Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire Research Articles

EFFECTIVENESS OF LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION ON WEIGHTLOSS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OBESE WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

Objectives: (1) The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of lifestyle modification on weight loss and the quality of life in obese women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome and (2) to determine the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy on weight loss and the quality of life in obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Methods: Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee. A total of 40 obese women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were selected and divided into two groups, Group A (N=17) received conventional physiotherapy alone, and Group B (n=15) received lifestyle modification along with conventional physiotherapy. The preassessment of body weight is measured by body mass index (BMI); the waist-hip ratio (W-H ratio) and body fat percentage and the quality of life were scored as per the PCOS questionnaire (PCOSQ); and postinterventional assessment was taken for the same after 9 months.Result: Intergroup statistical analysis for BMI revealed extremely significant in postintervention for Group B (P<0.0001). W-H ratio and PCOSQ were extremely significant for Group B (P<0.0001). While postintervention analysis showed extremely significant difference between Group A and Group B (P<0.0001). Group B treated with lifestyle modification, and conventional physiotherapy was extremely significant.Conclusion: Lifestyle modification with conventional physiotherapy helped in reducing weight and showed the increased quality of life in women with PCOS.

Quality of Life Specified for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and its Relationship With Nutritional Attitude and Behavior

Objectives: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that can lead to hirsutism, menstrual disorders, obesity, acne, and sometimes abortion and infertility. Considering the effect of PCOS-induced obesity on quality of life, the present study was aimed to evaluate the quality of life specified for polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with nutritional attitude and behavior. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 150 PCOS cases through convenience sampling in educational hospitals of Tabriz, Iran, in 2015. The used tools included socio-demographic questionnaire, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18: uncontrolled eating (UE), cognitive restraint (CR), and emotional eating (EE)), and a questionnaire of eating attitudes (Eat-26: including food preoccupation, dieting, and oral control). The relationship between the quality of life and nutritional attitudes and behaviors was evaluated by Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis. In this study, P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: A mean quality of life score of 16.58±4.18 was obtained out of 0-35. Nutritional behavior averaged 42.28±19.63 out of a min-max range of 18 to 72. Mean nutritional attitude score was 24.64±12.55 out of 0-78. A significantly inverse relationship was observed between the quality of life and nutritional attitude (P<0.001, r=-0.317), as well as nutritional behavior (P=0.015, r=-0.198) in participants. In other words, the quality of life scores increased when nutritional attitude and behavior (positive attitude and behavior) decreased. Multivariate regression analysis showed that EE, dieting, and history of pregnancy were predictive variables affected the quality of life. Conclusions: There was a relationship between nutritional attitude and behavior and quality of life specified for polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to nutritional and other predictors through better health planning for these women.

Polycystic ovary syndrome impact on women's quality of life: pilot study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on Bulgarian patients’ QoL through a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ). Methods: A pilot survey was conducted in a sample of individuals aged 15 to 35 (n=24) from Sofia, Bulgaria. Data were collected via PCOSQ. The PCOSQ scale was translated into Bulgarian and standardized by forward translation, backward translation, and a pre-test. Results: The mean age of the sample was 25.6 ± 6.4 (range 15-35). Results from the study found that women with PCOS had a lower appraisal of their appearance because of their weight. The lowest and the highest results were obtained for their mental and emotional status (q.18-1.92 and q.7-4.42). As a factor group-the lowest results were obtained for the questions concerning their overweight-all the 5 questions were in the range of 3.25-3.58. The highest result (-4.42) was reported for in factor group “emotions”. Conclusion: This pilot study found that the mean level of QoL is 3.7 on a scale of 1 to 7. The main problematic question associated with the disease is women’s overweight. The large variance in the levels of emotions of study subjects shows the need to explore this issue further in a larger cohort of patients. It can be concluded that the management of PCOS is urgently needed and the psychological health of these patients must be monitored regularly.

