Chaudhari, A. P., Mazumdar, K., & Mehta, P. D. (2018). Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 40(3), 239-246. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17
Chaudhari AP, Mazumdar K, Mehta PD. Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Indian journal of psychological medicine. 2018;40(3):239-246. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17
Chaudhari, A. P., et al. "Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome." Indian journal of psychological medicine, vol. 40, no. 3, 2018, pp. 239-246.
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RRM Academy Synopsis
Anxiety and depression were common in women with PCOS in Mumbai
About 39 out of 100 women with PCOS in Mumbai had an anxiety disorder, and about 26 out of 100 had depression. A cross-sectional study interviewed 70 women at one government hospital. Women with anxiety or depression scored lower on quality of life.
Key Findings
Of 70 women with PCOS, 27 (38.6%) had an anxiety disorder and 18 (25.7%) had a depressive disorder.
Ten women (14.3%) had both conditions. Thirty-five women (50%) had neither.
Alopecia was associated with anxiety (odds ratio 3.06). Infertility, assessed in the 35 married women, was also associated with anxiety (odds ratio 3.77). Acne was associated with depression (odds ratio 3.78).
Women with an anxiety or depressive disorder scored significantly lower on three quality-of-life domains: physical health, psychological health, and social and personal relationships.
Women with hirsutism (excess body and facial hair) scored significantly lower on the psychological quality-of-life domain (P = 0.039).
Interpretation
The study is a cross-sectional snapshot. Each woman was assessed once, so the associations cannot show which came first. Psychiatrists made diagnoses by interview. The 70 women were consecutive outpatients at one hospital, all government employees or their family members, with no control group. The authors caution that these women may differ from the general population. Obesity showed no link to anxiety, depression, or quality of life here. The authors suggest psychiatric illness may mediate the lower quality of life.
RRM Context
PCOS is now also called PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome). Restorative reproductive medicine looks at the whole person. This paper documents a mental health burden that comes with the condition. The authors note that international and Indian guidelines advise screening women with PCOS for anxiety and depression. Infertility was one symptom linked to anxiety.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Background
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. Symptoms include amenorrhea, hirsutism, infertility, obesity, acne vulgaris, and androgenic alopecia. PCOS is a stigmatizing condition that affects a woman's identity, mental health and quality of life (QOL). This aspect has not received adequate attention in India.
Aims and Objectives
(1) To study the prevalence of anxiety and depression among women suffering from PCOS (2) To determine if symptoms of PCOS were associated with psychiatric morbidity, and (3) To determine the impact of psychiatric morbidity on the QOL.
Materials and Methods
Seventy females in the reproductive age group (18-45 years) diagnosed with PCOS as per Rotterdam criteria and without any preexisting psychiatric illness were clinically interviewed for anxiety and depressive disorders which were then rated according to the Hamilton scales. QOL was assessed using the World Health Organization-QOL-BREF. Binary logistic regression was performed to study the association of the symptoms with the psychiatric morbidity. QOL scores of patients with and without psychiatric morbidity were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test.
Results and Conclusions
The prevalence of anxiety and depression in our sample was 38.6% and 25.7%, respectively. Infertility and alopecia were associated with anxiety, while acne was associated with depression. Hirsutism was associated with a lower psychological QOL. Patients with psychiatric morbidity had a significantly lower QOL than those without.
Mehta P et al., 2026·The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preterm birth (PTB), and luteal phase defects (LPD) are significant reproductive health issues globally, with both physical and psychological implications. This review aims to examine the role of natural progesterone in pregnancy-related disorders, specifically threatened and recurrent miscarriage, PTB, and LPD. Additionally, it examines how natural progesterone's immune-modulating actions, including both direct and indirect involvement, contribute to maintaining pregnancy. This narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and reference screening to identify English-language studies examining the role of natural progesterone in miscarriage, PTB, and LPD. Emphasis was placed on progesterone's immunomodulatory actions, including cytokine regulation and the activity of the progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF), and their relevance to pregnancy maintenance. Natural progesterone demonstrates clinical benefit in managing threatened miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm labor, and LPD. Evidence shows that it is well-tolerated with manageable side effects, reducing miscarriage rates, preventing PTB, and improving LPD outcomes through its effects on the maternal-fetal interface. This review also highlights progesterone's dual immunomodulatory action, direct cytokine regulation, and indirect influence via PIBF, which together contribute to improved pregnancy maintenance and outcomes. Natural progesterone supports pregnancy by preventing miscarriages, preterm labor, and LPD through its direct and indirect immunomodulatory mechanisms. Clinically, it is well-tolerated with no serious or unexpected adverse events. However, gaps remain in fully understanding its effectiveness, emphasizing the need for further research.
