Links Between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) appear to be interrelated, although they are distinct entities. Women with PCOS are commonly affected by GDM while even women with GDM may show reproductive or endocrine features of PCOS. These commonalities on clinical grounds seem to be attributed, at least partly, to an interrelated pathophysiological background which is linked with insulin resistance. Both PCOS and GDM are conditions with a metabolic impact on the reproductive period of a woman's life and with potential adverse effects on their offsprings. Many of the long-term consequences are overlapping for the two entities and the cornerstone of the therapeutic approach for both GDM and PCOS is life-style modification. This review presents the links between PCOS and GDM in epidemiology, pathophysiology, short- and long-term consequences for the mother and the offspring as well as the common treatment modalities.