Objective: To evaluate the risks of developing gestational diabetes (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using data from Korea’s National Health Insurance Service. Method: The PCOS group comprised women aged 20 to 49 years diagnosed with PCOS between 1 January 2012, and 31 December 2020. The control group comprised women aged 20 to 49 years who visited medical institutions for health checkups during the same period. Women with any cancer within 180 days of the inclusion day were excluded from both the PCOS and control groups, as were women without a delivery record within 180 days after the inclusion day, as well as women who visited a medical institution more than once before the inclusion day due to hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, DM in pregnancy, or PIH. GDM and PIH were defined as cases with at least three visits to a medical institution with a GDM diagnostic code and a PIH diagnostic code, respectively. Results: Overall, 27,687 and 45,594 women with and without a history of PCOS experienced childbirth during the study period. GDM and PIH cases were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group. When adjusted for age, SES, region, CCI, parity, multiple pregnancies, adnexal surgery, uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, PIH, and GDM, an increased risk of GDM (OR = 1.719, 95% CI = 1.616–1.828) was observed among women with a history of PCOS. There was no increase in the risk of PIH among women with a history of PCOS (OR = 1.243, 95% CI = 0.940–1.644). Conclusion: A history of PCOS itself might increase the risk of GDM, but its relationship with PIH remains unclear. These findings would be helpful in the prenatal counseling and management of patients with PCOS-related pregnancy outcomes.

To determine the effect of oral administration of porcine placental extract (PPE) on the menopausal symptoms of Korean women. This study was a multicenter, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A hundred menopausal Korean women were randomly allocated either to the PPE 400 mg per day or the control group during 12 weeks of the study period. Menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Kupperman Index (KMI). The KMI decreased after 12 weeks in both groups; however, the difference in the changes was not statistically significant. Among overweight or obese women whose body mass index (BMI) was 23 kg/m² or higher, the KMI decreased more significantly in the PPE group than placebo group after 12 weeks (-18.52 ± 9.09 vs -11.40 ± 10.68, P < 0.05). Among 49 early menopausal women whose duration of menopause was less than 3 years, the KMI decreased more significantly in the PPE group after 12 weeks (-17.29 ± 9.07 vs -11.29 ± 10.68, P < 0.05). The baseline estradiol level was not statistically different between the two groups before trial, but the estradiol level of the PPE group was significantly increased at 12 weeks (11.13 ± 35.13 pg/m, P < 0.05). Oral administration of 400 mg PPE per day decreases menopausal symptoms in women with BMI 23 kg/m² or higher or in early menopausal women. PPE may be considered as a short-term complementary treatment to reduce menopausal symptoms, especially in overweight or early menopausal women.

Myomectomy, a surgery to remove multiple leiomyomas from the uterus, is a treatment option for uterine fibroids (UF) in premenopausal patients. Osteoporosis and bone fractures are known to be strongly associated with menopausal status or hormonal changes. However, no studies have discussed the association between myomectomy and osteoporosis or fractures. This study investigated the risk of osteoporosis or fractures (vertebrae, hip, and others) in Korean patients who had undergone myomectomy without bilateral oophorectomy. We used data from the 10-year claims database of the Korean National Health Insurance from January 2009 to December 2020. Data for patients who had undergone myomectomy without oophorectomy (n = 211,969) and the control group (n = 450,124) who were randomly selected from the database were extracted. The incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) of osteoporosis or fracture between the myomectomy patients and the control group were calculated. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Subgroup analyses were performed based on age. The adjusted hazard ratios for osteoporosis and total fractures were 0.934 (95% CI: 0.916–0.954, P<0.001) and 0.919 (95% CI: 0.896–0.941, P<0.001), respectively, in the myomectomy group. The adjusted hazard ratios according to fracture site were 0.857 (95% CI: 0.799–0.92, P<0.001) for vertebral fractures, 0.706 (95% CI: 0.48–1.037, P = 0.076) for hip fractures, and 0.919 (95% CI: 0.896–0.943, P<0.001) for other fractures. In conclusion, patients who have undergone myomectomy might have a decreased risk of osteoporosis or fractures.

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to ascertain the risk of abortion, ectopic pregnancy and hydatidiform mole development in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using data from Korea’s National Health Insurance Service. Method: The women aged 20–49 years who were diagnosed with PCOS between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2020 were enrolled. The control group (non-PCOS group) was composed of women aged 20–49 years who visited medical institutions for health examinations during the same period. Women diagnosed with any cancer were excluded from both groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risks of abortion, ectopic pregnancy and hydatidiform mole in PCOS in the presence of certain pregnancy-related confounding factors. Results: A total of 724,307 women were extracted, 169,998 women without PCOS and 44,714 women with PCOS were enrolled in the study. The PCOS group had a higher incidence of GDM and endometriosis. Abortions, ectopic pregnancies and hydatidiform moles were higher in the PCOS group than in the control group (abortion: 14.7% vs. 7.3%, p < 0.001; ectopic pregnancy: 3.3% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.001; hydatidiform mole: 0.2% vs. 0.1%, p < 0.001). After adjusted logistic regression, PCOS was found to be a risk factor for abortion (RR = 1.473, 95% CI = 1.424–1.524; p < 0.001) and ectopic pregnancy (RR = 1.845, 95% CI = 1.716–1.984, p < 0.001) but not hydatidiform mole (RR = 1.225, 95% CI = 0.927–1.62, p = 0.154). Conclusions: A history of PCOS itself might increase the risk of abortion and ectopic pregnancy. These findings could be useful in prenatal counseling and the management of patients with PCOS-associated pregnancies.

Yuk JS, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2026 Aug;41:e225. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e225