Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
Syeda M. Fatima1, Rafia Rafique2, and Shamsa Kanwal3*
Abstract
Background Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormone problem
associated with the several symptoms like having too much hair on their
face and body, being overweight, having pimples, losing hair on their
head, and having irregular periods. It affects 6 to 8 out of 100 women who
are adults. The objective of the study was to take an in depth and holistic
perspective of young women with polycystic ovary syndrome by
examining the intricate interplay of Psycho-social influences on their
living. After the research was approved by the ethical review board
participants were recruited from gynecology department of a hospital who
volunteered to be a part of the study. Participants were briefed about their
right to withdraw and were told in the consent form that interviews will be
audio recorded. However, confidentially and privacy was maintained. Six
voluntary participants who suffered from PCOS from at least 1 or more
years were chosen by purposive sampling to take part in the study.
Women who have comorbidities with PCOS were excluded from the
study. Semi structured Interviews were conducted in English and Urdu
languages and were approximately 45 minutes long. The researcher had
*Correspondence:

Shamsa Kanwal
shamsakanwal886@gmail.com
1
Institue of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
2
Institue of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
3
Department of Psychology, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

prepared some questions beforehand and asked appropriate clarifying

questions. The present study used Interpretative Phenomenological
Analysis (IPA) to take an in depth and holistic perspective of young
women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Result After analysis results showed 5 master themes, 13 themes and 75
subordinate themes. Five master themes were psychological experiences
(behavioral, emotional, cognitive), physiological experiences
(reproductive and hormonal issues and effects of medication), social
experiences (appearance related issues, social stigma), perceived support
system (family support, friends support, health care support) and coping
strategies (lifestyle changes, medical interventions, psychological
interventions)
Conclusion The findings underscore the need for holistic interventions
addressing coping strategies that can be effective and acceptable in order
to manage their symptoms while improving the quality of life by reducing
long term complications. By unraveling the complexities of these
experiences, this study contributes to the broader discourse on women’s
health and quality of life.
Keywords PCOS, IPA, Psycho-social

*Correspondence:

Shamsa Kanwal
shamsakanwal886@gmail.com
1
Institue of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
2
Institue of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
3
Department of Psychology, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Introduction
PCOS is a hormone problem that affects 6–8 out of 100 women who
are adults (Himelein & Thatcher, 2006). Women with PCOS have many
problems like having too much hair on their face and body, being
overweight, having pimples, losing hair on their head, and having irregular
periods. They also have other health conditions, like diabetes, heart
disease, bowel problems, and thyroid problems. They are more prone to
depression, anxiety and mental problems.
Recent research has shed light on the profound impact of polycystic
ovary syndrome, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the
impact of this syndrome manifest in the lived experiences of individuals,
especially young women. Women who have PCOS were more prone
(31%) to have mild or moderate depression symptoms than women who
did not have PCOS (17%), (Cipkala-Gaffin et al., 2012). Women who
have PCOS felt more anxious, depressed, and bad about their bodies than
Women who have not PCOS (Deeks et al., 2011). Women who have
PCOS also have a lower quality of life and more mental problems (Ching
et al., 2007). However, the specific social experiences of young women
who identify as polycystic, although increasingly recognized, remain
relatively underexplored within contemporary research.
This study aims to address this notable gap in the literature by focusing
on the lived psychosocial experiences of young women who have PCOS,
employing the method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
This approach is instrumental in capturing the depth and richness of
individuals' subjective experiences (Smith et al., 2009). IPA enables us to
explore the multifaceted nature of participants' experiences and
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