Evaluation of homoeopathic treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: A single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study

Background and Objectives: This study was conducted with the primary objective of evaluating efficacy of Homoeopathy in establishing the menstrual regularity with improvement in either ultrasonological findings or hirsutism/acne. The quality of life was also assessed using polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire (PCOSQ). Materials and Methods: A single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted from February 2014 to May 2015 at two research centres. The cases fulfilling the eligibility criteria were enrolled (n = 60) and randomised to either the homoeopathic intervention (HI) (n = 30) or identical placebo (P) (n = 30) with uniform lifestyle modification (LSM) for 6 months. Results: The menstrual regularity with improvement in other signs/symptoms was observed in 60% of the cases (n = 18) in HI + LSM group and none (n = 0) in control group (P = 0.001). Statistically significant difference (P = 0.016) was observed in reduction of intermenstrual duration (from 76.1 ± 37.7 to 46.6 ± 38.7 days) in HI + LSM in comparison to placebo + LSM group (from 93.0 ± 65.2 to 93.9 ± 96.2 days). In PCOSQ, also, significant improvement was observed in HI group in domains of weight, fertility, emotions and menstrual problems (P

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Aim: The aim is to identify the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by using short-form health survey (SF-36) and PCOS Questionnaire (PCOSQ).

Quality of life in overweight (obese) and normal-weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

ObjectivePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by phenotypic heterogeneity and has a wide variety of consequences. Approximately half of women with PCOS are overweight or obese, and their obesity may be a contributing factor to PCOS pathogenesis through different mechanisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate if PCOS alone affects the patients’ quality of life and to what extent obesity contributes to worsen this disease.DesignTo evaluate the impact of PCOS on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), 100 Mediterranean women with PCOS (group A), 50 with a body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2 (group A1) and 50 with BMI <25 kg/m2 (group A2), were recruited. They were evaluated with a specific combination of standardized psychometric questionnaires: the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire. The patients were compared with a normal-weight healthy control group of 40 subjects (group B). Another control group of 40 obese healthy women (group C) was used to make a comparison with PCOS obese patients (A1).ResultsOur results showed a considerable worsening of HRQoL in PCOS patients (A) compared with controls (B). In addition, patients with PCOS and BMI >25 (A1) showed a significant and more marked reduction in scores, suggesting a lower quality of life, compared with controls (B) and with normal-weight PCOS patients (A2).ConclusionPCOS is a complex disease that alone determines a deterioration of HRQoL. The innovative use of these psychometric questionnaires in this study, in particular the PCOS questionnaire, has highlighted that obesity has a negative effect on HRQoL. It follows that a weight decrease is associated to phenotypic spectrum improvement and relative decrement in psychological distress.

Health-related quality-of-life questionnaire for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a Chinese translation and validation study.

To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Chinese version of the polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire (PCOSQ). Translation and validation study. Gynaecology clinic and paediatric adolescent gynaecology clinic at the study institute. Chinese women, 16 years of age or older, with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women completed the Chinese version of the PCOSQ and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Their sociodemographic details, clinical parameters, and biochemical results were recorded. A subset of 50 women repeated the PCOSQ 1 week later to evaluate test-retest reliability. Women subsequently received treatment for the symptoms of PCOS. Six months later, 100 women completed the PCOSQ and clinical parameters were assessed to evaluate the responsiveness of the PCOSQ. Internal reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, criterion validity, and responsiveness. A total of 262 Chinese women completed the study. Values of Cronbach's alpha coefficient were all above 0.7, demonstrating a good standard of internal consistency in all subscales. For the test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients showed excellent stability among the subscales (range 0.82-0.92, P < 0.001). Convergent validity was demonstrated by positive correlations with the subscales of SF-36 and clinical parameters like body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), hirsutism score, menstrual regularity, and infertility, and the respective subscales. Improvement in PCOSQ scores was seen in women with improvements in BMI and menstrual patterns; however, these findings did not reach statistical significance. The Chinese version of PCOSQ is reliable and valid for use in women with PCOS. The Chinese version of the PCOSQ is reliable and valid for use.

