Ovarian Morphology Is a Marker of Heritable Biochemical Traits in Sisters with Polycystic Ovaries
September 2008
in “
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
”
TLDR Polycystic ovarian shape is a genetic sign of PCOS and its hormonal and metabolic features can be inherited.
The study from September 2008 investigated the heritability of polycystic ovarian morphology and associated biochemical traits in families affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It included 125 probands with PCOS and 214 sisters, of which 151 were affected and 63 were unaffected. The findings indicated that affected sisters had similar biochemical profiles to the probands, including serum testosterone, androstenedione, LH, fasting insulin, and insulin sensitivity levels, despite having fewer symptoms. The heritability of these traits was moderate to high among affected sisters but was significantly lower in discordant sibling pairs. This suggests that polycystic ovarian morphology is a strong genetic marker of PCOS and that the condition's endocrine and metabolic features are heritable.
