Young Women's Experiences Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Overview

Journal J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2011 Nov 19

PMID 22092488

Citations 24

Authors

Theresa R Weiss

Sandra Minor Bulmer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the psychosocial effects of living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through the experiences of young women diagnosed with this endocrine disorder.

Design: A qualitative, phenomenological methodology was used. Data were obtained through personal, semistructured interviews.

Setting: College campuses in New England.

Participants: A purposive sample of 12 young women with PCOS age 18 to 23 years.

Results: The following themes emerged from analysis of participants' responses: concerns for older self, feeling physically inferior, coping with symptoms, patient-provider relationship, seeking useable information and support, and coming to terms with a chronic condition.

Conclusions: Participants in this study faced numerous physical, social, and emotional challenges on a daily basis. As these young women gathered information relevant to their needs, sought and received social support, and maintained their daily routines to improve their health and appearance, they came to terms with this chronic condition. Based on participants' relayed experiences, it became evident that a need exists for health care practitioners to include psychosocial support in a comprehensive holistic plan for the treatment of PCOS in adolescents and young women in their early twenties.

Citing Articles

Women's use of online health and social media resources to make sense of their polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis: a qualitative study.

Gomula J, Warner M, Blandford A BMC Womens Health. 2024; 24(1):157.

PMID: 38443902 PMC: 10913566. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-02993-5.

Assessment of quality of life in patients having Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome: A cross-sectional facility-based study.

Kaur I, Singh A, Suri V, Kishore K, Rana S, Sahni N J Educ Health Promot. 2023; 12:190.

PMID: 37545991 PMC: 10402774. DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_21_23.

Understanding the Relationship between Illness Perceptions and Health Behaviour among Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Fossey B, McCaffery K, Cvejic E, Jansen J, Copp T Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(11).

PMID: 37297602 PMC: 10252798. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20115998.

Development of the First Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaires in Arabic for Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Part III): Scoring System Interpretation.

Odhaib S, Altemimi M, Imran H Cureus. 2023; 14(12):e32166.

PMID: 36601178 PMC: 9806282. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32166.

A systematic review of lived experiences of people with polycystic ovary syndrome highlights the need for holistic care and co-creation of educational resources.

Lau G, Elghobashy M, Thanki M, Ibegbulam S, Latthe P, Gillett C Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022; 13:1064937.

PMID: 36531482 PMC: 9755159. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1064937.