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Anxiety, quality of life, eating behaviors, and sexual life in women with PCOS
Kemine Uzel1, Paşa Uluğ2, Tunay Kiremitli2, Sevil Kiremitli2, Gülfem Başol31Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University Mengucek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Medical Faculty, Erzincan, Turkey
3Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Health Science Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to reveal the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on quality of life, anxiety, eating behavior, and sexual functions, and the relationships or interactions of these factors with each other.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in women diagnosed with PCOS. Sexually active 54 participants (28 with PCOS + 26 control) aged 22-35 years applying to the gynecology outpatient clinics due to menstrual irregularities were included. The diagnosis of PCOS was made according to the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Participants filled out data collection forms, including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and the Female Sexual Function Index. Laboratory findings were obtained from the hospital’s electronic patient registry.
RESULTS: The PCOS group’s BMI (29.6±7.1), was significantly higher than the control group (24.7±3.9), (p=0.004)). The PCOS group scores were significantly lower than the control group regarding the physical functionality (p=0.006), role limitations due to emotional problems (p=0.002), energy/fatigue (p=0.015), and emotional well-being (p=0.025) items of the short-form health survey. Additionally, BAI score was higher (p=0.001), and female sexual function index total score was lower (p=0,036) in the PCOS group. There were significant correlations between luteinizing hormone (LH) and role limitations due to emotional problems (r=0.547, p=0.003), uncontrolled eating (r=0.415, p=0.028), emotional eating (r=0.413, p=0.029), and body-mass index (r=0.487, p=0.009).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: PCOS can cause anxiety, decreased quality of life, and increased anxiety, but it does not affect eating disorders. LH levels should be taken into account for weight control in women with PCOS. Women with menstrual irregularities need support concerning anxiety, even if they don’t have PCOS.
Manuscript Language: English