Delanerolle G et al., 2025·Academia Mental Health and Well-Being·Free to read
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, chronic gynaecological condition impacting women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS have hormonal, ovulatory, and metabolic dysfunction resulting in multiple symptoms. The correlation between hormonal disbalance and mental health outcomes in PCOS across Black Asian Minority Ethnic populations was investigated in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The review included 30 studies and data from nearly 4,000 women with PCOS. Major depressive disorder affected 17% of patients with PCOS, with a range from 0% to 67%. Black, Asian, and other underserved populations were found to have higher prevalence of mental health disorders exacerbated by PCOS.
Infertility Distress · Anxiety and Depression in Infertility
Salari N et al., 2024·Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics·Free to read
In recent years, the global prevalence of infertility has increased among women and is considered as a public health concern. One of the impacts of infertility is mental health problems in the patients, which can lead to complications such as stress, anxiety, and depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the global prevalence of major depressive disorder, general anxiety, stress, and depression in infertile women through a systematic review and meta-analysis. To identify studies that have reported the prevalence of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, stress, and depression in infertile women, the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar repositories were systematically searched. Articles published up until February 2023 were included, while no lower time limit was imposed in the search strategy. Heterogeneity of studies was examined using the I2 test and, thus, random-effects model was used to perform the analysis. Data analysis was conducted within the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (v.2) software. In the review of 44 studies with a sample size of 53,300 infertile female patients, the overall prevalence of major depressive disorder (clinical depression), generalized anxiety, stress, and depression was found to be 22.9%, 13.3%, 78.8%, and 31.6% respectively. It was also found that mental health complications are more prevalent among infertile women in Asia (continent). Considering the prevalence of mental disorders among infertile women, health policymakers can use the results of the present meta-analysis to pay more attention to the mental health of infertile women and devise suitable interventions and programs to reduce and prevent the spread of psychological disorders among infertile women.
Liang B et al., 2019·J Endocr Soc·Free full text on PubMed Central
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-20% of reproductive-aged women and is associated with lower Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)1,2,3. HRQoL in PCOS, however, is often determined in small or clinical samples with no or convenience sample controls. Our aim was to cross-sectionally compare generic SF-36 HRQoL results in community dwelling, physician-diagnosed women with PCOS to randomly selected age-similar local women. Women with PCOS/AAE had enrolled in two local studies (n = 93)4, and were eligible if they were non-menopausal and had PCOS based on Androgen Excess/PCOS Society criteria. Eligibility in both groups required age ≤53 years and, for controls, menstruation in the last year. Control women were from both Adult and Youth BC CaMos cohorts (n = 56). All completed the interviewer-administered CaMos questionnaire5. Statistical analysis used descriptive, T-test and multiple regression to explore relationships among HRQoL domains/component scores versus demographic, anthropomorphic and comorbid condition variables, particularly body mass index (BMI), physical activity patterns and combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) usage. We compared SF-36 data in pre/perimenopausal women mean aged 34.5±10.0 (SD) years, BMI 27.5±7.5. After controlling for BMI, education, comorbidities and past use of CHC, all HRQoL domain and component scores were significantly lower in women with PCOS then in controls. Domain score differences of 5 are clinically important; PCOS women scored -5.8 to -19.9 points lower (mean -11.6) with the greatest difference for Emotional Role. The Physical Component summary score was -2.2 and the Mental Component summary -7.2 lower in women with PCOS compared with population-based controls; score differences of 2-3 are considered clinically important. In both groups, participation in regular exercise was the strongest predictor of higher overall HRQoL. In both cohorts, comorbidity negatively predicted the physical component score (PCS) of HRQoL; PCOS status negatively predicted the mental component score of HRQoL. PCS group differences became less significant as BMI increased, but MCS remained significantly different. This first comparison of the validated, generic SF-36 in pre/perimenopausal population-based versus women with PCOS documented highly significantly lower scores in women with PCOS on all domains and both components. These data confirm evidence that participation in regular exercise is related to better overall HRQoL in PCOS. Also, obesity in women with PCOS, in contrast to controls, was not associated with the overall HRQoL. We also found that CHC was associated with general health, mental health and mental component scores in women with PCOS. Ref.1Prior JCEM 2014; 2Alvarez-Blasco Clin Endo 2010; 3Azziz Fertil Steril 2009; 4Kalyan Sci Reports 2017; 5Kreiger Can J. Aging 1999. Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. Abstracts presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.
