Anxiety among Women Suffering with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, often bringing physical symptoms such as irregular menstruation, weight gain and infertility. A growing body of research highlights that women with PCOS are several times more likely to experience anxiety, depression, stress, psychological distress, etc, than those without the syndrome. This increased risk is thought to stem not only from the hormonal and metabolic disturbances of PCOS but also from the emotional consequences of visible symptoms, reproductive concerns and everyday stressors. Anxiety in this population can impact self-esteem, quality of life and adherence to medical recommendations, making mental health assessment and support a crucial part of comprehensive PCOS care.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To determine the prevalence of anxiety among women diagnosed with PCOS.


2. To investigate the association between demographic variables and the level of anxiety.

MATERIALS: A cross-sectional study design employing a convenience sampling method was utilised to select the samples and measure the level of anxiety among 170 patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Belagavi City, using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Chi-Square and percentage methods were applied.

RESULTS: Majority of patients experienced mild to moderate levels of anxiety, with only a small proportion reporting severe symptoms.​

CONCLUSION: Most women with PCOS reported anxiety in the mild to moderate range; relatively few experienced severe anxiety. Anxiety severity tended to be higher among women in certain age groups and those from rural areas. In contrast, occupation, education, marital status and socio-economic status did not show meaningful differences in anxiety levels.