Age at Menopause in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Age of menopause is affected by several factors. While several studies have been conducted on various aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), limited publications have assessed the age at menopause and its related factors in PCOS patients. In this review, we aimed to summarize data of articles available, assessing the age at menopause in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Material and PubMed (including Medline), Scopus, and Google Scholar, Web of science, and EMBASE databases (up to 2018) were searched to identify published articles, investigating the actual menopausal age and those predicted by the Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in PCOS patients. The quality of studies included was determined using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Current data of studies available demonstrate that the serum concentration of Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), as a reliable diagnostic marker to predict ovarian reserve and age at menopause, is significantly higher in patients with PCOS than healthy women. The results of this review show that, in most studies included, the age of menopause, or its estimation based on the serum AMH level, was significantly higher in patients with PCOS, compared with female controls. Delayed menopausal age can be considered window of hope for PCOS women, suffering from infertility, to retrieve their fertility at in later ages.