Clinical and psychological correlates of quality-of-life in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been shown to cause a reduction in quality of life. This study examines the extent of different PCOS symptoms on quality-of-life, psychosocial wellbeing and sexual satisfaction. Methods: Complete metabolic, hormonal, clinical and psychosocial data were obtained from a total of 120 women with PCOS. Patients were compared with 50 healthy women to establish reductions in quality-of-life and emotional well-being. In addition, the correlation between psychosocial variables and the major clinical PCOS features obesity (body mass index (BMI)), excessive body hair (hirsutism score), acne, hyperandrogenism (serum testosterone levels), disturbed insulin regulation (area under the insulin response curve and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), menstrual cycle disturbances and infertility were analyzed. Results: PCOS patients showed significant reductions in quality-of-life, increased psychological disturbances, and decreased sexual satisfaction when compared with healthy controls. BMI and hirsutism scores, but not the presence of acne, were associated with physical aspects of quality-of-life and sexual satisfaction. No clear effect of androgens or insulin resistance on psychosocial variables was detected. Similarly, the type of menstrual cycle disturbances or infertility had no impact on psychological well-being. Conclusion: In PCOS, changes in appearance, particularly obesity and hirsutism, reduce physical dimensions of quality-of-life and decrease sexual satisfaction. The role of biochemical, endocrine and metabolic parameters as well as menstrual irregularities and infertility appeared to be less important. Clinicians should pay attention to the psychosocial dimensions of PCOS on an individual basis, regardless of symptom severity or treatment response. 153 853-860 European Journal of Endocrinology

Sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…A recent study determined that both hirsutism and BMI were negatively associated with many psychological variables in women with PCOS [21]. Changes in physical appearance associated with PCOS may lead to decreased sexual satisfaction [8]. Therefore, we studied the associations between BMI, acne, and hirsutism on sexual functioning in this population of women.…”

MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Morbidity in polycystic ovary syndrome

“…SF-36 scores were comparable between patients with PCOS and patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma (110,111). Especially, obesity and hirsutism were associated with impaired quality of life in PCOS (110,112), whereas menstrual irregularities were less important (111). Depression was 2.8 times more common in Danish patients with PCOS versus controls and 1.9 times more patients than controls had prescriptions of antidepressants (7).…”

The Effect of Hirsutismus and Body Mass Index on Body Image and Anxiety in Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

“…ortalama BKİ değerinin 30'un üzerinde olduğu 120 hastanın hayat kalitesini inceledikleri çalışma-larında, her ne kadar hayat kalitesinde belirgin düşük skorlar saptamış olsalar da bu hastalarda fiziksel ve emosyonel rol fonksiyonda, sosyal fonksiyon ve psikolojik toplam skorda anlamlı farklar saptamamışlardır. 31 Benzer şekilde Rodrigues ve ark.nın PKOS hastalarında BKİ değişikliklerinin mental rahatsızlıklar ile ilişkisini araştırdıkları ça-lışmalarında, PKOS hastalarında 3 kat artmış psikolojik rahatsızlık insidansı saptamış olmakla birlikte, bu değişikliklerin BKİ'den bağımsız olduğu sonucuna varmışlardır. 32 Çalışmamızın en önemli kısıtlaması hasta sayısının rölatif olarak düşük ve güç analizinin yapılmamış olmasıdır.…”