perceptions. By employing this method, we seek to uncover the deeply

personal narratives, emotions, and challenges faced by young underweight
women in their daily lives.
It is important to emphasize that the PCOS demographic constitutes a
unique subpopulation within the broader landscape of women health and
reproductive disorders. Understanding their experiences is pivotal, as they
often find themselves overshadowed by studies focused on a more
comprehensive spectrum of reproductive disorders and body weight
problems.
Recent research has highlighted the need for a more nuanced
understanding of the psychosocial experiences of young women who have
PCOS. A study by Tomlinson et. Al., (2017) emphasized the importance
of considering the women had many worries about their own and their
reproductive health, and what they knew and thought about it, highlighting
the need to develop an adolescent profile that accounts for the interplay of
psychosocial factors. Additionally, a study by Williams et. al., (2019)
highlighted how women with PCOS and other problems felt about their
lives, demonstrating how support contribute to the challenges faced by
individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Furthermore, the work of Rajkumar et al., (2022) has contributed
to our understanding of the that eating well, working out, and living
healthy were important, shedding light on the complexities of polycystic
ovary syndrome. This research emphasizes the relevance of considering
discrepancies between perceived and actual support within the context of
emotional well-being. In a similar vein, Amiri et al., (2014) conducted did
a study to find out how PCOS affected women’s lives. It was called The
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Experience of Women Affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and it

was done in Iran. The study showed things that mattered most for quality
of life in women who have PCOS were how they did their roles and how
they felt physically, mentally, emotionally, cognitively, and socially.
Women with PCOS should get good care for all these aspects of their
quality of life.
Social Comparison Theory (SCT), was originally developed by
social psychologist Leon Festinger (1954). Social comparison theory can
explain how women with PCOS may compare themselves to other
women, either with or without PCOS, and how these comparisons may
affect their self-esteem, well-being, and coping strategies. According to
social comparison theory, people tend to compare themselves to others
who are similar or slightly better than them, especially when they are
uncertain about their own abilities or opinions. These comparisons can
have either positive or negative effects, depending on whether they lead to
assimilation or contrast, inspiration or inferiority, and motivation or
frustration. (Milli et. al., 2015)
For women who have PCOS, social comparison may be a common
and salient process, as they may face many challenges and uncertainties in
their lives, such as physical symptoms, psychological distress, social
stigma, and reproductive difficulties. They may compare themselves to
other women who have PCOS, to see how they cope with similar issues,
or to other women without PCOS, to see how they differ from the
normative expectations of femininity and motherhood. These comparisons
may have different effects on their self-perception and self-regulation,
depending on the direction, target, and outcome of the comparison.
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Biopsychosocial theory can explain PCOS as a complex condition

that involves the interaction of biological, psychological, and social
factors, leading to a variety of physical and mental health outcomes.
According to biopsychosocial theory, health and illness are not determined
by a single factor, but by a combination of multiple factors that influence
each other in dynamic and reciprocal ways. These factors include:
Biological factors, such as genes, hormones, metabolism, immune system,
and anatomy. These factors can affect the development, expression, and
severity of PCOS, as well as the risk of complications and comorbidities.
For example, PCOS is associated with genetic variants that affect the
insulin signaling pathway, the ovarian follicles, and the androgen
receptors (Osburn, 2014). PCOS is also characterized by hormonal
imbalances, such as hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia, that can
cause symptoms such as hirsutism, acne, obesity, and infertility (Tay,
2023).
This study builds upon these research efforts by utilizing Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to delve deeply into the lived
experiences of young women who have PCOS. IPA has proven
instrumental in providing a comprehensive understanding of individuals'
experiences and perspectives (Smith et al., 2009). By employing this
method, we aim to uncover the unique narratives and emotions of young
young women who have PCOS, shedding light on the multifaceted factors
influencing their psychological, social, and overall quality of life.
The outcomes of this research will not only contribute to the existing
body of knowledge in psychology but will also provide insights for the
development of more targeted and effective support strategies and
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

interventions for young women who have PCOS. By amplifying their

voices and understanding their lived experiences, we strive to promote
greater empathy, inclusivity, and well-being within our society.
Method
This section outlines the research methodology for exploring the lived
psychological experiences of young women who have PCOS, with a
specific focus on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). IPA, a
well-established qualitative research approach, is chosen for its ability to
uncover the depth and richness of individual subjective experiences
(Smith et al., 2009).
Research Design
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) will be used. IPA is a
widely recognized method in the field of psychology and aligns well with
the study's objectives. It acknowledges the role of personal perspectives
and societal influences in shaping individual experiences. The central
principle of IPA is meaning-making, which delves into how individuals
derive meaning from their experiences and the significance they attribute
to them. This is particularly relevant in the context of psychological and
social well-being, as these issues are inherently subjective and influenced
by individual interpretations.
The research design involves in-depth, semi-structured interviews with
young women who have PCOS. Through open-ended questions and
probing techniques, participants will be encouraged to express their
feelings, thoughts, and challenges related to psychosocial wellbeing and
coping strategies. This qualitative approach not only enables the collection
of contextually rich data but also aligns with the exploratory nature of the
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