Quality of Life and Body Mass Index in Overweight Adult Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During a Lifestyle Modification Program

To evaluate changes in body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including an acne parameter, of overweight adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during a lifestyle modification program. Prospective longitudinal within-patient study. Department of Reproductive Medicine of the Ghent University Hospital (Belgium). Thirty-three overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) women with PCOS between age 18 and 43 years. Participants followed a 24-week lifestyle modification program consisting of a diet, exercise, and psychological subprogram. BMI was assessed at Weeks 0, 8, 16, and 24 of the program. The HRQoL was measured at Week 0, 12, and 24 of the program using the PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate the influence of acne on HRQoL. During a 24-week period no significant decrease in BMI occurred (mean difference = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.38, 4.81]. During that period, there was a significant positive evolution of the total PCOSQ score, F(2, 37.5) = 23.7, the emotions, F(2, 37.9) = 4.2, weight, F(2, 42.1) = 24.8, body hair, F(2, 35.6) = 3.3, and infertility problems domain scores, F(2, 43.1) = 15.64, of the PCOSQ, as well as of the acne VAS score, F(2, 29.3) = 4.2. These effects primarily occurred during the first 12 weeks. In spite of no significant changes in BMI, the HRQoL of overweight adult women with PCOS significantly improved during a 24-week lifestyle modification program.

Sexual and relational satisfaction in couples where the woman has polycystic ovary syndrome: a dyadic analysis.

How are objective characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and PCOS-related concerns associated with the sexual and relational satisfaction of PCOS women and their partners? Both objective PCOS characteristics (parity, women's body mass index (BMI) and current unfulfilled wish to conceive) and PCOS-related concerns (women's infertility-related and acne-related concerns) were associated with sexual and/or relational satisfaction, although some associations differed for PCOS women and their partners. There is some evidence indicating an association between objective PCOS characteristics and sexual satisfaction of PCOS women, but this evidence is conflicting, scarce, and often validated questionnaires have not been used to evaluate sexual satisfaction. No evidence is available about the association of: (i) PCOS with relational satisfaction; (ii) PCOS-related concerns with sexual and relational satisfaction; and (iii) PCOS with sexual and relational satisfaction as experienced by partners of PCOS women. We set up a cross-sectional study from April 2007 until April 2009, including 31 overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) women with PCOS and at a reproductive age as well as their partners with whom they had a committed intimate relationship at the time of recruitment. The study was performed at the fertility center of the Ghent University Hospital. Objective PCOS characteristics were registered and PCOS-related concerns were evaluated by the PCOS Questionnaire. Sexual (SS) and relational (RS) satisfaction were measured by the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (MMQ). Dyadic statistical analyses were performed using linear mixed models (α < 0.05). A lower parity tended to be associated with higher levels of sexual and relational satisfaction, with a significantly stronger association in PCOS women than in their partners (p(SS) = 0.015 and p(RS) = 0.009). A higher BMI tended to be associated with lower and higher satisfaction levels (sexual and relational) in PCOS women and their partners, respectively, with a significantly stronger association in the partners (p(SS) = 0.029 and p(RS) = 0.021). The presence of a current unfulfilled wish to conceive and a higher level of infertility-related concerns was significantly more strongly associated with a higher level of relational satisfaction for PCOS women than for their partners (p(RS) = 0.021 and p(RS) = 0.011, respectively). Higher levels of acne-related concern were significantly associated with lower levels of sexual satisfaction in both PCOS women (p(SS) = 0.025) and their partners (p(SS) = 0.002). The fact that this study was performed in a sample of PCOS women who were all overweight and the small sample size are important limitations. Data were partially missing in some couples but this limitation was dealt with by using linear mixed models. Our results suggest a differential association of PCOS with sexual and relational satisfaction between PCOS women and their partners. This should be kept in mind during the psychological guidance of couples dealing with PCOS. V.D.F. is holder of a Special PhD Fellowship of the Flemish Foundation for Scientific Research (FWO-Vlaanderen). P.D.S. is holder of a fundamental clinical research mandate of the Flemish Foundation for Scientific Research (FWO-Vlaanderen). This research also received financial support by Merck Serono and Artevelde University College Ghent. There are no competing interests.

