Journal of Ovarian Research最新文献

{"title":"Cyclophosphamide-induced animal models of ovarian dysfunction: from molecular mechanisms and modeling strategies to validation criteria.","authors":"Yanxi Wang, Jixing Cao, Zheng Gong, Saihua Ma, Yuge Yan, Tian Yang, Rongfan Wu, Puyu Hu, Liping Yang, Xiaoyan Zou, Tian Xia","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02198-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02198-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The prevalence of ovarian dysfunction is rising annually and trending toward younger populations, significantly compromising the quality of life and reproductive potential of women in their prime childbearing years. Given the multifactorial etiology and complex pathogenesis, ovarian dysfunction requires robust animal models to elucidate underlying mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic efficacy. Due to its well-documented gonadotoxicity, cyclophosphamide (CTX) has become a cornerstone in establishing standardized models of ovarian dysfunction. This review provides a systematic summary of the core mechanisms underlying CTX-induced ovarian dysfunction, with an emphasis on their interconnected regulatory network encompassing oxidative stress, DNA damage and defective repair, apoptosis, cellular senescence, immune-inflammatory responses, autophagy, and ferroptosis. Furthermore, it delineates modeling protocols, encompassing animal species selection, dosing regimens, validation criteria, and outcome evaluation. Several critical limitations in current modeling practices have been identified, including significant inter-study variability in dosing regimens, the indiscriminate application of uniform doses across distinct disease stages, and a dearth of standardized benchmarks for both model establishment and outcome evaluation. Future studies should clarify the mechanistic crosstalk in CTX-induced ovarian injury and identify potential therapeutic targets. Moreover, it is essential to delineate the dose-response relationships, establishment criteria, and evaluation metrics specifically tailored to DOR, POI, and POF. Establishing standardized, graded modeling protocols is critical to providing a reliable framework for the clinical translation of basic research findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-omics analysis reveals the effects of Jinfeng pills on the outcomes of IVF-ET in patients with poor ovarian response: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Xumei Kong, Qianwen Luo, Tianhong Huang, Furui Chen, Yanan Zhang, Dongsheng Xiong, Yu Qiu, Wei Lai, Xiaoyan Yan, Fangyi Long, Yan Gong","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02196-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02196-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Jinfeng pills (JFP), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) consisted of 9 herbs, benefit Qi, nourish the blood, effectively regulate the menstrual cycle, promote ovulation and improve endometrial thickness and blood flow. Previous studies have shown that JFP has certain effect on premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). In this prospective cohort study, the effect and mechanisms of JFP on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in poor ovarian response(POR) was investigated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients diagnosed with POR based on the Bologna criteria were prospectively randomized into two groups: the JFP group and the POR group. Young patients with normal ovarian reserve were included in the Control (Con) group. The live birth rate (LBR), levels of estradiol (E₂), progesterone, total testosterone (TT), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the follicular fluid (FF) and outcomes of IVF-ET were compared. Network pharmacology, combined with transcriptomics and proteomics, was used to identify core targets and signaling pathways. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the interactions between the core components of JFP and the identified targets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the Con group, the POR group presented significantly lower levels of E₂ [1302.00 (985.50, 1464.50) ng/mL vs. 2561.00 (2190.50, 3084.00) ng/mL] and TT [2.41 (1.45, 3.15) ng/mL vs. 5.12 (4.00, 6.79) ng/mL] in FF (P < 0.017). These levels were greater in the JFP group [E₂: 2450.00 (1603.00, 2842.00) ng/mL; TT: 2.85 (2.08, 4.55) ng/mL] than in the POR group (P < 0.017). IGF-1 levels in FF [79.60 (64.00, 88.50) ng/mL vs. 87.90 (78.80, 112.00) ng/mL], the implantation rate, and the LBR per treatment were significantly lower in the POR group than in the Con group (P < 0.017), while there was no significant difference compared with those in the JFP group (P > 0.05). The birth weight and height of the infants did not differ significantly among the three groups (P > 0.05). Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed seven core genes (ALPL, HPSE, KRT1, LDLR, METTL7B, TGFBI, and TMOD1) and one key pathway (glycosaminoglycan degradation). Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activity between the core components of JFP and these genes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>JFP enhances the ovarian levels of steroid hormones in poor ovarian responders undergoing IVF-ET. The therapeutic effects of JFP may involve the regulation of ALPL, HPSE, KRT1, LDLR, METTL7B, TGFBI, TMOD1, and the glycosaminoglycan degradation pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13670681/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erzhi Tiangui formula ameliorates ovarian aging by enhancing antioxidant defense via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.","authors":"Xiufang Li, Zhongqing Wang, Xiuqing Zhang, Huidan Wang, Xu Han, Ye Zheng, Mei Sun, Haicui Wu, Fang Lian","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02202-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-026-02202-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms through which Erzhi Tiangui Formula (EZTG) mitigates age-related ovarian aging in mice through the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 100 C57BL/6J mice were divided into young control (YC, 6-8 weeks, n = 20) and aged groups (8-9 months, n = 80). Aged mice were randomized into four subgroups: control, low-(0.05 g/mL), medium- (0.2 g/mL), and high-dose (0.8 g/mL) EZTG groups (n = 20/group). After 10 days of treatment, ovarian morphology and follicular counts were assessed. On day 11, the remaining mice received an intraperitoneal injection of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG, 15 IU), followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 12 IU) 48 h later. 