study, recognizing the diversity and complexity of the experiences of

young women who have PCOS.
By selecting IPA as the methodological foundation, the study aims to
offer a profound and insightful exploration of the lived psychological
experiences of young women who have PCOS. This methodological
choice underscores the commitment to recognizing the complexity of
human experiences, valuing individual narratives, and contributing to a
broader understanding of body image, self-esteem, and psychosocial well-
being within this specific demographic. Through this qualitative approach,
the study aims to amplify the voices of young women who have PCOS
and provide a platform for their experiences to be acknowledged and
comprehended.
Participants
Six voluntary participants were chosen by purposive sampling to take
part in the study. Women who suffered from PCOS from at least 1 or
more years were included. Women who have comorbidities with
PCOS were excluded from the study.
Interviews
Semi structured interviews were used to gather data. An interview
lasted for approximately 45 minutes. The researcher had prepared some
questions beforehand and asked appropriate clarifying questions.
Procedure
First, the research was approved by the ethical review board.
Participants were recruited from gynecology department of a hospital.
Participants volunteered to be a part of the study. Participants were briefed
about their right to withdraw and were told in the consent form that
 Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

interviews will be audio recorded. However, confidentially and privacy

was maintained. Interviews were conducted in English and Urdu
languages and were approximately 45 minutes long. After data collection,
data analysis and data interpretation was done.
Result
Table 1
Summary of key participant characteristics
Participant’s Age Education Familial Birth No. of Monthly Duration Family
Pseudonym Background Order Sibling Family of PCOS history
s s Income
A 23 Bachelors Urban 2nd 3 100k 3 Yes
th
B 25 Bachelors Urban 4 7 200k 2 Yes
st
C 22 Bachelors Urban 1 4 100k 2 No
nd
D 26 Masters Urban 2 3 150k 2 No
rd
E 23 Bachelors Urban 3 3 150k 1.5 No
F 26 Masters Urban 3rd 4 100k 3 Yes
Duration of PCOS since diagnosis in years Bachelors = 16 years of
education, masters= 18 years of education.
Table 2
Master Table of themes
Master Themes Subordinate Verbatim
Themes Themes
Psychologica Behavioral Avoid “I avoid gatherings because I felt like I
l Experiences Communicatio would be the gossip material if people
n see me. I avoid communicating in class
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

because I lost self-confidence.” [C]

Overwhelming
Hesitation

Frustration

Social Isolation
Low Self-
Confidence
Emotional Tensed “At first I was very tensed that how will
it be fine now but my doctor when I was
a gynecologist she was very supportive
so she told me to take regular walks then
you will be fine then I was like fine
meaning I didn't fail so much that it was
stressful for me” [A]
Depressed
Stressful
Aggression
Emotional
Damage
Mood Swings

Confusion

Future Anxiety

Nervous
 Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Cognitive Negative “It made me depressed for some time

Thoughts and also negative thoughts and also
issues within the aggression had
increased a lot for me.” [A]
Another female said,
“so, my initially thoughts for negative
and kind of destructive you can say but
with the passage of time I learned that
PCOS can be managed.” [D
Confusion

Panic Under
Situations
Not Being Able
to Get Married
Feeling
Physically
Unprepared for
Marriage
Physiological Reproductive Late Periods “Acne, facial and body hairs and weight
Experiences or Hormonal gain missed periods were major
Issues symptoms. “yes it does because due to
hormonal imbalance I feel fatigued
sometimes and sometimes I have sleep
disturb issue it's difficult to keep track
on your things because due to PCOS you
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

have to face your own mood swings that

interfere with your personal or
professional goals.” [C]