IRIS: methodological assessment of psychopathological disease in a cohort of hirsute women

Hirsutism in females can be a source of considerable psychological distress and a threat to female identity. The aim of our study was to evaluate a possible relationship between facial, total body hair involvement and physical, mental and social well-being during 12 months of follow-up and treatment. Both objective and subjective methods of evaluating hirsutism were used: the Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) scoring method and the questionnaires General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) and SF-12. The total of 469 female patients (mean age 27.61±7.63 years) was enrolled in 27 Italian centers participating in this study. Higher total body score was correlated to significant emotional discomfort. The correlation between the FG total body score, the facial score and physical/mental health was found to be significant in all the patients assessed by SF-12 questionnaire. The ongoing reduction of GHQ-12 score was found for the facial FG score at the first follow-up (T0-T1 period) and at the second one (T0-T2). No relationship was found between T1 and T2. At both 6 (T1) and 12 months (T2) follow-up an increase of PCOSQ Score (psychological improvement) was accompanied by a concomitant reduction of the FG Score (reduction of hirsutism). Physical health assessed by SF-12 questionnaire does not change at both 6- and 12-month follow-up, but mental health decreased at both T1 and T2. The clinical improvement was achieved at 6 months regardless on treatment used and it was maintained for the next six-month follow-up. The clinical outcome could be assessed both by FG Score both through questionnaires administrated to each patient with hirsutism. For the evaluation of psychopathological discomfort the most appropriate questionnaire was GHQ-12, because of it major sensitivity to identify the psychological discomfort in the hirsutism.

Polycystic Ovary syndrome: A Randomised feasibility and pilot study using Chinese Herbal medicine to explore Impact on Dysfunction (ORCHID)—Study protocol

IntroductionWe aim to evaluate the feasibility of, and pilot procedures for, a randomised study in the UK administering Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) to women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) related oligo- and/or amenorrhoea. Our primary aim of this feasibility study is to evaluate how appropriate oligo- and amenorrhoea is as the primary outcome of the main study. MethodsA prospective, multi-centre, randomised, patient- and practitioner-blind, feasibility and pilot study will be conducted. 40 women with PCOS-related oligo- and/or amenorrhoea will be randomised to one of two parallel arms comparing standardised CHM treatment against individualised CHM treatment as usual for 6 months. Participants will be prescribed 8g of CHM granulated extracts twice daily, totalling 16g per day. Feasibility will be determined by collecting data on menstrual regularity, body mass index, waist hip ratio, weight, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire, Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, modified Ferriman–Gallwey scale, liver and kidney function, practitioner-blinding questionnaire and participant feedback forms. Process data will also inform feasibility such as recruitment rate, completion rate and reasons for dropout. Statistical analysis will be piloted in this study. We will present descriptive statistics for primary and secondary variables and use analysis of variance and Chi-squared tests where appropriate. Results and conclusionThis study received ethical approval in December 2012. 40 participants were recruited between January 2013 and August 2013 and the study is expected to complete in March 2014.

Validity and Reliability of a Korean version of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) was developed to measure health-related quality of life of women who had polycystic ovary syndrome. The purpose of this study was to exam reliability and validity of the Korean version of PCOSQ. sample of 101 women who had polycystic ovarian syndrome was recruited from outpatient gynecology clinics. Factor analysis was carried out to verify the composition of dimensions of the Korean version of PCOSQ. Concurrent validity was examined by assessing the correlation between the PCOSQ and health related quality of life, and convergent validity was evaluated by testing correlation between PCOSQ and depression. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. The content validity was satisfactory (CVI=0.85). Factor analysis identified 5 factors, and factor loadings of the PCOSQ ranged from .48 to .90. Correlation was found between the PCOSQ and health related quality of life (Physical component score: r=.33, p=.001; Mental component score: r=.44, p<.001) and between the PCOSQ and depression (r=-.36, p<.001). The Cronbach's alpha of the PCOSQ was .93, indicating reliable reliability. These results demonstrate that the Korean version of PCOSQ is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating Korean-speaking women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, blood group &amp; diet: A Correlative study in south Indian females

Aim: To find out the co-relation between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with blood group & diet in South Indian females, between the age-group of (20-30) years. Objectives: Correlative analysis of ABO & Rh system, dietary habits & alcohol consumption with PCOS. Materials & Methods: 100 patients between (20-30) years, diagnosed with PCOS were selected. A standard PCOS questionnaire was given. Blood group & dietary status data were collected. Patients were grouped according to ABO & Rh system considering their diet & alcohol intake (p≤0.05 significant). Result: Our data revealed that the highest risk of PCOS was observed in females with blood group ‘O’ positive followed by ‘B’ positive who were on mixed diet & used to consume alcohol. Our study also suggests that Rh negative individuals didn’t show any association with PCOS. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that ‘O’ positive females, are more prone to PCOS. Though the relative frequency of B positive individuals are more in India, females with blood group O positive are more susceptible to PCOS, contributing factors being mixed diet & alcohol intake. So, early screening of ‘O’ positive &‘B’ positive females of reproductive age-group in South-India, could be used as a measure for timely diagnosis of PCOS, better management &also prevention of complications. However, further research should be done to investigate the multifaceted mechanisms triggering these effects.

