Polycystic ovary syndrome: a biopsychosocial understanding in young women to improve knowledge and treatment options

Abstract

Aim. To assess psychological features in young women with and without PCOS.

Methods. Observational, cross-sectional pilot study in young women aged 18–25 with (n = 24) or without (n = 22) PCOS (age: 22.41 ± 0.39 vs. 21.95 ± 0.47 years, p = 0.46; BMI: 29.17 ± 1.54 vs. 22.05 ± 0.83 kg/m², p = 0.0003). The main outcome measures were quality of life, anxiety, depression, risk perception and fears on future health.

Results. Women with PCOS demonstrated worsened quality of life (p = 0.033) and greater anxiety (p = 0.01) and depression (p = 0.023) than women without PCOS related to BMI status. Women with PCOS were more likely to perceive themselves as at risk of obesity (p = 0.012) and infertility (p < 0.0001), and perceived greater importance in reducing future risk of prediabetes (p = 0.027), gestational diabetes (p = 0.039), type 2 diabetes (p = 0.01), heart disease (p = 0.005), obesity (p = 0.0007) and infertility (p = 0.023) than women without PCOS. Women with PCOS were more likely to have fears about future health related to weight gain (p = 0.045), loss of femininity (p = 0.035), loss of sexuality (p = 0.003) and infertility (p = 0.019) than women without PCOS.

Conclusions. Worsened quality of life, anxiety and depression in young women with PCOS is related to BMI. Risk perception is appropriately high in PCOS, yet perceived risks of future metabolic complications are less common than those related to weight gain and infertility.

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• women's health
• psychological wellbeing
• endocrinology

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Dr Eldho Paul for statistical assistance. This project is supported by a BRIDGES Grant from the Global Diabetes Foundation (Project Number LT07-121). BRIDGES, a Global Diabetes Foundation project, is supported by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company. The authors would also like to acknowledge the support of The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, and the L.E.W Carty Charitable Trust (Melbourne, Australia).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.