Missed Periods

Irregular
Periods
Weight Gain
Acne on Face
Facial Hairs
Excessive Hair
Growth
Hormonal
Imbalance
Feeling Fatty
Feeling
Unattractive
Experiencing
Fatigue
Effect of Eating “Benefits are such that your cycle
Medication Problems becomes regular, side effects are so
much if you keep taking medicine, then
it will be regular, but side effects are
very high, psychological issues are very
high due to the side effects of medicines.
 Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

It is a habit that if you take these

medicines, then the cycle will come, in
addition to the psychological issues that
take medicine, when you have anger
issues, depression starts getting too
much.” [A]

Sleep
Disturbances
Regulated
Cycle
Habitual Cycle

Relapse of
Depression
Improved
Hirsutism
Improved Skin
Quality
Social Appearance Body Shaming “One female said, when you have
Experiences Related someone who called you with a name
Issues that makes you feel body-shaming, that's
a trigger for you, as well as when
someone says that they look too male-
like on top or make a joke. It's a very
stressful thing to do.”[B]
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Comments
About Weight
Dissatisfied
Physical
Appearance
Being the
Center of
Attention
Feeling
Embarrassed
Avoiding
Social
Gatherings
Social Stigma Being Stressed “I felt isolated from my friends who
were able to be married early. I felt
anxious about attending bridal showers
or other events related to wedding. I felt
like I was not a complete woman
because I could not marry.” [F]

Receiving
Ignorant
Comments
Being Ignored
 Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Less
Socializing
Less Interest in
Introducing
with other
Avoid Wedding
Events
Perceived Family Parental I would like to mention that there are
Support Support Support supporting and caring people around me
System whose suggestion and concern for my
health from my health make me realize
that I have or should interact with people
who have PCOS.” [F]

Sibling Support

Friends’ Close Friend

Support Support
Friends
Showing
Concern for
your Health
Suggestions to
Seek Help
Health Care Gynecologist’s “My mother helped me find a
Support Support dermatologist who referred me to an
endocrinologist. My close friends were
 Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

supportive and encouraged me to seek

medical help. I felt relieved after
receiving a diagnosis and knowing that I
could manage my symptoms.” [
Seek
Medication to
Cure PCOS
Coping Life Style Learning “A friend of mine also has PCOS and I
Strategies Changes support her and she support me very
well, we help each other on following a
regular routine, apart from medication,
whatever seed cycling or any such
method we get, we follow it together
with Proper Research, so we support
each other very well.”
Following a
Proper Routine
Keeping
Yourself Busy
Getting
Admission in a
degree program
Educating
Yourself
Maintaining A
Food Diary
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Avoiding Junk
Food
Following a
Low Glycemic
Index Diet
Awareness
Management
Pages on
Instagram
Medical Daily “I downloaded the app and put my data
Interventions Medication in it to tell me when I had my period.”
Menstrual
Cycle Tracking
App
Ovulation
Tracking App
Psychological Seeking Social “Yes, I learned that a lot of people, like
Interventions Support 55 percent of the population, are going
through the same thing, so I don't think
it's a big deal because I've seen it happen
to every other girl, not just me.”
Stress
Journaling
Practicing
Yoga
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Positive Self
Statements
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Psychological Experiences
Few participants report behavioral effects of psychological
experiences as avoid communication, overwhelming, hesitation,
frustration, social isolation and low self-confidence.
One female said,
“I avoid gatherings because I felt like I would be the gossip material if
people see me. I avoid communicating in class because I lost self-
confidence.” [C]
Another female said
“I was devastated when I learned that I had PCOS I felt frustrated and
overwhelmed by the diagnosis” [F]
Participants reported emotional fluctuation as like being Tensed,
Depressed, Stressful, Aggression, Emotional Damage, Mood Swings,
Confusion, Anxiety, Future Anxiety and feeling Nervous about explaining
your condition.
One participant said, “At first I was very tensed that how will it be fine
now but my doctor when I was a gynecologist she was very supportive so
she told me to take regular walks then you will be fine then I was like fine
meaning I didn't fail so much that it was stressful for me” [A]
“Confusion, anxiety can say that it is future anxiety so that there may
be issue in married life.” [B]
One female said,
“I felt a bit perplexed, confused, anxious and depressed at the same
time.” [C]
“PCOS interferes with my personal professional course..., yes it do
because due to hormonal imbalance I feel fatigued sometimes and
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

