GOOD news for women with polycystic ovary syndrome – not normally a cause for celebration. Not only are they just as likely to have children as any other woman, but they have a better chance of conceiving later in life.

Women with PCOS produce more follicles in the ovary every month than is usual. This interferes with normal hormonal activity and decreases fertility.

Last year it turned out that women with PCOS actually had as many babies as those with normal ovaries. The natural decline in follicles that happens with age was working to their advantage.

Later menopause

Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani and colleagues at Shahid Behesht University in Iran wondered if they might also reach menopause later.


The team compared 85 women with PCOS and 89 controls on three occasions over six years, They were looking at blood levels of AMT – a hormone used as a marker of ovarian ageing.

They found that AMH declined to menopausal levels two years later in the PCOS group. This suggests that they have a better chance of conceiving at a later age.

Journal reference: Human Reproduction, DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deq088