The Experience of Women Affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Qualitative Study From Iran (original) (raw)
Related papers
2022
Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder in young women. Physical appearance, menstrual irregularities, and infertility are viewed as the sole causes of mental distress that affects quality of life.Methods: It was a comprehensive cross-sectional study that targeted women of reproductive age who visited the Abbasi Shaheed hospital's gynecology, obstetrics, and endocrinology departments in Karachi, Pakistan; aimed to compare health hazards associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and how they affect patients' quality of life (QOL) in Karachi, Pakistan. According to inclusion criteria; around 450 patients were included. PCOS patients' quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-12 questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied on collected data; Pearson’s chi square test with a p-value of <0.05 indicating statistically significance was used to determine the association among various risk fact...
A TRAVEL TOWARDS THE RAMIFICATIONS OF PCOS ON WOMEN'S LIFE
IASET Journals, 2024
On a global scale, it is believed that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) impacts a sort of 5% to 20% of women who are in their generative years. Irregular menstrual cycles, often attributed to anovulation, are a distinctive symptom of PCOS and might provide difficulties in attaining pregnancy. Hirsutism and acne, two conditions frequently associated with elevated testosterone levels, can have significant psychological and emotional impacts. The research encompassed a cohort of 100 individuals diagnosed with PCOS and a comparison group of 200 individuals who were deemed to be in good health. The participants successfully completed surveys that had been previously validated. The study has shown that the socioeconomic situation of individuals with PCOS was similar to that of individuals without the condition. The factors encompassed in this study comprise a later age of menarche, a past medical history of irregular or delayed menstruation, and nulliparity. Moreover, individuals with PCOS exhibited a fewer number of offspring, a lower frequency of pregnancies, and an increased prevalence of miscarriages in contrast to the healthy group consisting of individuals without the condition. In conclusion, this research emphasises that elevated BMI, irregular menstrual cycles, level of education, and marital status are notable variables that contribute to the modification of QHL in individuals with PCOS. The findings underscore the need to include psychological care and support in the comprehensive healthcare management of patients impacted by PCOS.
BMC Women's Health
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major public health concern worldwide affecting up to one in five women at reproductive age. It is associated with biochemical and hormonal disturbances as well as adverse cosmetic, reproductive, metabolic, and psychological consequences, resulting in worsened quality of life. The aim of the present study is evaluating the quality of life and determining its degrading factors among Iranian women suffering from this syndrome. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 PCOS women in Hamadan, Iran. In order to measure quality of life we used the Persian version of Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire for PCOS (PCOSQ). Descriptive statistics was used to explore the data. In addition linear regression analysis was performed to assess factors affecting health-related quality of life in this population. Results: The mean score for quality of life domains (from the greatest to the least serious concern) were: infertility (3.43 ± 1.63), emotions (3.55 ± 1.17), menstrual problems (3.77 ± 1.36), body hair (3.80 ± 2.05) and weight (4.32 ± 1.80) , respectively. The higher score represents better function. However, multivariate analysis revealed that hirsutism had the strongest impact on the patients' quality of life (p < 0.001) followed by infertility (p = 0.038) and menstrual irregularity (p = 0.003). Conclusion: The findings showed that impairment of quality of life was associated with PCOS related conditions such as hirsutism, infertility and menstrual problems.
Measures of health-related quality of life in PCOS women: a systematic review
2018
Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with biochemical and hormonal disturbance and adverse cosmetic, reproductive, metabolic, and psychological consequences, resulting in reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Various generic and specific questionnaires have been used for assessing different dimensions of HRQoL in PCOS women. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify those general and specific instruments and to determine the factors that affect HRQoL in PCOS women. Materials and methods The research strategy involved general and specific terms in relation to PCOS women and their QoL. A review was performed on studies that were published between 1945 to 2017 and that were indexed in MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus. A narrative synthesis of the data was provided. Results In total, 52 studies (9 qualitative and 43 quantitative) were included in the review. The analysis indicated that 3 specific and 5 general instruments were used to ...