sometimes I have sleep disturb issue it's difficult to keep track on your
things because due to PCOS you have to face your own mood swings that
interfere with your personal or professional goals.” [C]
Participants told about the cognitive errors like Negative Thoughts,
Confusion, Panic Under Situations due to PCOS.
One female said,
“It made me depressed for some time and also negative thoughts and
also issues within the aggression had increased a lot for me.” [A]
Another female said,
“so my initially thoughts for negative and kind of destructive you can
say but with the passage of time I learned that PCOS can be managed.”
[D]
Physiological Experiences
Few participants report Reproductive and Hormonal Issues they face
due to PCOS like Late Periods, Missed Periods, Irregular Periods, Weight
Gain, Acne on Face, Facial Hairs, Excessive Hair Growth, Hormonal
Imbalances, Habitual Cycles and Fatigue.
One female said, “The number one symptom was weight gain, The
number two symptom was delay in period, And number three was acne in
my face.” [A]
Another female said,
“Acne, facial and body hairs and weight gain, missed periods were
major symptoms. “yes it does because due to hormonal imbalance I feel
fatigued sometimes and sometimes I have sleep disturb issue it's difficult
to keep track on your things because due to PCOS you have to face your
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

own mood swings that interfere with your personal or professional goals.”
[C]
one female said,
“Weight gain irregular periods acne and excessive hair growth were
the symptoms.” [E]
Participants reported Medical and Physical Issues like feeling
unattractive, fatty and other hormonal imbalances.
One female reported,
“Yes lot a lot of people tell me that you have become fat, you have
become fat, your face is not perfect, it is too much even sim of my family
members, so it makes me very stressed because of this that you mean self-
stem down because of me and body image and means identical conflict or
not so beautiful in feel like. I'm because of the body image and I mean the
identity conflicts like this and i can't be thin anymore or I can never be my
skin batter I do a lot for that bit she doesn't go to better man.”[A]
Another female said,
“I felt embarrassed about the physical symptoms of PCOS such as
acne and weight gain. I avoided social gatherings and stopped
participating in sports activities due to low self-esteem. I felt like I was not
attractive enough to be around people.” [D]
Participants also reported the effects of medication like eating
problems, sleep disturbances, regulated cycle, habitual cycle, relapse of
depression, improved hirsutism and improved skin quality. One female
said,
“Benefits are such that your cycle becomes regular, side effects are so
much if you keep taking medicine, then it will be regular, but side effects
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

are very high, psychological issues are very high due to the side effects of
medicines. It is a habit that if you take these medicines, then the cycle will
come, in addition to the psychological issues that take medicine, when you
have anger issues, depression starts getting too much.” [A]
Another female said,
“The advantage of this is that your period cycle is regulated, but as
long as you continue to take medicine, this thing happens as soon as you
ignore your proper diet etc. That you can say your things again relapses.”
[B]
One female reported,
“It helped me lose weight, improve skin quality, and reduce
hirsutism.” [E]
Social Experiences
Participants reported appearance related issues like body shaming,
comments about weight, physical appearance, gender identity, being the
center of attention, feeling embarrassed and avoiding social gatherings.
A female said,
“Like I told you before that it is difficult for me to go out on
gatherings so my triggers for anxiety are peoples comments or their gaze
at me. I felt like I was the center of attention for the court of it for each
one at the gathering so these are the triggers for me.” [D]
A female reported, “I felt embarrassed about the excessive hair growth
on my face and body. I avoided social gatherings where I had to interact
with people. I felt like I was not feminine enough because of the excessive
hair growth.” [E]
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Participants reported social stigma as being stressed, receiving

ignorant comments and by being distracted by people’s suggestions.
“One female said, when you have someone who called you with a
name that makes you feel body-shaming, that's a trigger for you, as well as
when someone says that they look too male-like on top or make a joke. It's
a very stressful thing to do.”[B]
“when other people start giving advice on it, you should do this, you
should do that, and you will be fine. It gives you a kind of distraction.”
[B].
Few participants reported social isolation and relationship issues like
being ignore, less socializing, less introduction, not being able to get
married, feeling physical, unprepared for marriage and avoiding wedding
events.
One female reported,
“The social effect was that before this engagement, everyone used to
tell me that your issue is that you are becoming an obese and you have
skin issues, so this will be a drawback for you that you will not be able to
get married.” [A]
One female said,
“This is what I thought, girl, that you are thinking that you are
physically not ready for marriage or not.” [B]
Another female said, “I felt isolated from my friends who were able to
married early. I felt anxious about attending bridal showers or other events
related to wedding. I felt like I was not a complete woman because I could
not marry.” [F]
Perceived Support System
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