14 h after hCG administration, the mice were euthanized under deep anesthesia via cervical dislocation, and granulosa cells were collected. The following parameters were evaluated: oxidative stress markers (ROS), Nrf2/HO-1 pathway components (Nrf2, HO-1, Keap1), apoptosis factors (Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved Caspase-3), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX1), and mitochondrial function (mitochondrial membrane potential, MMP; ATP). In vitro, KGN human granulosa cells were subjected to H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress with or without EZTG-containing serum, and Nrf2 was knocked down by siRNA to validate pathway specificity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>EZTG treatment significantly improved multiple parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Treated mice exhibited restored estrous cyclicity and enhanced follicular development with reduced atresia. At the cellular level, EZTG effectively decreased ROS accumulation while upregulating antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT, and GPX1. Molecular analyses revealed activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, as evidenced by increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression alongside Keap1 downregulation. Additionally, EZTG exerted an anti-apoptotic effect, demonstrated by upregulated Bcl-2 expression and downregulated Bax and cleaved Caspase-3. Mitochondrial function assays further revealed that EZTG significantly improved MMP and ATP production in granulosa cells. Notably, the medium- and high-dose groups consistently outperformed the low-dose group across all measured outcomes, reinforcing a clear dose-response relationship.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EZTG attenuates ovarian aging by coordinated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, enhancing antioxidant defenses, inhibiting apoptosis, and restoring mitochondrial function in a dose-dependent manner. These findings provide mechanistic insights into EZTG's potential as a therapeutic intervention for age-related ovarian decline.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single-cell transcriptome analysis in ovarian steroid cell tumors-not otherwise specified.","authors":"Feiling Huang, Hongyan Chen, Song Mei, Huadan Xue, Qin Wang, Zhaohui Lu, Peng Zhang, Rong Chen","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02137-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02137-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ovarian steroid cell tumors-not otherwise specified (SCT-NOS) is a rare category of sex cord-stromal tumor, however, its pathophysiology is unclear. A comprehensive cellular atlas of ovarian SCT-NOS remains lacking.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We reported a case of a 41-year-old woman with hyperandrogenism for whom histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of ovarian SCT-NOS. This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing in a case of ovarian SCT-NOS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven cell types, including four keratin 19 (KRT19)⁺ steroidogenic cell subtypes, were identified in the tumor microenvironment. We detected aberrant gene expression across various cell types in ovarian SCT-NOS. KRT19⁺ steroidogenic cells were enriched in genes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis and steroid biosynthesis pathways, which was consistent with the pathobiology of hyperandrogenism. Moreover, we revealed distinct immune cell types in the tumor microenvironment. Five immune cell types within the tumor microenvironment were identified, among which tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and dendritic cell (DC) were the predominant immune cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct cell types and key genes within the tumor microenvironment, offering insights into the cellular heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms of ovarian SCT-NOS, thereby enhancing the understanding and encouraging further investigations into ovarian SCT-NOS.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13378070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148471436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mendelian randomization in ovarian research: applications in PCOS, ovarian aging, and assisted reproductive technology.","authors":"Ling Lin, Siyuan Liu, Yu Xiang, Hongshan Ge","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02197-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02197-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ovarian disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) have complex etiologies that are difficult to disentangle using observational studies. Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a powerful approach to identify causal drivers of these conditions, with direct implications for assisted reproductive technology (ART), but its application is blocked by the ART phenotype gap, namely the absence of large-scale GWAS for cycle-specific outcomes. This review synthesizes a conceptual framework to navigate this gap. In the near term, researchers can use existing genetic data through two complementary strategies, upstream exposure analysis and proxy outcome analysis, both requiring rigorous validation and sensitivity testing. In the long term, the field must build deeply phenotyped ART genomic consortia with standardized data and ethical governance. This approach enables causal hypothesis generation using existing data, while recognizing that definitive evidence will require deeply phenotyped consortia in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13656668/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148456072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting the gut microbiome: an integrated probiotic and prebiotic strategy for polycystic ovary syndrome management.","authors":"Muchu Ni, Qin Wang, Tao Ye, Hongyan Lei, Yongzhou Wang, Yuan Yuan","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02164-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02164-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine-metabolic disorder in which gut dysbiosis acts as a key environmental driver. This review synthesizes how probiotics and prebiotics remodel the gut ecosystem and ameliorate PCOS through multi-pathway mechanisms:restoring intestinal barrier function, modulating microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs), bile acids(BAs)), attenuating chronic inflammation, and regulating androgen metabolism. We further propose a novel \"integrated microbiome‑centric management\" framework, demonstrating how microbiota-targeted interventions synergize with dietary, pharmacological, and behavioral strategies to enable personalized, multi-modal PCOS care. This work provides a transformative perspective for translating gut microbiome science into clinical practice across disciplinary boundaries.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13651391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148447639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spontaneous natural conception and live birth in three patients with likely pathogenic variants in TUBB8, ZP2, and ZP3 associated with female subfertility.","authors":"Juepu Zhou, Hui He, Ruolin Mao, Meng Wang, Rui Long, Xiangfei Wang, Hong Chen, Lei Jin, Lixia Zhu","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02200-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02200-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Case: </strong>Three patients with genetically confirmed female subfertility due to heterozygous likely pathogenic variants in TUBB8 (c.613G > A), ZP2 (c.1421T > C), or ZP3 (c.518 C > G), respectively, had histories of recurrent adverse assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, including zona pellucida (ZP) abnormalities or oocyte degeneration, reduced fertilization, poor embryo development or limited viable embryo availability, and implantation failure.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>Notably, all three patients eventually achieved successful live births. Patient 1, after two failed ART cycles, delivered a male infant following a third ICSI attempt, and later conceived naturally, delivering a female infant. Patient 2, after five unsuccessful IVF/ICSI cycles and no implantation, conceived naturally years later and delivered a male infant. Patient 3, following two failed IVF/ICSI attempts, conceived via donor oocytes and later delivered a male infant through natural conception.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These cases expand the reported reproductive outcome spectrum of women carrying likely pathogenic variants in oocyte- and ZP-related genes. The findings suggest that reproductive outcomes in selected heterozygous carriers may be more variable than previously appreciated and that residual reproductive potential may occasionally be retained. These observations may help refine reproductive genetic counseling for women with genetically associated subfertility, while further case accumulation and functional studies are required.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13651015/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148456046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of autoimmune thyroiditis on IVF outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and chronic endometritis.","authors":"Dingran Wang, Zheng Wang, Hongbin Chi, Rong Li, Shuo Yang","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02189-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02189-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Question: </strong>To investigate the impact of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) on IVF/ICSI outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and chronic endometritis (CE).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This retrospective cohort study analyzed 444 oocyte retrieval cycles from patients with PCOS and CE who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment at Peking University Third Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020. Eligible patients were infertile women who had undergone hysteroscopic surgery with endometrial pathology available. CE was defined as CD138 positivity on endometrial biopsy, and AIT was defined as positivity for TPOAb or TGAb. Of 444 cycles, 96 were AIT-positive and 348 were AIT-negative. Baseline characteristics, controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) parameters, embryological outcomes, fresh-cycle pregnancy outcomes, and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) were compared between groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of CLBR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of AIT was not significantly different between patients with and without endometritis (20.63% vs. 19.17%, P = 0.265). Among patients with PCOS and CE, baseline characteristics were comparable between the AIT and non-AIT groups, except for a slightly longer infertility duration in the AIT group. The fresh-cycle live birth rate was lower in the AIT group than in the non-AIT group (5.71% [2/35] vs. 23.66% [31/131], P = 0.021). However, CLBR did not differ significantly between groups (34.38% [33/96] vs. 41.38% [144/348], P = 0.222). In multivariate analysis, the number of high-quality embryos was independently associated with CLBR (OR = 1.138, 95% CI 1.053-1.231, P = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>AIT was not associated with the prevalence of CE or with CLBR in patients with PCOS and CE. A lower fresh-cycle live birth rate was observed in the AIT group, but this finding should be confirmed in larger studies. Increasing the number of high-quality embryos may improve CLBR in patients with PCOS and CE.