A snapshot of the lives of women with polycystic ovary syndrome:a photovoice investigation

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 6  percent of women. Symptoms include hirsutism, acne, and infertility. This research explores the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on women's lives using photovoice. Nine participants photographed objects related to their quality of life and made diary entries explaining each photograph. Three themes emerged from thematic analysis of the diaries: control (of symptoms and polycystic ovary syndrome controlling their lives), perception (of self, others, and their situation), and support (from relationships, health care systems, and education). These findings illuminate positive aspects of living with polycystic ovary syndrome and the role pets and social networking sites play in providing support for women with polycystic ovary syndrome

‘Everything’s from the inside out with PCOS’:exploring women’s experiences of living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and co-morbidities through Skype™ interviews

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder affecting 1 in 10 women. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome can experience co-morbidities, including depressive symptoms. This research explores the experience of living with polycystic ovary syndrome and co-morbidities. Totally, 10 participants with polycystic ovary syndrome took part in Skype™ interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the data: change (to life plans and changing nature of condition); support (healthcare professionals, education and relationships); co-morbidities (living with other conditions and depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation) and identity (feminine identity and us and them). The findings highlight the need for screening of women with polycystic ovary syndrome for depressive disorders

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the Metabolic Syndrome: A Possible Chronobiotic-Cytoprotective Adjuvant Therapy

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a highly frequent reproductive-endocrine disorder affecting up to 8–10% of women worldwide at reproductive age. Although its etiology is not fully understood, evidence suggests that insulin resistance, with or without compensatory hyperinsulinemia, and hyperandrogenism are very common features of the polycystic ovary syndrome phenotype. Dysfunctional white adipose tissue has been identified as a major contributing factor for insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome. Environmental (e.g., chronodisruption) and genetic/epigenetic factors may also play relevant roles in syndrome development. Overweight and/or obesity are very common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, thus suggesting that some polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome female phenotypes share common characteristics. Sleep disturbances have been reported to double in women with PCOS and obstructive sleep apnea is a common feature in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Maturation of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion pattern in girls in puberty is closely related to changes in the sleep-wake cycle and could have relevance in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. This review article focuses on two main issues in the polycystic ovary syndrome-metabolic syndrome phenotype development: (a) the impact of androgen excess on white adipose tissue function and (b) the possible efficacy of adjuvant melatonin therapy to improve the chronobiologic profile in polycystic ovary syndrome-metabolic syndrome individuals. Genetic variants in melatonin receptor have been linked to increased risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome, to impairments in insulin secretion, and to increased fasting glucose levels. Melatonin therapy may protect against several metabolic syndrome comorbidities in polycystic ovary syndrome and could be applied from the initial phases of patients’ treatment.Fil: Spinedi, Eduardo Julio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (i); ArgentinaFil: Cardinali, Daniel Pedro. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentin

Polycystic ovary syndrome and its impact on women’s quality of life: More than just an endocrine disorder

In the past, polycystic ovary syndrome has been looked at primarily as an endocrine disorder. Studies now show that polycystic ovary syndrome is a metabolic, hormonal, and psychosocial disorder that impacts a patient’s quality of life. It is extremely important to holistically treat these patients early on to help them deal with the emotional stress that is often overlooked with polycystic ovary syndrome. Early diagnosis and long term management can help control polycystic ovary syndrome so that women can still live a healthy active life and avoid long-term complications such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases

Application of Expert System in Diagnosing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) or polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition of impaired ovarian function in women of childbearing age. This condition causes the hormones of women suffering from PCOS to become imbalanced due to unknown reasons. The early signs of PCOS are irregular ovulation or fertility, increased levels of male hormones (androgens) in a woman's body, and the appearance of many cysts (fluid-filled sacs) on the ovaries. Things like that are very feared by women because women's nature is to conceive and have offspring, if it is not taken care of from the start or early on, it is not impossible for this to happen. But in fact, public knowledge is still low about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, information about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is still not well socialized to the public so that people still do not know how to handle and treat it. In diagnosing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, there are several methods that can be used, including the Dempster Shafer method. From the results of the study, it can be concluded, among others: The expert system built can provide convenience for users to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome, and can provide treatment solutions for the disease. The results of the diagnosis using the Dempster Shafer method have a better percentage value

Quality of life and marital sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 5-10% of women in the developed world, making it the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. The symptoms typically associated with polycystic ovary syndrome: amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, obesity, subfertility, anovulation and acne can lead to a significant reduction in female life quality.The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on quality of life and marital sexual satisfaction. Fifty women with polycystic ovary syndrome were qualified to the study as the research group. The control group consisted of fourty healthy women. A specific questionnaire was used as a research tool in this study. It included the socio-demographic part, polycystic ovary syndrome's symptomatology and validated scales: Polish version of Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS). The mean age of researched women was 28.9+/-5.6 years, and in the control group - 30.5+/-5.3 years (p>0.05). Quality of life parameters for women with polycystic ovary syndrome were lower than for the controls in the aspect of: general health (