A Biopsychosocial View of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Unpublished. Completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Arts in Human Services: Marriage and Family at Liberty University Online., 2010
"Despite the implication of the name, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects not merely the ovaries, but endocrine system function, psychological health, psychosocial and psychosexual development throughout the lifespan. Up to 10% of pre-menopausal women meet the diagnostic criteria for PCOS, making it the most prevalent endocrine disorder for this population. Common features of PCOS include: polycystic ovaries, irregular or absent ovulation, disruption of the menstrual cycle, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and central obesity. A review of extant literature reveals that as many as 50% of women with PCOS also meet the diagnostic criteria for a mood or anxiety disorder, with a strong correlation between PCOS and bipolar disorder. While such correlation does not equate to causality, some studies suggest that disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes might be the common etiology between the physical manifestations of PCOS and the decreased psychological wellbeing experienced by women with PCOS. Hyperandrogenism is a particular source of concern in psychosocial and gender identity development. Some studies show a significantly higher prevalence of PCOS among lesbian women and female-to-male transsexuals compared to the general population, while heterosexual women with PCOS frequently report feeling “different” or “less feminine” due to hyperandrogenism and infertility. Researchers recommend implementing routine screening of women with PCOS for psychological disorders, and conversely, screening of women with mood disorders for reproductive endocrinological dysfunction."
Health related quality of life in Iranian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a qualitative study
Abstract Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with a range of challenging symptoms which impact patient’s lives. Iranian women with PCOS are likely to face a number of unique difficulties given particular societal and cultural norms for women. Understanding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from a patients’ perspective is critical to developing the appropriate support interventions. The present study aimed to generate an in-depth understanding of HRQoL in Iranian women with PCOS. Methods: Twenty Iranian women were interviewed and data was subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Women reported substantial effects of PCOS on their quality of life, Themes generated from the data related to sexual - physical problems (An unsexualised self: loss, change and pain; and Being pained and painful); exposure and invasion: the rejecting and invading social world (Concealing and Avoiding and Public property: public scrutiny), diminished self and diminished life (Infertile as inferior and Exhausted mind and body) respectively. Conclusion: PCOS is a physical - sexual, psychological and social syndrome; therefore, it is necessary to taking a more holistic approach to patient care beyond treating physical symptoms.
The polycystic ovary syndrome--a medical condition but also an important psychosocial problem
PCOS, the leading cause of anovulatory infertility that affects up to one fifth of the female population, is a complex chronic disease of genetic as well as environmental determination, but still unclear etiology. Besides of infertility, PCOS leads to menstrual dysfunctions, hirsutism and obesity--symptoms that are known to cause profound psychosocial distress. The present paper review the problematic of etiology and symptom expression of PCOS, which is not only a disease needing medical treatment but also a psychosocial problem for the affected women. PCOS may not only coinduced by psychosocial factors, the main symptoms of PCOS such as infertility, menstrual dysfunctions, hirsutism and obesity cause by themselves increased psychosocial stress.
Assessment of Quality of Life among Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
2019
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism. Thepurpose of the study was to assess quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Method: A descriptive design (cross-sectional)was utilized. Sample: A purposive sample of 140 women that were medically diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome were selected. Settings: The study was carried out at the outpatient clinics of the gynecology and infertility of University and Teaching Hospitals at Shebin El-Kom in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Instruments: A structured interviewing questionnaire and a modified health-related quality of life questionnaire for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSQ) were used for data collection. Results:There was a highly statistical significant effect of PCOS on quality of life in terms of poor psychological, physiological and social QOL domains. Conclusion: Polycystic ovary syndrome has a negative impact on women's quality of life including emotional disturbance, hirsutism, weight difficulties, infertility, and menstrual difficulties. Recommendations:Improving the women'knowledge concerning PCOS toward stress management and lifestyle modifications with a periodic screening for early detection and management. Health promotion programs through different media to improve QOL for women with PCOS.
Health Related Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos)
2012
The symptoms typically associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as acne, hirsutism, irregular menses, amenorrhoea, obesity and subfertility are a major source of psychological morbidity and can negatively affect quality of life (QoL). We systematically searched the literature to identify the impact of symptoms and treatments for PCOS on health-related QoL (HRQoL) and to report on the types and psychometric properties of the instruments used. Papers were retrieved by systematically searching four electronic databases and hand searching relevant reference lists and bibliographies. Nineteen papers used a standardized questionnaire to measure health status; of these 12 (63.2%) used generic tools and 8 (42%) used the disease-specific PCOS questionnaire. Although a meta-analysis was not possible, it appears that weight concerns have a particular negative impact upon HRQoL, although the role of body mass index in affecting HRQoL scores is inconclusive from the available evidence. Acne is the area least reported upon in terms of its impact upon HRQoL. With the exception of three studies, most of the research has focused upon adult women with PCOS. Despite the benefits of HRQoL measures in research, few are being used to evaluate the outcomes of treatment for PCOS upon the subjective health status of women with the condition.