Women With PCOS Have Family Heart Disease Link, Study Suggests

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder and affects approximately 10 percent of reproductive-age women. It is a leading cause of infertility and one of the most common endocrine disorders in women. A new study from the University of Adelaide demonstrates that the parents of women with PCOS are more likely to have some type of cardiovascular disease. Mothers of women with PCOS are not only more likely than other mothers to have any type of cardiovascular disease, but are about twice as likely as mothers of other women to have high blood pressure. Fathers of women with PCOS are twice as likely to have heart disease, and more than four times as likely to have a stroke, than fathers of other women. The study suggests that PCOS may come from a family susceptibility to chronic disease. By engaging in further research to better understand the link between PCOS and other family medical conditions, it may be possible to diagnose and treat all of the conditions at an earlier stage.

Link to the article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005111819.htm