Does pcos cause late miscarriages and stillbirth ?

[HannahMcHugh]

I'm 23 weeks pregnant with pcos and terrified of late miscarriage or stillbirth. I calmed down alot after my 12 week scan because i thought the higher risk was in early pregnancy, but i recently came across a website saying pcos causes late miscarriage and stillbirth. I'm overweight too so i was under the impression that after 12 weeks i was only at higher risk of gestational diabetes. I just wanna know what's true, am i at risk of losing my baby or just at risk of gestational diabetes ? I feel like midwives aren't straight to the point with me because they don't want to cause stress. Just want to add that i know it can happen to anyone i just want to know if It's more likely with pcos x

I can only speak from my experience as having PCOS and being overweight and to top it off being over 40. I've spent the whole pregnancy waiting to be told how high risk I am but that has never been the case. Currently at 37+2 and still everything is absolutely fine!
So try not to worry about what might happen from a set of general data. Just listen to your doctors and midwives and the tailored advice given to you.

I hope not, I'm 39+6 and have Pcos xx

I have PCOS, I was never classed as high risk because of it and was never told that late miscarriage or stillbirth risks were higher for women with pcos. In fact, I had clomid prior to falling pregnant naturally and the doctor said that once you’re pregnant having pcos has no bearing on risk of miscarriage or still birth. You are at increased risk of gestational diabetes as with pcos you have insulin resistance.

I had the GTT but my results were ok so it was treated as a normal pregnancy.

What was the website you saw? I’d be interested in reading their research.

I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well xx

I thought PCOS can make it hard to fall pregnant never knew it could affect a pregnancy miscarriage or still birth - if you're worried speak with midwife

No it doesn’t.
It can affect getting pregnancy and increases your risk of early (less than 12wk) miscarriage.
The only risk factor for stillbirth that could be relevant is having a bmi over 35 but that is NOT the pcos itself but related to the obesity.
The absolute risk is still very low though.
Best wishes, consultant obstetrician

Thanks for the replies, i feel so much better x
Daisyrosie, i saw this on a website called pcos.com. I accidentally came across it and have been very anxious since ☹

@Nan0second I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but i’m so stressed out at the minute and you may be able to offer guidance? I have PCOS, been TTC for 4 years... 3 operations, 6 months of clomid and 2 failed IVF cycles later and i’m now naturally pregnant. I’m only 5+2 and I have a scan on Friday at the EPU to see if it’s growing in the right place (i’ll be 5+6) I am assuming not to panic if I don’t see a heartbeat that soon? My PCOS is somewhat under control, my BMI is 25, my cycles are on average 33 days, and I eat fairly well and exercise 3 times per week. I was on myo-Inositol before falling pregnant but am not now, nor am I on Metformin (My IVF Consultant doesn’t deem it necessary, I spoke to him today to cancel my next cycle) Is there anything I can do to lower my rate of miscarriage due to PCOS? I’m terrified it’s all going to go wrong because of it. FWIW, my hcg has increased over 144% in the last 2 days, so that’s positive.

Don't worry if you don't see a heartbeat yet VillageFete I didn't at that point. I'm almost 20 weeks now

Thanks @peachesarenom Were you 5+6 and didn’t see a heartbeat? At what point did you see it?

Yes, I was 5 weeks something and no heartbeat, in fact they said it was a pregnancy of unknown location, lots of stress and tears. I had to go back for hcg tests and I think I saw the heart beat the following week. I had loads of early scans. My midwife then told me she had the same thing and her hcg wasn't even doubling but she was almost at term. Best to take things one day at a time x

Yes you don’t need to worry about not seeing a heart beat til at least 7 weeks! At 5 weeks sometimes you can’t even see the sac!