Awareness on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Comparative Study on the Health-Related Quality of Life between Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Women Aged 18-49

Abstract

This research is titled  “Awareness on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Comparative Study on the Health-Related Quality of Life between Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Women Aged 18-49” which aimed to identify the difference in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among the diagnosed and undiagnosed women ages 18-49 years old within the National Capital Region, who have the signs and symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and are adequately aware of the disorder. The study was comparative and quantitative in nature. It was conducted using the PCOS Awareness and Health Management Questionnaire through the use of Google Forms, with a minimum sample size of 385 respondents that had undergone participant screening. Data analysis involved the measures of central tendency, independent t-test, and paired t-test for data treatment. Majority of the respondents were aged 18-25, single, and lived in Quezon City. The most prevalent among the signs and symptoms of PCOS was irregular menstrual cycle or having no period at all. The psychological effects of PCOS were reported as follows: (1) sometimes, among the Undiagnosed PCOS Group; (2) often, among the Diagnosed PCOS Group Pre-treatment; (3) sometimes, among the Post-treatment. Meanwhile, the physiological effects are as follows: (1) often, among the Undiagnosed PCOS Group; (2) often, among the Diagnosed PCOS Group Pre-treatment; and (3) rarely, among the Post-treatment. There was a significant difference in the psychological and physiological effects between both the Undiagnosed PCOS Group and Diagnosed PCOS Group Pre-treatment (p<0.05), and the diagnosed group before and after treatment (p<0.05). The most common reasons for rejecting diagnosis for the Undiagnosed and Diagnosed PCOS Groups were due to the fear of getting diagnosed and because the treatment is expensive, respectively. The most common reason for seeking diagnosis for the Undiagnosed PCOS Group is to have a healthier lifestyle, while for the Diagnosed PCOS Group it is to reduce further complications. The improvement in the HRQoL of women after receiving diagnosis suggests that clinical diagnosis is beneficial because a better comprehension of PCOS is obtained after diagnosis. This influences behavior to aim towards health maintenance and an improved health-related quality of life.