Polycystic ovarian syndrome – an update

Dr. Eeson SinthamoneyMD(Malaysia), MRCOG(London), DFFP(UK)Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine (Singapore/UK)Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Fertility SpecialistPantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur

• Is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) an ancient disorder?

• Or is it a disorder of recent development, the consequence of rising metabolic stress in an increasingly obese society?

• And if it is ancient, why has it persisted despite its reproductive disadvantage?

From the ancient scripts…..

“But those women whose menstruation is less than three days or is meagre, are robust, with a healthy complexion and a masculine appearance, yet they are not concerned about bearing children nor do they become pregnant” Diseases of women 1.6 – Hippocrates (460-377B.C)

An ancient disorder?• Observations suggest PCOS is an ancient disorder, arising

from ancestral gene variants selected and maintained over the past 10,000 years

• Such ancient genes likely transmitted trans-generationally through offspring conceived between fertile carrier males and sub-fertile affected females;

• The reduced fecundity of affected women potentially would have been offset, at least in part, by their greater sturdiness and improved energy utilization, a rearing advantage for their children and kin, and a reduction in the risk of maternal mortality

Is anything new?

• PCO versus PCOS • Is metformin useful?• Role of ovarian diathermy / drilling• Is weight loss useful?• Fertility treatment and OHSS risk

Revised diagnostic criteria for PCOS

1999 criteria (both 1 and 2)1. Chronic anovulation2. Clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, and

exclusion of other aetiologies

Revised 2003 criteria (2 out of 3)1. Oligo- and/or anovulation2. Clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism3. Polycystic ovaries and exclusion of other aetiologies (congenital adrenal

hyperplasias, androgen-secreting tumours, Cushing's syndrome)

PCO ,IR

Pathophysiology of PCOS

IGF – 1 and II – important

regulators of ovarian follicular maturation and steroidogenesis

Insulin interferes with follicular development and may affect LH sec

Prolonged exp. to androgens causes foll. suppression

and stromal hypertrophy

PCO versus PCOS

• Up to 23% of normal volunteer women meet the sonographic criteria for polycystic ovaries

• Ovarian morphological changes considered a sign and not a disease

• Diagnosis of disease based on criteria• However: Metabolic similarities including degree of IR Significantly increased risk of OHSS in IVF

Insulin resistance

• Although not included in diagnostic criteria, IR is regarded as a major / pivotal pathophysiological feature

• 40-70% of women with PCOS have IR• Defined as reduced glucose response to a given

amount of insulin• Common in obese and non-obese PCOS• Obese PCOS more IR than non-obese PCOS• Indications that IR in PCOS independent of obesity

Measuring IR

• No standard definition and assessment• A unique defect in insulin action and secretion• Possible mechanisms: Peripheral target tissue resistance Decreased hepatic clearance Increased pancreatic sensitivity

The pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome. Tsilchorozidou T et al. Clinical Endocrinology (2004)60,1-17

Metformin

• Does metformin (or other insulin sensitizing agents) improve

clinical features – hirsuitism and acne? reproductive outcomes – OI, ART?• Does metformin help with weight loss?

Metformin

Reduces hepatic glucose

production

Inhibits intestinal glucose

absorption

Reduces lipolysis in

adipose tissue

Stimulates glycolysis in

liver

Increases peripheral

glucose uptake by the liver, skeletal muscle and

adipose tissue

Improves insulin sensitivity

Metformin

• Menstrual irregularity: Improves menstrual cyclicity in normal weight and over-weight PCOS patients

• Hirsuitism: metformin improves hirsuitism in normal weight PCOS patients

In obese patients – long term (2 years) therapy may be helpful

Hirsutism and acne in polycystic ovary syndrome. Archer JS et al. Best practice and research clinical obstetrics and gynaecology 18(5) 2004

Metformin in ovulation induction

• Metformin is beneficial in improving clinical pregnancy rates and ovulation rates

• No evidence it improves live birth rates (either alone, in comparison or combination with CC)

Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility. Tang T et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD003053.

Metformin in ART

• In Non-obese PCOS patient (BMI < 28) undergoing IVF/ICSI, metformin treatment (2000mg/day) for 12 weeks prior to and during long protocol

• Significantly increased pregnancy and LBRs compared to placebo

Use of metformin before and during assisted reproductive technology in non-obese young infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multi-centre study. Kjøtrød SB et al. Hum Reprod. 2011 May 23.

• In obese patients

Metformin in ART

Metformin in ART• In women with PCO morphology but no other

features of PCOS• Appears to be no benefit of metformin co-

treatment before and during IVF in women with PCO without any other features of PCOS

Do women with ovaries of polycystic morphology without any other features of PCOS benefit from short-term metformin co-treatment during IVF? A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Swanton A, et al. Hum Reprod. 2011 May 27.

