Bariatric Surgery in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine condition in premenopausal women and is a common cause of anovulatory subfertility. Although obesity does not form part of the diagnostic criteria, it affects a significant proportion of women with PCOS and is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease. Both PCOS and obesity are known to impact fertility in women; obesity also reduces the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART). With or without pharmacotherapy, lifestyle intervention remains the first-line treatment in women with PCOS and obesity. Bariatric surgery is still an experimental treatment in women with PCOS and subfertility. This review will present an overview of the pathophysiology of PCOS and obesity and the role of bariatric surgery. Although data are sparse regarding the impact of bariatric surgery on subfertility in women with PCOS and obesity, existing studies point to a beneficial role in treating metabolic and reproductive dysfunction.

Outcome of Gastric Bypass Surgery on Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, is associated with obesity. The most effective method to achieve and maintain long-term weight loss is by the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). In this review, an overview about metabolic and PCOS-specific outcomes after RYGB in obese PCOS women is provided. The RYGB leads to an adequate excess weight loss and reduction in BMI in this patient population. Testosterone levels decline significantly at 6- and 12-months follow-up, as does the incidence of hirsutism and cycle irregularities. Data about fertility are scarce in this patient population. In conclusion, RYGB surgery seems to be an efficient treatment option for obese PCOS patients and leads to weight loss and improvements in metabolic parameters as well as in an improvement of PCOS-specific characteristics. However, larger prospective studies are warranted, which include all PCOS-specific outcome data in one patient population at the same time.

The Interaction of Obesity and Reproductive Function in Adolescents

Obesity is increasing worldwide, including in pediatrics. Adequate nutrition is required for initiation of menses, and there is a clear secular trend toward earlier pubertal onset and menarche in females in countries around the globe. Similar findings of earlier pubertal start are suggested in males. However, as individuals and populations have crossed into over-nutritional states including overweight and obesity, the effect of excess weight on disrupting reproductive function has become apparent. Hypothalamic hypogonadism and polycystic ovary syndrome are two conditions where reproductive function appears to directly relate to excess weight. Clinical findings in individuals with certain polygenic and monogenic obesity syndromes, which also have reproductive disruptions, have helped elucidate neurologic pathways that are common to both. Clinical endocrinopathies such as hypothyroidism or panhypopituitarism also aide in the understanding of the role of the endocrine system in weight gain. Understanding the intersection of obesity and reproductive function may lead to future therapies which can treat both conditions.

Weight loss and metabolic outcomes in women with or without polycystic ovarian syndrome after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: A case-matched study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Weight loss is the mainstay of management for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, lifestyle and dietary modifications, and gastric banding have generally poor long-term efficacy. We aimed to investigate whether gastric bypass is equally efficacious in women with or without PCOS.

METHODS

We performed a matched case-control study of primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in women with PCOS (cases, n = 30) compared to women without PCOS (controls, n = 60) matched for baseline age, body mass index (BMI) and presence or absence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Data shown represent mean values.

RESULTS

At 24 months after surgery the 90 participants (age 36.1 years) experienced significant reductions in BMI (53.4 vs. 34.9 kg/m², p < 0.0001), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in 21 women with T2D (68.2 vs. 38.7 mmol/mol, p < 0.0001) and blood pressure (BP) in 29 women with hypertension (144/91 vs. 129/83 mmHg, p < 0.01), while obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) resolved in 88.0% of the 25 affected patients. Women with PCOS compared to women without PCOS achieved equivalent reductions in percentage total weight loss (32.6% vs. 32.6% at 12 months and 34.8% vs. 36.1% at 24 months) and HbA1c (T2D subgroup; 38.3 vs. 41.6 mmol/mol at 12 months and 37.0 vs. 39.6 mmol/mol at 24 months) and comparable improvement in BP (hypertension subgroup) and resolution of OSA (87.5% vs. 88.2% at 24 months).

CONCLUSION

In women with PCOS with morbid obesity, gastric bypass resulted in significant weight loss and metabolic outcomes similar to women without PCOS.

Correlation Between Recovery of Menstrual Cycle and Improvement of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Patients with Sleeve Gastrectomy in a Small Chinese Cohort Sample

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the status of insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in the regulation of menstrual cycle in patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a typical metabolic syndrome population: 65 cases of sexually mature women underwent weight reduction surgery from January 2015 to June 2018, and for 35 of these cases we collected all clinical data including age, menstrual status, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood lipid level, homeostasis model assessment in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and free androgen index (FAI). Sixteen of these patients had menstrual disorder that was characterized by oligomenorrhea and their menstrual cycle was >2 months or <24 days before operation, while their menstrual cycle recovered approximately 1 month to one year after sleeve gastrectomy.

RESULTS

The age of our 35 patients with metabolic syndrome was 15-40 years; 19 cases were in the menstrual regularity group and 16 cases in the menstrual disorder group. On analysis of metabolic factors in the two groups, only BMI and FAI distribution in the two groups were statistically different, while lipid levels and insulin resistance levels for abnormal menstrual cycle were not statistically significant. The analysis of blood lipid components showed that high triglyceride levels and high cholesterol levels increased the occurrence of menstrual disorders.

CONCLUSION

BMI can be used as one of the important metabolic indicators of menstrual disorders in patients with metabolic syndrome. Excess androgen can increase the occurrence of menstrual disorders, leading to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Although insulin resistance is universal in patients with metabolic syndrome, it is not a specific factor that affects menstrual cycle. Hyperlipidemia, especially triglyceride composition, may be one of the driving factors of menstrual disorder.