RMA of New York partners with Mount Sinai Medical Center to study long-term effects of PCOS

Reproductive Medicine Associates of New YorkOct 22 2013

Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York) is proud to announce their partnership with Mount Sinai Medical Center on a study that will examine the long-term effects of PCOS on children born to mothers who have been diagnosed with this condition. PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a serious condition in which a woman has an imbalance of female sex hormones that may lead to menstrual cycle changes, cysts in the ovaries, reproductive difficulties, and other health changes.  While it has been demonstrated that there is a genetic component to PCOS, recent information has emerged suggesting that the intrauterine environment may also be altered in PCOS patients.  There is a strong hope that this study will help to identify the issues and risks associated with births of children by women with the condition so that more can be done in the future to help prevent potential childhood problems.

PCOS occurs in 5% to 10% of women and is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. This devastating disease can lead to a number of problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer). RMA of New York has already helped thousands of women with a diagnosis of PCOS expand their families. Now RMA of New York is just as committed to ensuring that the families of patients who have been diagnosed with this illness are happy and healthy.

Through working with the many women who have had PCOS, RMA of New York's team of physicians and clinical staff have concluded that there are unfortunate but serious health problems that children born to PCOS afflicted mothers could be predisposed to, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This study that RMA of New York has undertaken in coordination with Mount Sinai Medical Center will examine the causes of these predispositions and will seek to find methods to prevent them in future generations. Speaking on behalf of the clinic, Dr. Alan Copperman, Co-Medical Director of RMA of New York stated, "We are committed not only to helping patients overcome their immediate problems with infertility, but to the long term health of both our patients and their families. This study will be a major stepping-stone in helping patients with PCOS overcome their diagnosis and go on to lead happy and productive lives with their families."

Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with either PCOS or an indeterminate infertility problem may participate in the study if they are planning on delivering at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Those who choose to participate in the study must be between the ages of 18 and 50, and will be required to give blood and tissue samples as a part of the study. This is an exciting opportunity for patients to partner with RMA of New York and to take a stand against a complex and sometimes devastating disorder.