Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive disorder that significantly impacts women's quality of life (QOL). Its unclear etiology, whether genetic or environmental, and the treatments associated with it have been widely studied globally.
Research design and methods: This study assessed the QOL of 108 women with PCOS, examining both physical and mental symptoms. Participants completed the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire through a web-based survey to evaluate their QOL scores.
Results: Common symptoms included menstrual irregularity (73.14%), hirsutism (65.7%), acne (62.03%), and obesity (22.22%). Complications such as diabetes mellitus (12.9%), hypertension (2.78%), infertility (1.85%), miscarriages (31.4%), hyperandrogenism (68.51%), and insulin resistance (28.7%) were reported. Patients with infertility had the lowest physical scores (PCS), while those working night shifts had the lowest mental scores (MCS).
Conclusion: PCOS significantly affects QOL, with infertility contributing to the lowest physical scores and night shift work correlating with the lowest mental scores. These findings emphasize the need for integrated psychological and physical care, particularly for young working women with PCOS.
Keywords: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); Quality of Life (QOL); SF-12 questionnaire; mental score (MCS); physical score (PCS).
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can greatly affect a woman’s quality of life. This study looked at 108 women with PCOS and found common issues such as irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity. Many of these women also faced problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, infertility, and miscarriages. Women with these additional health issues reported a lower quality of life. The study particularly focused on young working women and found that their diet, lifestyle, and stress levels play a big role. For those working night shifts, mental well-being was notably affected, highlighting the need for both psychological and physical support in managing PCOS.