Polycystic ovary syndrome associated with women’s work ability issues in midlife

The study involved 1,853 women in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, of whom 280, or 15%, had been diagnosed with PCOS. These women’s health and ability to work were examined by means of surveys, in addition to which absences from working life and premature retirement were examined with the help of register data.

According to the survey, women with PCOS generally felt that their ability to work was poorer than that of the control group. In particular, the women mentioned illnesses and job-related physical requirements as factors impairing their ability to work.

In a two-year follow-up, women with PCOS had, on average, one month more of absences and days of unemployment than the control group did. In addition, they were found to be at double the risk of disability retirement by the age of 52.

PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. Diagnostic criteria include irregular menstrual cycles, overproduction of male hormones and polycystic ovaries. In the past, PCOS was thought to be mainly related to reproductive health, but it is now known that its impact on health is much wider. The syndrome is associated with an increased risk of multiple comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, mental disorders and musculoskeletal problems. “Despite its high prevalence, PCOS and its significance for women’s health are still poorly recognised,” says Terhi Piltonen, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, who led the research.

“A significant finding of our research was that women afflicted with PCOS have a clearly increased risk of inability to work already at a young age,” says Doctoral Researcher Linda Kujanpää. According to Leena Ala-Mursula, Professor of Occupational Health, the results are understandable, since the risk of work ability issues is known to be increased by comorbidities.

The researchers suggest that information on PCOS should be utilised in health care when assessing overall health status and when drawing up plans to support the ability to work taking into account comorbidities.

The study was published in the esteemed European Journal of Endocrinology.

Research publication: Kujanpää L, Arffman R, Vaaramo E, Rossi H-R, Laitinen J, Morin-Papunen L, Tapanainen J, Ala-Mursula L, Piltonen T. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have poorer work ability and higher disability retirement rate already in midlife – a Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study. Eur J Endocrinol, July 2022. Doi: 10.1530/EJE-22-0027