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13651230/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148447550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling fertile window differences across the reproductive lifespan with quantitative urine hormone monitoring of the menstrual cycle.","authors":"Thomas P Bouchard, Richard J Fehring, Maria Meyers, Theresa Stujenske, Louise Boychuk, Amanda Smith, Katherine Schweinsberg, Bruno Scarpa, Mary Schneider","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02184-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02184-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reproductive hormones of the fertile window are often referenced to women in regular cycles, but this may not be representative of the hormonal profiles of women in different circumstances like polycystic ovarian syndrome, the postpartum period, and the perimenopause transition. This observational cohort study sought to identify the variability in the reproductive hormones in various clinical circumstances and to establish potential thresholds for each category based on hormone measurements with the Mira urinary hormone monitor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 57 women (ages 22-51) in various circumstances (regular cycles, polycystic ovarian syndrome, postpartum and perimenopause) tracked Mira urine hormone measurements (estrone-3-glucuronide, luteinizing hormone, pregnanediol glucuronide), contributing 444 cycles of data. Using additive mixed models, hormone values were stratified by the four different reproductive categories. The perimenopause and polycystic ovarian syndrome groups demonstrated relative hypoestrogenic states, while the perimenopause group showed low luteal pregnanediol glucuronide and the polycystic ovarian syndrome/polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PCOS/PMOS) group showed high luteal pregnanediol glucuronide. The perimenopause group had significantly higher luteinizing hormone values throughout the whole cycle.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The fertile window hormone thresholds vary depending on a woman's specific reproductive category. Women in different circumstances should not necessarily use the same hormonal thresholds for the fertile window and ovulation. A larger dataset with ultrasound correlation to ovulation is required to delineate the fertile window with more precision. Hormone differences across the menstrual cycle could be used for targeted treatments in polycystic ovarian syndrome and perimenopause women.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13660213/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148436832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychological distress and quality of life in women with infertility due to polycystic ovarian syndrome versus unexplained infertility: a cross-sectional study with phenotype-based analysis.","authors":"Kamna Kataria, Garima Kapoor, Rahul Saha, Abhishek Lachyan","doi":"10.1186/s13048-026-02186-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13048-026-02186-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Infertility is associated with significant psychological distress and impaired quality of life (QoL) in women. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of infertility, is frequently associated with metabolic and psychological symptoms. However, limited evidence directly compares psychological symptom burden and QoL between women with PCOS-related infertility and unexplained infertility, including across PCOS phenotypes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional observational study included 240 women aged 18-40 years with infertility due to PCOS or unexplained causes, conducted at a tertiary care center between October 2019 and March 2021. PCOS was diagnosed using revised Rotterdam criteria, and unexplained infertility was defined after exclusion of known causes. Psychological outcomes were assessed using validated screening instruments (PHQ-9, BDI, BAI, and GAD-7), representing symptom severity rather than clinical psychiatric diagnoses. QoL was assessed using WHOQOL-BREF. Statistical analysis included group comparisons using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Women with PCOS demonstrated significantly higher screening-based depressive symptom burden (60% vs. 14%, p < 0.001) and anxiety symptom burden (63% vs. 21%, p < 0.001) compared to women with unexplained infertility. QoL scores were significantly lower in the PCOS group (66.8% vs. 85.1%, p < 0.001), particularly in psychological and social domains. Among PCOS phenotypes, hyperandrogenic phenotypes (B and C) showed relatively higher psychological symptom burden and lower QoL scores compared to other phenotypes. The PCOS group also demonstrated higher BMI and androgen levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Infertility associated with PCOS is linked to higher screening-based psychological symptom burden and reduced quality of life compared to unexplained infertility. Hyperandrogenic PCOS phenotypes appear to be more affected. These findings support the integration of routine psychological screening and multidisciplinary support into infertility care for women with PCOS.</p>","PeriodicalId":16610,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ovarian Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13508219/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148421893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}