Fertility treatment pathways and births for women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome—a retrospective population linked data study

Objective To study the fertility treatment pathways used by women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and which pathways were more likely to result in a birth. Design This retrospective national community-based cohort study used longitudinal self-report survey data (collected 1996–2022; aged 18–49 years) from women born in 1973–1978 who are participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The study also used linked administrative data on fertility treatments (1996–2021). Patients Of the 8,463 eligible women, 1,109 accessed fertility treatment and were included. Exposure Polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis was self-reported. Main outcome measure: use of ovulation induction (OI), intrauterine insemination, and/or in vitro fertilization (IVF) was established through linked administrative data. Births were self-reported. Results One in 10 of the eligible participants had PCOS (783/7,987, 10%) and 1 in 4 of the women who used fertility treatment had PCOS (274/1,109, 25%). Women with PCOS were 3 years younger on average at first fertility treatment (M = 31.4 years, SD = 4.18) than women without PCOS (M = 34.2 years, SD = 4.56). Seven treatment pathways were identified and use differed by PCOS status. Women with PCOS were more likely to start with OI (71%; odds ratio [OR] 4.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.91, 6.07) than women without PCOS (36%). Of the women with PCOS who started with OI, 46% required additional types of treatment. More women without PCOS ended up in IVF (72% vs. 51%). Overall, 63% (701/1,109) had an attributed birth, and in adjusted regressions births did not vary by last type of treatment (IVF: 67%, reference; intrauterine insemination: 67%, OR 0.94 95% CI: 0.56, 1.58; OI: 61%, OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.98), or by PCOS status (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.77). By age, 74% of women under 35 years (471/639) and 49% of women 35 years or older had a birth. Conclusion More women with PCOS used fertility treatment but births were equivalent to women without PCOS. Most women followed clinical recommendations. Births did not differ between pathways, so there was no disadvantage in starting with less invasive treatments (although there may be financial or emotional disadvantages). To study the fertility treatment pathways used by women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and which pathways were more likely to result in a birth. This retrospective national community-based cohort study used longitudinal self-report survey data (collected 1996–2022; aged 18–49 years) from women born in 1973–1978 who are participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The study also used linked administrative data on fertility treatments (1996–2021). Of the 8,463 eligible women, 1,109 accessed fertility treatment and were included. Polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis was self-reported. Main outcome measure: use of ovulation induction (OI), intrauterine insemination, and/or in vitro fertilization (IVF) was established through linked administrative data. Births were self-reported. One in 10 of the eligible participants had PCOS (783/7,987, 10%) and 1 in 4 of the women who used fertility treatment had PCOS (274/1,109, 25%). Women with PCOS were 3 years younger on average at first fertility treatment (M = 31.4 years, SD = 4.18) than women without PCOS (M = 34.2 years, SD = 4.56). Seven treatment pathways were identified and use differed by PCOS status. Women with PCOS were more likely to start with OI (71%; odds ratio [OR] 4.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.91, 6.07) than women without PCOS (36%). Of the women with PCOS who started with OI, 46% required additional types of treatment. More women without PCOS ended up in IVF (72% vs. 51%). Overall, 63% (701/1,109) had an attributed birth, and in adjusted regressions births did not vary by last type of treatment (IVF: 67%, reference; intrauterine insemination: 67%, OR 0.94 95% CI: 0.56, 1.58; OI: 61%, OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.98), or by PCOS status (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.77). By age, 74% of women under 35 years (471/639) and 49% of women 35 years or older had a birth. More women with PCOS used fertility treatment but births were equivalent to women without PCOS. Most women followed clinical recommendations. Births did not differ between pathways, so there was no disadvantage in starting with less invasive treatments (although there may be financial or emotional disadvantages).