Investigating the association between PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and pregnancy complications: A cohort study.

Abstract

Objectives: The basic aim of the study is to identify the correlation between PCOS and pregnancy complications. Study Design: Retrospective Cohort study. Setting: Shahida Islam Medical Complex. Period: September 2024 and June 2025. Methods: The cohort used 405 women who were pregnant. This is considered a retrospective study that used medical records to analyze data in a tertiary care hospital across a given period of study. Important data were focused on demographic data, e.g., age, body mass index (BMI), and parity, pre-existing medical conditions, e.g., hypertension or diabetes. Results: Women in the PCOS group had a higher mean Body Mass Index (BMI) (28.7 ± 5.3 kg/m²) compared to the control group (25.6 ± 4.9 kg/m², p < 0.001), with a significantly greater prevalence of obesity (45% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). Although the mean age (30.4 ± 4.8 years vs. 29.9 ± 4.5 years), gravidity (2.3 ± 1.1 vs. 2.1 ± 1.0), parity (1.2 ± 0.9 vs. 1.1 ± 0.8), and smoking status (12% vs. 10%) were slightly higher in the PCOS group, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Preterm delivery occurred in 22% of PCOS pregnancies compared to 10% in the control group (p < 0.01), and cesarean deliveries were also more frequent among women with PCOS (42% vs. 28%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, preterm delivery, and neonatal complications such as low birth weight and NICU admissions.