Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have reduced melatonin concentrations in their follicles and have mild sleep disturbances

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecologic disorder related to abnormal circadian rhythm. Therefore, we aimed to find whether the level of melatonin, a rhythm regulating hormone changed in the ovarian microenvironment in this disease. METHODS: The melatonin concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) were measured in 35 PCOS and 36 non-PCOS women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. RESULTS: The FF melatonin concentration was significantly lower in PCOS women than non-PCOS women (p = 0.045) and it was found positively correlated with serum basal FSH level (r = 0.308, p = 0.013). In IVF procedures, there was no significant difference in the fertilization rate of oocytes between the two groups, but the high-quality embryogenesis rate on the third day of the PCOS group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.042), which showed a weak positive correlation with the FF melatonin concentration (r(s) = 0.240, p = 0.044). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in overall pregnancy outcome. The PSQI questionnaire showed that sleep disorders were more likely to exist in the PCOS group, though there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The obtained results suggested PCOS women had lower melatonin concentrations in the ovarian microenvironment.