Focus on female health - long-term health outcomes related to common gynecological conditions like PMOS

Terhi T. Piltonen, MD, PhD, Professor, Chief Physician, is a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology/IVF in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oulu University Hospital and the University of Oulu, Finland. Her research advances the lifelong gynecological and obstetric health of women, with her team leading internationally recognized programs on women’s health burden and work ability, PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, previously PCOS), hormonal contraception, hormonal aging, and endometrial health. Her group has wide methodological breadth, combining randomized controlled trials (>4,000 participants), birth cohorts, nationwide registers, mouse models, and clinical samples. Flagship resources include the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts (>20,000 participants born in 1966 and 1986), a national register dataset of women with PMOS and their first-degree relatives, and ENDObank (>500 endometrial samples). Most recently, her team completed the landmark WENDY trial, screening nearly 2,000 women for gynecological symptoms and diseases and capturing more than

10,000 variables to evaluate their impact on metabolic, psychological, and quality-of-life outcomes. Current EU-funded research also includes projects aimed at improving work ability in women. Professor Piltonen plays a leading role in shaping international clinical practice to improve women’s health. She has contributed to global guideline development for PMOS, contraception, and unexplained infertility, and is actively involved in the ongoing international PCOS name change initiative. She previously served as Associate Editor for Fertility and Sterility and the European Journal of Endocrinology and is currently Co-Editor-in-Chief of Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. She is the President of the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society (AE-PCOS) and a former Chair of the Scientific Committee and a Board Member of the Nordic Federation of Societies in Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).

With more than 200 publications and an H-index of 57, Professor Piltonen is a leading voice in overall women’s health, PMOS, contraception, and endometrial health research.

Riikka Arffman, Docent, PhD, Research Manager

Marika Kangasniemi, MD, PhD, post-doctoral scientist

Meri-Maija Ollila, MD, PhD, post-doctoral scientist

Ulla Saarela, PhD, Laboratory Manager

Emilia Pesonen, PhD, post-doctoral scientist

Katja Alanärä, B.Med, PhD student

Suvi Haapakangas, B.Med, PhD student

Tiina-Mari Keski-Ojala, MD, PhD student

Emilia Koivuaho, MD, PhD student

Elina Komsi, MSc, MD, PhD student

Noona Koskenkari, B.Med, PhD student

Aino Kurki, B.Med, PhD student

Elo Kuuluvainen, B.Med, PhD student

Ewelina Kuusiniemi, MD, PhD student

Johanna Lavi, MD, PhD student

Eeva Linna, MD, PhD student

Milena Myllykangas, MSc, PhD student

Joonas Vaarala, B.Med, PhD student

Saara Vuontisjärvi, MD, PhD student

Elisa Hurskainen, MSc, Statistician

Maarit Haarala, Laboratory technician

Lotta Vuokila, Research nurse

Tiia Tuovinen, Researcher

The collection for WENDY study was completed in November 2022. Almost 2000 women took part in the study. Work continues with data analysis and reporting.

Oulu:

Susanna Savukoski, Research doctor

Jenni Kinnunen, Research doctor

Lotta Vuokila, Coordinating research nurse

Elina Huikari, Research nurse

Tuija Anttonen, Research nurse

Helsinki:

Kaisu Luiro-Helve, MD, PhD, Research doctor

Maria Rajecki, MD, PhD, Research doctor

Birgit Björkroth, Research nurse

Maaret Ahola, Research nurse

MD, PhD Johanna Puurunen, Androgen secretion and cardiovascular risk factors in women with and without PCOS : studies on age-related changes and medical intervention, 2015

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-0809-1

MD, PhD Meri-Maija Ollila, The role of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and overweight/obesity in women’s metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors and related morbidities, 2019

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-2259-2

MD, PhD Henna-Riikka Rossi, The association of endometriosis on body size, pain perception, comorbidity and work ability in the Northern Finland Birth cohort 1966 : long-term effects of endometriosis on women’s overall health, 2021

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-3002-3

MD, PhD Salla Karjula, Long-term consequences of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on mental health and health-related quality of life, 2021

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-2849-5

PhD Masuma Khatun, The endometrium in disease – studies on endometrial stem cells, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) , 2021

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-3139-6

MD, PhD Marika Kangasniemi, Estradiol valerate versus ethinylestradiol in combined contraceptives : effects on blood proteome, lipids, inflammation, and steroid hormones, 2022

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-3491-5

MD, PhD Linda Kujanpää, Comorbidity, work ability, and disability retirement among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) : a population-based analysis in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, 2023

http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-3639-1

PhD Natàlia Pujol Gualdo, Decoding genetic associations of female reproductive health traits, 2024

https://www.oulu.fi/en/theses/decoding-genetic-associations-female-reproductive-health-traits

