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Hormone disorder puts women at risk

Perth doctors want teenage girls and women with a common hormonal disorder watched more closely for serious complications such as heart disease.

A study of more than 2500 WA women with polycystic ovary syndrome found they were twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for medical conditions including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

The syndrome affects about 20 per cent of women of reproductive age, particularly those who are overweight, and is a common cause of infertility.

It occurs when a woman's body produces higher amounts of testosterone and other hormones than normal.

University of WA professor of reproductive medicine Roger Hart said while women with the syndrome were already known to be more at risk of infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, the study showed they were also more prone to diseases unrelated to their reproductive health.

Professor Hart said they faced a heightened risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, mental health conditions and cancer of the lining of the uterus.