All participants reported three major support systems such as family

support, friends support and health care support. One female said,
“my doctor when I was a gynecologist she was very supportive so she
told me to take regular walks then you will be fine then I was like fine
meaning I didn't fail so much that it was stressful for me.” [A]
“Social support from others basically my social support come from my
family my mother my sister, with that now I handle it. My friends are very
supportive so they are still with me in this way my social life is going very
well Alhamdulillah.” [A]
Another female reported,
“I would like to mention that there are supporting and caring people
around me whose suggestion and concern for my health from my health
make me realize that I have or should interact with people who have
PCOS.” [F]
One female responds,
“My mother helped me find a dermatologist who referred me to an
endocrinologist. My close friends were supportive and encouraged me to
seek medical help. I felt relieved after receiving a diagnosis and knowing
that I could manage my symptoms.” [E]
Coping Strategies
The participants reported changes in life style to cope with the PCOS
conditions. The life style changes include learning, proper research,
following a proper routine, keeping yourself busy, getting admission,
educating yourself, maintaining a food diary, avoiding junk food and
following a low glycemic index diet.
One female reported,
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“A friend of mine also has PCOS and I support her and she support me
very well, we help each other on following a regular routine, apart from
medication, whatever seed cycling or any such method we get, we follow
it together with Proper Research, so we support each other very well.” [A]
“Walking regularly, taking daily medication, avoiding junk food,
keeping track of your cycle, following a skin care treatment and routine,
and simply keeping yourself busy.” [A]
Another female said,
“I keep a food diary to track diet and exercise routine. I also use a
menstrual cycle tracking app to monitor menstrual cycles.” [D]
One female responded,
“I started eating a low-carbohydrate diet that included plenty of protein
and healthy fat.” [E]
Another one said,
“I started eating a low-glycemic index diet that included plenty of fiber
and protein.” [F]
Participants also use Medical Interventions such as Medication, Daily
Medication, Menstrual Cycle Tracking, Mobile Application, Ovulation
Tracking App and follow Awareness Management Pages On Instagram to
manage it with the consultant’s guidance.
One female said, “Walking regularly, taking daily medication,
avoiding junk food, keeping track of your cycle, following a skin care
treatment and routine, and simply keeping yourself busy.” [A]
Another one said,
“I downloaded the app and put my data in it to tell me when I had my
period.” [B]
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Another female said,