Koric A et al., 2021·Am J Obstet Gynecol·Free full text on PubMed Central
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are more likely to experience several pregnancy complications including hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preterm births than women without polycystic ovary syndrome. However, at present, there is limited research on whether polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with both anxiety and depression during pregnancy and whether this augments a woman's risk of postpartum depression, particularly among high-risk populations who have limited access to care. Our primary objective was to assess the association between prepregnancy polycystic ovary syndrome and postpartum depression, considering important baseline confounding factors. Our secondary objective was to evaluate the mediating role of prenatal depression and anxiety on the association between polycystic ovary syndrome and postpartum depression. This study involved a population-based sample of 3906 postpartum (2-6 months) women who completed the Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Phase 8 questionnaire (2016-2018). Weighted adjusted prevalence ratios were used to assess the association between polycystic ovary syndrome and postpartum depression, considering potential confounding factors and assessing mediating effects of depression and anxiety experienced during pregnancy. Following the exclusion criteria, 8.2% of women reported clinical polycystic ovary syndrome and 19.1%, 6.2%, and 4.4% reported irregular periods and acne, irregular periods and hirsutism, and all 3 symptoms, respectively. Moreover, 17.7% and 23.5% reported experiencing prenatal depression and anxiety and 9.5% and 10.2% reported experiencing postpartum depressed mood and anhedonia, respectively. Clinical polycystic ovary syndrome was associated with a 1.76 higher adjusted prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.00) for postpartum depressed mood or anhedonia after taking into consideration age, prepregnancy body mass index, race/ethnicity, education, and marital status. A similar higher prevalence was seen for irregular periods and acne (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-2.41), irregular periods and hirsutism (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.40), and all 3 symptoms (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-3.19) and postpartum depressed mood or anhedonia. Prenatal depression and anxiety mediated 20% and 32% of the effect of clinical polycystic ovary syndrome on postpartum depressed mood and anhedonia, respectively. Clinical polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with postpartum depressed mood and symptoms among this population-based sample inclusive of high-risk mothers. Prenatal depression and anxiety mediate this association, emphasizing the importance of prenatal psychological screening among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. An additional important clinical and public health implication of this study lies in the finding that nearly 20% of women in this population-based sample who reported at least 2 polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms (including at-risk women who may not have access to care) had not received a clinical diagnosis for polycystic ovary syndrome.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Care › Infertility Distress › Anxiety and Depression in Infertility
PMID 29875531 29875531 DOI 10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17 10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17 Chaudhari et al. 2018, Chaudhari 2018
Cite this article
Chaudhari, A. P., Mazumdar, K., & Mehta, P. D. (2018). Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 40(3), 239-246. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17
Chaudhari AP, Mazumdar K, Mehta PD. Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Indian journal of psychological medicine. 2018;40(3):239-246. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17
Chaudhari, A. P., et al. "Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome." Indian journal of psychological medicine, vol. 40, no. 3, 2018, pp. 239-246.
Keywords
Anxiety, depression, polycystic ovarian syndrome, quality of life, symptomatology