The relationship between lifestyle and the frequency of polycystic ovary syndrome in Saudi female residing in Riyadh

Background: Polycystic Ovary Disorder (PCOS) is perceived as the most widely recognized endocrinopathy in reproductive women. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the lifestyle and frequency of polycystic ovary syndrome in Saudi Arabia.Methods: This is a case-control study conducted on females at princess Nourah University (PNU), King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) and malls in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. The study included females in the reproductive age including 401 controls and 122 PCOS cases.Results: History of pregnancy related disorders was higher among the PCOS women in comparison to controls, while abortion represented the highest percentage in both cases and controls. Family history of polycystic ovary syndrome was doubled in cases than controls. There was significant increase in the percentage of hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia in polycystic ovary syndrome patients (P <0.001). Snoring, use of oral contraceptives, high prolactin level, incidence of menorrhagia and urinary tract infection were significantly higher in cases than controls (P <0.001). In addition, there was no difference between controls and polycystic ovary syndrome cases regarding their dietary intake. On the other hand, physical activity was significantly higher in controls compared to polycystic ovary syndrome group.Conclusions: This study supports previous studies that revealed a relation between polycystic ovary syndrome and endocrinological disorders such as hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, and obesity. On the other hand, there is no relation between dietary intake and PCOS, however exercising regularly can decrease the possibility of having the disease

Assessment of symptoms of urinary incontinence in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: The pelvic floor muscles are sensitive to androgens, and due to hyperandrogenism, women with polycystic ovary syndrome can have increased mass in these muscles compared to controls. The aim of this study is to compare reports of urine leakage and quality of life between women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: One hundred thirteen 18-to 40-year-old nulliparous women with polycystic ovary syndrome or without the disease (controls) were recruited at the University Hospital of School Medicine of São Paulo University at Ribeirão Preto City, Brazil. The subjects were not taking any hormonal medication, had not undergone previous pelvic surgery and did not exercise their pelvic floor muscles. The women were divided into the following four groups: I-polycystic ovary syndrome with normal body mass index (n = 18), II-polycystic ovary syndrome with body mass index >25 (n = 32), III-controls with normal body mass index (n = 29), and IV-controls with Body Mass Index >25 (n = 34). Quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire, and the subjects with urinary complaints also completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form to evaluate the severity of their urinary incontinence. RESULTS: The replies to the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form revealed a significant difference in urinary function between groups, with 24% of the subjects in group IV reporting urinary incontinence. The mean scores for the SF-36 questionnaire revealed that group II had the lowest quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The control obese group (IV) reported a higher prevalence of urinary incontinence. There was no difference in the reported frequency of urine loss between the polycystic ovary syndrome and control groups with normal body mass index or between the polycystic ovary syndrome and control groups with body mass index >25

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Pathogenesis, health consequences, and treatment of PCOS in relation to insulin resistance

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the current research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age, affecting 5-10% of the population. Despite its prevalence, PCOS remains largely under unknown. This review has been broken down into two separate chapters. The first is the pathogenesis and related health consequences of PCOS. This chapter focuses on the diagnosis of PCOS as well as the prevalence and incidence of the disease. It then delves into the pathogenesis with a focus on genetics, obesity, insulin resistance and birth weight. Lastly, the health consequences related to PCOS are discussed, with a focus on insulin resistance. The health outcomes reviewed include the metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes mellitus. The second chapter is a comparison of drug therapies and lifestyle modifications used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome. A short discussion on combination therapy is also included. By focusing on insulin resistance in treatment, it is possible to manage many of the symptoms of PCOS solely through lifestyle modifications. Although many questions remain surrounding polycystic ovary syndrome, this article provides a summary of the current research

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

__Abstract__ The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was first described in 1935 by Stein and Leventhal as an association of amenorrhoea, obesity and a typical, polycystically enlarged, appearance of the ovaries at laparatomy1. Taking into account the absence of advanced imaging techniques and the relatively high risk that was associated with abdominal surgery at that time, it is remarkable that this association was noted, and published, as early as 1935. Perhaps this fact alone serves best to demonstrate the wide impact on population health that is associated with the syndrome that is currently recognised as PCOS. It is the most frequently occurring endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age, with an estimated prevalence of 5-10 % among women of fertile age. The ovulatory disorder that accompanies PCOS is the cause of subfertility and is often the most important reason for affected women to seek medical care. Furthermore, the clinical phenotype of PCOS is characterised by signs of elevated levels of free circulating androgens such as hirsutism, acne and male pattern baldness. However it is important to note that, no matter what diagnostic criteria are used, PCOS constitutes a notoriously heterogeneous phenotype. Due to the absence of a robust aetiologic framework for the pathogenesis of PCOS, physicians are not able to provide a single uniform definition that performs as an accurate diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of PCOS. Therefore, the diagnosis is still based on its description as