“I try to use medication on time and that help me a lot.” [C]
One female responded,
“tracks diet and stress levels using a food diary and stress journal. I
also use a menstrual cycle tracking app to monitor menstrual cycles.” [F]
another female told,
“I also use an ovulation tracking app to monitor menstrual cycles.” [E]
“I also found that joining a PCOS awareness page on Instagram helped
me stay on track.”
[E].
Few Participants also reported the use of psychological interventions
like Stress Journaling, Practicing Yoga and making Positive Self-
statements to keep yourself on the track.
One female said,
“I found that practicing yoga and meditation in the morning helped me
start the day off on the right foot.” [F]
“I keep tracks of my diet and stress levels using a food diary and stress
journal.” [F]
“Right now feel like some four out of five women have it and new
normal it has become so much that everyone is happening, so now we
have to go with it.” [A]
“Yes, I learned that a lot of people, like 55 percent of the population,
are going through the same thing, so I don't think it's a big deal because
I've seen it happen to every other girl, not just me.” [B]
“I feel that okay it is the issue that is common among the women of
my age.” [E]
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Discussion
The current study highlighted the importance of lived experiences of
women with PCOS by considering their psychological and social concerns
and coping strategies. The major five themes are emerged that are
psychological experiences, physiological experiences, social experiences,
perceived support system and coping strategies.
The study shows psychological experiences that are behavioral,
emotional and cognitive in nature. Some of behavioral aspects of
psychological experiences include avoid communication, feeling over
whelmed, hesitated, frustrated, socially isolated and have low self-
confidence. The study agrees with the previous research that found that
most women with PCOS (98%) and without PCOS (93%) had normal self-
confidence with scores between 15 and 25. Lower self-confidence in
women with PCOS (younger than 30 and 30 or older) compared to women
without PCOS shows that women with PCOS need quick help and support
for their mental health. (Amini et. Al., 2014).
The study talks about how PCOS affects women’s emotions, such as
making them feel nervous, sad, angry, hurt, moody, confused, worried
about the future. It agrees with the previous research that said that women
with PCOS have more and stronger anxiety and depression symptoms than
women without PCOS (Zehravi et al., 2021), Another study in Healthline
said that women with PCOS were almost three times more likely to say
they had anxiety symptoms than women without PCOS (Blay et al., 2016)
Another study said that PCOS makes women more likely to have
depression and anxiety symptoms (Cooney & Dokras, 2017).
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study talks about how PCOS affects women’s thinking, such as
having bad thoughts about themselves. This agrees with the previous
research that said that women with PCOS often think negatively about
themselves. (shkodzik, 2023) The study also talks about how PCOS
affects women’s bodies, such as having problems with their hormones,
reproduction, health, and appearance. These problems include having late
periods, gaining weight, having acne and too much hair on their face and
body. This agrees with the previous research that was done in Iran that
said that women with PCOS have these physical problems, such as being
overweight, having hair where they don’t want it, losing hair where they
do want it, having acne, having irregular periods, not being able to have
children, having cysts on their ovaries, and having poor health. That’s why
many of them were unhappy about not being able to have children, being
overweight, and having too much hair. (Amiri, 2014) The study also talks
about how PCOS affects women’s medicines, such as having side effects
from them. This agrees with the previous research that said that PCOS
medicines can have side effects, but they don’t usually make women angry
or depressed. Some common side effects of PCOS medicines are feeling
sick, throwing up, having a headache, and feeling dizzy. (Galan, 2023)
The last thing the study talks about is how PCOS affects women’s social
lives, such as having problems with how they look, how others treat them,
and how they feel about themselves. The women with PCOS have to deal
with being made fun of, being criticized about their weight, their
appearance, their gender, being noticed too much, feeling ashamed, and
staying away from people. There is also a social stigma that comes with
PCOS. This agrees with the previous research that was done with people
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

from different backgrounds that said that many women with PCOS felt
bad about having too much hair on their face and body, because it made
them feel less like a woman. (Hadjicontantinou et al., 2017). Some women
with PCOS even said that they felt like they were becoming a boy or
looking like a man. (Williams et al., 2015 & Cope et al., 2019).
The study also talks about how women with PCOS get help from
others and how they deal with their condition. The fourth thing the study
found was that women with PCOS had a support system that included
their family, such as their mothers, sisters, and brothers. Their friends also
helped them by caring about their health. Their doctors also supported
them along the way of treating PCOS. The previous research shows that
having social support and self-esteem helped women with PCOS improve
their quality of life
The study showed that getting help from family, friends, and doctors
was important for making women with PCOS feel better. (sydora et al.,
2023). The last thing the study found was that women with PCOS did
different things to cope with their condition. The women changed their
lives by learning more, doing research, having a routine, staying busy,
going to school, teaching themselves, keeping track of their food, avoiding
unhealthy food, and eating food that was good for their blood sugar. They
also used medicine and therapy to help them with PCOS. The study agrees
with the previous research that looked at how PCOS affected women’s
psychology, and how they handled their symptoms. It found that women
with PCOS did different things to cope, such as getting help from others,
working out, and changing their diet (Ee et al., 2021).
Conclusion
Lived Psychosocial Experiences of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This research provides detailed examination of lived psychological

experiences of Women with PCOS. 13 themes and 75 subthemes were
concluded through analysis. Finally, five main key themes including:
psychological experiences, physiological experiences, social experiences,
perceived support system and coping strategies emerged through
analyzing the experiences of six participants.
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