The findings in this study are probably not news to you if you have PCOS, but it's nice to see your emotional PCOS finally validated with a scientific study.
480 women with PCOS participated in the psychological evaluation portion of this study.
Women who were not menstruating were more likely to have lower self-esteem, and to have a greater fear of being negatively viewed with regard to their appearance. These women also appeared to have an earlier onset of maturity.
High androgen levels and acne were associated with poorer body satisfaction. The greater the degree of hirsutism and BMI (body size), the lower the scores on psychological tests.
The obvious social explanations for these findings have been covered elsewhere. I believe that hormones have a huge part to play in these tendencies…I've worked in eating disorders and I've seen literally thousands of women lose the weight and remove the hair…and STILL be unhappy. Women with PCOS need help in understanding how hormones affect mood (and that hormones ARE mood) and to have access to qualified professionals who can help with that aspect of PCOS.
It's why I'm so happy Gretchen Kubacky and Anna Ahlborn are in the inCYST Network. They are here to help us better understand these conditions and what can be done to minimize any potentially negative influence they may have on your quality of life.: )
de Niet JE, de Koning CM, Pastoor H, Duivenvoorden HJ, Valkenburg O, Ramakers MJ, Passchier J, de Klerk C, Laven JS. Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2010 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print]