Metformin and infertility - summary

1. For OI 2. In IVF/ICSI (non-obese patients)3. In IVF/ICSI (obese patients)4. In women with PCO appearance only

Metformin and weight loss• Treatment with metformin showed a statistically

significant decrease in BMI compared with placebo • Some indication of greater effect with high-dose

metformin (>1500 mg/day) and longer duration of therapy (>8 weeks).

• A structured lifestyle modification programme to achieve weight loss should still be the first line treatment in obese women with or without PCOS.

• Adequately powered RCTs are required.

Insulin sensitizing drugs for weight loss in women of reproductive age who are overweight or obese: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nieuwenhuis-Ruifrok AE et al. Hum Reprod Update. 2009 Jan-Feb;15(1):57-68.

Ovarian drilling

• Number of punctures?• Mechanism of action?• Laparoscopic versus newer options?

LOD – first line?

• When compared to CC as a method of OI in PCOS, LOD is not superior to CC

• Therefore, what is the role if any of LOD?

Randomized controlled trial comparing laparoscopic ovarian diathermy with clomiphene citrate as a first-line method of ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Amer SA. Hum Reprod. 2009 Jan;24(1):219-25

,

LOD – in ‘CC resistant’ patients• When compared to Gn for OI, pregnancy rates are

comparable • Avoids risk of OHSS and multiple pregnancy• More cost effective (?) and better tolerated• Improves ovarian response to CC in at least 1/3 of CC

resistant patients• Long term – increases chances of second pregnancy• Side effects – no evidence

Ovarian drilling for surgical treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome: a comprehensive review. Fernandez H et al. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011 Jun;22(6)Long-term outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome initially randomized to receive laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries or ovulation induction with gonadotrophins. Nahuis MJ et al. Hum Reprod. 2011 Jul;26(7)

Obesity in PCOS

• 40-60% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese

• 40-70% have insulin resistance• Widespread variability in degree of adiposity

by geographical location and ethinicity• Spain: 20%, China: 43%, US: 69%• What is best method to manage?

Obesity in PCOS

• In morbidly obese women with PCOS – sustained weight loss and complete resolution of all features defining PCOS, including hirsuitism, hyperandrogenism, menstrual irregularity, anovulation, IR and metabolic abnormalilities

The higher the weight loss, the greater the benefit achievedNHI advocates when BMI 35-40kg/m2

Obesity in PCOS – weight loss

• Studies demonstrate fairly uniform improvements in many key features of PCOS with modest weight loss (5% to 15%)

• Improvements in biochemical hyperandrogenism, menstrual cyclicity, ovulation, and fasting insulin and glucose as well as glucose tolerance.

Obesity in PCOS – exercise

• Studies examining the effects of exercise in PCOS suggest that exercise improves reproductive hormones, menstrual cyclicity or ovulation and metabolic features.

• Remaining research questions -optimal amount, type, duration, and mechanisms of action of exercise.

Key features

• Lifestyle modification is first form of therapy• ↓500-1000 kcal/day 7-10% weight loss over

6-12 months• Alternative dietary options?• Structure and support• Exercise important >30mins/day

Letrozole versus CC

• Letrozole is as effective as CC for OI in patients with PCOS

Sex steroid synthesis

PCOS and IVF

• High risk of OHSS

Strategies to prevent OHSS1. Cycle cancellation2. Coasting3. IV albumin at OR4. Antagonist cycles versus agonist (long protocol)5. GnRH agonist trigger in antagonist cycle6. Natural cycle7. IVM8. Dopamine agonist9. GnRH antagonist in agonist cycles (antogonist rescue

protocol)10. Dual trigger

Antagonist cycles versus Agonist cycles

• The use of antagonist compared with long GnRH agonist protocols are associated with a large reduction in OHSS and there was no evidence of a difference in live birth rates

Al-Inany HG et al. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists for assisted reproductive technology. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 May 11;15:CD001750

GnRH agonist trigger in antagonist cycle

• In fresh autologous cycles, the moderate and severe OHSS incidence was significantly lower in the GnRH agonists group compared to the the hcg group but was also less effective than hcg in terms of live birth rate and on-going pregnancy rates.

• Therefore, not recommended for routine use as final oocyte maturation trigger in fresh cycles except in high risk women, after counselling

Youssef MA et al. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist versus HCG for oocyte triggering in antagonist assisted reproductive technology cycles. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011, Jan 19;(1):CD008046

Dopamine agonists for prevention of OHSS

• Significantly reduces the chances of developing OHSS in IVF and ICSI cycles

• No difference in live birth rate, on-going pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate or miscarriage rate

• NNT = 9• Acts by reversing VEGFR-2 dependent increased

vascular permeability

Can dopamine agonists reduce the incidence and severity of OHSS in IVF/ ICSI treatment cycles? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mohamed A.F.M. Youssef et al.Human Reproduction Update, Vol.16, No.5 pp. 459–466, 2010

Summary

• Metformin for clinical features, weight loss and fertility

• Drilling • Managing obesity in PCOS• Preventing OHSS

Thank you