Clinical perspectives on cancer risk in women with PCOS

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Created On: 06/12/2025

This large-scale Korean population-based study explored the overall cancer risk and cancer-type associations among women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

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Key take away

PCOS is linked to increased risks of uterine, ovarian, and thyroid cancers, especially in younger women, underlining the importance of early screening.

Background

This large-scale Korean population-based study explored the overall cancer risk and cancer-type associations among women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Method

Researchers conducted this study using national health checkup and insurance data. The study included 774,811 women (aged 20–50 years) who either underwent PCOS treatment or participated in routine health screenings. Among them, 127,980 women had PCOS and 563,850 did not. Following 1:1 propensity score matching, each arm contained 127,712 volunteers. Cancer incidence was analyzed via hazard ratios (HR) across different age groups to determine cancer risk associated with PCOS.

Result

In this retrospective cohort analysis, the baseline demographic and clinical profiles were similar between the PCOS and non-PCOS groups. However, women with PCOS exhibited a significantly higher overall cancer risk (HR: 1.156, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.058–1.263, P = 0.001). Notably, the risk of uterine cancer (HR: 4.963, 95% CI: 3.282–7.504, P < 0.001) and ovarian cancer (HR: 1.774, 95% CI: 1.142–2.755, P = 0.011) was markedly higher among PCOS-affected women. In younger women aged 20–29 years, PCOS was also linked with a heightened risk of thyroid cancer (HR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.009–1.427, P = 0.039). No prominent connection was found between PCOS and breast cancer.

Conclusion

Women with PCOS face an elevated risk of uterine, ovarian, and thyroid cancers, particularly among younger patients. These findings emphasize the importance of early screening, cancer risk monitoring, and personalized care for women with PCOS in clinical practice.