancy might improve outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
This study highlights the importance of monitoring and managing PCOS during pregnancy to help ensure the best possible outcomes for both mothers and children.
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