Cancer survivors with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are less likely to meet reproductive goals compared with survivors without PCOS, a recent study found. The population-based cohort included 1,090 female cancer survivors aged 22 to 45 years, diagnosed between ages 20 and 35 years, and at least 2 years after diagnosis. 369 participated in a clinic visit; 374 reproductive-aged women without cancer also completed a clinic visit. Main outcome was infertility, time to first pregnancy after cancer diagnosis, and measures of ovarian reserve (antimüllerian hormone [AMH] and antral follicle count [AFC]). Researchers found:

• 78 (7.2%) cancer survivors reported a PCOS diagnosis; 41 received gonadotoxic treatment.
• Survivors with PCOS exposed to gonadotoxic treatment and unexposed were more likely to report infertility than unexposed survivors without PCOS and were likely to have fewer children than desired.
• After adjusting for age, comparison women with PCOS had the highest markers of ovarian reserve and cancer survivors without PCOS treated with gonadotoxic agents had the lowest levels.