Chinese herbal medicine on the offspring of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A retrospective cohort study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive endocrine disease, which increases the long-term health risks of the offspring. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has demonstrated significantly positive effects in treating PCOS. However, the effects of preconception administration of CHM on the offspring of the women with PCOS need to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a patented CHM (Bu-Shen-Tian-Jing Formula) on the offspring of women with PCOS. This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study. A total of 75 PCOS women, who achieved successful pregnancy through letrozole-induced ovulation and delivered successfully, were divided into CHM group (n = 38, treated with Bu-Shen-Tian-Jing Formula before the treatment of letrozole) and non-CHM group (n = 37, without CHM treatment). The information of the women with PCOS and their children (at birth) was collected from the Hangzhou City Community Health Service Information System. The included mothers were invited to complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition to China and the Chinese version of Ages and Stages Questionnaire Social-Emotional, Second Edition to screen the developmental delays of the offspring. The total incidence rate of pregnancy complications was significantly higher in non-CHM group compared with CHM group (P = .001). The height of the children in CHM group was significantly lower than non-CHM group at 6 months old (P = .038). The head circumference of children in CHM group was significantly larger than the non-CHM group respectively at 24 and 36 months old (P = .047 and P = .030). The proportions of "above cutoff value" in fine motor and problem-solving domains of the children in the CHM group were significantly higher than non-CHM group (P = .003 and P = .022) and the proportions of "below cutoff value" in the CHM group were significantly smaller than the non-CHM group (P = .024). Preconception administration of CHM significantly decreased the incidence of pregnancy complications in the women with PCOS undergoing letrozole-induced ovulation and improved the development of the offspring. However, it may be limited by the relatively small sample size and the simple evaluation indicators.