PhD Seungbaek Lee, Mining biomarkers for infertility-associated conditions. Studies on polycystic ovary syndrome and recurrent implantation failure through microbiome and AI-based approaches, 2024

https://www.oulu.fi/en/theses/mining-biomarkers-for-infertility-associated-conditions-studies-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-and

MD, PhD Heini Salo, Female urinary incontinence: work ability, hysterectomy as a risk factor and efficacy of invasive treatments, 2024

https://oulurepo.oulu.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/52701/nbnfioulu-202410046179.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

PhD Emilia Pesonen, Weight-related struggles, eating behaviour, physical activity, and fitness of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) : Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, 2025

https://oulurepo.oulu.fi/handle/10024/54593

MD, PhD Yiqun Tang, Endometrial regeneration and uterine disorders - cellular and molecular studies, 2025

https://openarchive.ki.se/articles/thesis/Endometrial_regeneration_and_uterine_disorders_cellular_and_molecular_studies/27890091?file=52855631

PhD Nikke Virtanen, Activation of the HIF pathway in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): hemoglobin, ferritin and HIF-targeted medical interventions, 2025

https://www.oulu.fi/en/theses/activation-hif-pathway-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-hemoglobin-ferritin-and-hif-targeted-medical

PhD Lena Luyckx, Endometrial dysfunction in PCOS. Insights from a mouse model, human endometrial transcriptomics, and organoids

https://oulurepo.oulu.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/58518/nbnfioulu-202509035721.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Laure Morin-Papunen, Adjunct Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu, Finland

Juha Tapanainen, Professor (emeritus), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Finland

Marianne Anderssen, Professor, Odense University Hospital, Denmark

Dorte Glintborg, Associate Professor, Odense University Hospital, Denmark

Francisco Gomez Real, Professor, University of Bergen, Norway

Angelica Linden-Hirschberg, Professor, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Pernille Ravn, Professor, Odense University Hospital, Denmark

Inger Sundström-Poromaa, Professor, University of Uppsala, Sweden

Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Associate Professor, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Eszter Vanky, Professor, University of Trondheim, Norway

Maria Forslund, MD, PhD, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Johanna Melin, MD, PhD, University of Helsinki, Finland

Laure Morin-Papunen, MD, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu

Juha S. Tapanainen, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital

Päivi Polo-Kantola, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku

Varpu Jokimaa, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Marjo Tuppurainen, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital and University of Eastern Finland

Noora Kaartinen, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere

Helena Teede, Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia

Robert Norman, Professor, University of Adelaide, Australia

Steven Franks, Professor, Imperial College, London

Anuja Dokras, Professor, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Joop Laven, Professor, Erasmus MC, University of Rotterdam, Netherlands

Kathleen Hoeger, Rochester University, USA

Anju Joham, Monash University, Australia

Lisa Moran, Monash University, Australia

Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, MD, PhD, Professor

Sylvain Sebert, PhD, Adjuct Professor

Leena Ala-Mursula, MD, PhD, Professor

Sirkka-Liisa Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi, MD, PhD, Professor

Johannes Kettunen, PhD, Professor

Jouko Miettunen, PhD, Professor

Juha Auvinen, MD, PhD

Andres Salumets, PhD, Professor, Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Senior Research Fellow in Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tartu, Estonia

Paolo Giacobini, PhD, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM, tenured position), Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Lille, France

Joris Vriens, PhD, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeranation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA

Kaarel Krjutškov, PhD, Head of Genomic Service Laboratory; Senior Researcher, Competence Center on Health Technologies, Estonia

Minna Ruddock, PhD, Associate Professor, Research Director in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC)

Oskari Heikinheimo, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki

Leif Andersson, Emeritus Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki

Ralf Butzow, Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki

Peppi Karppinen, MD, PhD, Professor, Dean, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu

Julia Jäkel, PhD, Professor, Clinical and Developmental Psychology, University of Oulu

Mikko Finnilä, PhD, Research unit of Medical imaging, Physics, and Technology, University of Oulu

Simo Saarakkala, PhD, Professor, Research unit of Medical imaging, Physics, and Technology, University of Oulu

Minna Ruddock, PhD, Associate Professor, Research Director in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC), University of Oulu

Mikko Hallman, Professor (Emeritus), Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu

Maarit Niinimäki, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu

Sari Pelkonen MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu

Marja Vääräsmäki, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu

Marja Ojaniemi, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu

Jaana Nevalainen, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu

Valerio Izzi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu

Terhi Tapiainen, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu