Approximately 15% of women of reproductive age worldwide are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with this condition suffer from reduced fertility, while pregnant women are more likely to experience miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.

Studies have proven that daughters of mothers with PCOS are five times more likely to develop this condition. Since pregnant women with PCOS have high amounts of androgens circulating, the androgen supply to the fetus is also increased. Meanwhile, the extent of passing PCOS from the mother to their male offspring is not widely known.

Exploring the Risk Among Male Offspring

Two researchers from the Karolinska Institutet conducted a longitudinal case-control study to explore the possibility of passing PCOS to male offspring. Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin and associate professor Qiaolin Deng previously led research where pregnant mice were exposed to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to show the transfer of PCOS-like traits from mothers to daughters.

Using the same validated mouse model, they tried to determine whether first-generation male offspring could develop reproductive and metabolic traits when exposed to maternal obesity, prenatal androgens, or a combination of both. They found out that male offspring of the obese lineage are transmitted with altered reproductive functions. It supports the result of other studies, which reveal that metabolic dysfunction is also transmitted due to prenatal androgen exposure.

The result of the study reveals that PCOS is more prevalent and has a broader consequence in both men's and women's health. The comprehensive analyses also confirm the long-term effects of obesity and excess prenatal androgen during pregnancy on the transmission of reproductive traits in male offspring across generations.

In the future, Stener-Victorin and Deng hope to extend their investigation to identify biomarkers for the early detection of men and women at risk for PCOS. By enabling the prevention of this condition, they are confident that innovations for treatment strategies rather than symptom management can help reduce the burden of this disease.

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What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

In polycystic ovary syndrome, the ovaries of a woman produce too many androgens, a type of male sex hormones which are normally present in a woman's body in small amounts. It describes the presence of numerous small cysts or fluid-filled sacs that are produced in the ovaries.

The exact cause of PCOS is still unclear. However, it was observed that many women with this condition show insulin resistance, meaning their bodies cannot use insulin well. Obesity can also boost insulin levels and make the symptoms of PCOS even worse.

In women, symptoms of PCOS include missed periods, excess body hair, weight gain, and infertility. In the male equivalent PCOS, a person shows signs of androgens, complete hair loss, and the same hormonal characteristics observed in regular PCOS except for testosterone levels in the subnormal range.

Treating PCOS depends on several factors, such as age, the severity of the symptoms, and a person's overall health. For women, planning to get pregnant in the future is also considered when giving treatment options.

 

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