Reproductive health

Professor Martha Hickey
Associate Professor Roger Hart
Dr Deborah Sloboda
Dr Dorota Doherty
Professor John Newnham
Assoc Professor Craig Pennell

The Reproductive Health Research Group are examining the growth and development of teenagers in the Raine Study. In particular, they are looking at the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in girls in the Raine Cohort. Normally each month one of the ovaries produces a follicle which will grow to about 20 millimetres and then release an egg. In women that have PCOS, these follicles do not grow any bigger than about 10 millimetres and then remain in the ovary. The following month, another follicle will develop and the same occurs, after a while the ovary will be filled with these small follicles or cysts. When an ovary has 10 or more of these cysts, a diagnosis of PCOS may be made. The PCOS affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age. The underlying causes of PCOS are unknown but are thought to arise during intrauterine (pregnancy) life and to be affected by aspects of childhood health, particularly weight. Using information from girls in the Raine Study, the researchers will examine for the first time the intrauterine and early childhood correlates of PCOS. The results from these studies will improve the understanding of PCOS and eventually improve reproductive and metabolic health for a substantial proportion of women internationally.

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