International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology
Volume 16, Issue 5s

Quality of life and challenges in adolescent girls with PCOS

Thahaseen T1, Abirami V2, Meena TS3, Vidhya Selvam4

1Postgraduate, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
3Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
4Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) impacts 3–8% of teenagers. It is marked by hyperandrogenism and oligoovulation or anovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The degree to which various variables affect the overall HRQoL of teenagers remains unknown. Adult patients with PCOS have a greater prevalence of binge eating compared to the overall population of females of reproductive age. There is a paucity of evidence about binge eating in teenagers with PCOS. This research aims to evaluate the quality of life in teenage females diagnosed with PCOS.

Methodology: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 adolescent girls attending a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India for a period of three months. The quality of life was assessed using the PCOS health-related questionnaire (PCOSQ). Data was collected and analysed to assess the factors associated with QoL.

Results: The quality of life was lower among the study participants. The highest score was seen in the infertility concern subscale with a median of 6.4 (IQR: 1.8) while the lowest result was observed for body weight concerns (Median:4, IQR; 2.7). The quality of life decreased among illiterates (p-value=0.04), hirsutism (p-value=0.001), acne (p-value <0.001) and irregular cycles (p-value=0.003).

Conclusion: The overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was diminished in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with the most significantly impacted areas being body weight and hair, followed by menstruation complications. Participants exhibiting symptoms and those who are illiterate indicated worse quality of life in our study.

Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, quality of life, adolescent girls, menstrual disorders; infertility; hirsutism.

How to cite this article: Thahaseen T, Abirami V, Meena TS, Selvam V, Quality of life and challenges in adolescent girls with PCOS. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(5s): 227-231; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.5s.26

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None