Acupuncture and physical exercise for affective symptoms and health-related quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome: secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWomen with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have symptoms of depression and anxiety and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). Here we test the post-hoc hypothesis that acupuncture and exercise improve depression and anxiety symptoms and HRQoL in PCOS women.MethodsSeventy-two PCOS women were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of 1) acupuncture (n = 28); 2) exercise (n = 29); or 3) no intervention (control) (n = 15). Outcome measures included: change in Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S), Brief Scale for Anxiety (BSA-S), Swedish Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and PCOS Questionnaire (PCOSQ) scores from baseline to after 16-week intervention, and to 16-week post-intervention follow-up.ResultsA reduction in MADRS-S and BSA-S from baseline to 16-weeks post-intervention follow-up was observed for the acupuncture group. The SF-36 domains role physical, energy/vitality, general health perception and the mental component of summary scores improved in the acupuncture group after intervention and at follow-up. Within the exercise group the role physical decreased after treatment, while physical functioning and general health perception scores increased at follow-up. The emotion domain in the PCOSQ improved after 16-weeks of intervention within all three groups, and at follow-up in acupuncture and exercise groups. At follow-up, improvement in the infertility domain was observed within the exercise group.ConclusionThere was a modest improvement in depression and anxiety scores in women treated with acupuncture, and improved HRQoL scores were noted in both intervention groups. While not a primary focus of the trial, these data suggest continued investigation of mental health outcomes in women treated for PCOS.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00484705

The Suitability of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Specific Questionnaires for Measuring the Impact of PCOS on Quality of Life in Clinical Trials

Objectives Generic patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures underestimate the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this review was to identify PCOS-specific QoL measures and establish whether their development history and measurement properties support their use in clinical trials. Methods A systematic search was conducted using terms synonymous with “PCOS” and “QoL.” Following identification of measures, further searches were undertaken using the questionnaire name and abbreviation to explore its use, development history, and demonstrated measurement properties. Results Of 56 abstracts screened, 21 reported using PRO measures. One PCOS-specific QoL measure was identified: the PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ). Nine papers show that the PCOSQ's development history is somewhat incomplete, and that it does not have good content validity. The PCOSQ subscales demonstrate acceptable levels of reliability (0.70–0.97) and partial known-groups validity as well as convergent/divergent validity with other PRO instruments. Responsiveness to change is variable and minimally important differences have not been established. Conclusions The PCOSQ is the only condition-specific measure of the impact of PCOS on QoL. Additional research is required to ensure its comprehensiveness, sensitivity, and to guide interpretation prior to including in clinical trials.

Improvement in quality-of-life questionnaire measures in obese adolescent females with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with lifestyle changes and oral contraceptives, with or without metformin

We studied the effect of metformin or placebo in a lifestyle modification program combined with oral contraceptives (OC) on quality-of-life parameters measured by the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) questionnaire in obese adolescent women with validated PCOS. The quality-of-life indicators were measured at baseline and conclusion for five domains on the PCOS questionnaire, with equal improvement in scores in both placebo and metformin groups, suggesting that the addition of metformin does not add improvement to quality-of-life measures above those observed with lifestyle modification and OC treatment.

Assessment of health‐related quality of life: Swedish version of polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire

Polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire (PCOSQ) was developed in USA to ascertain specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The Swedish version of PCOSQ should be tested prior to its use in research and clinical practice and the aims of the study were as follows: (a) determine the test-retest reliability and (b) confirm the domain structure of the Swedish version of PCOSQ; a 26-item questionnaire, divided into the five domains: emotions, body hair, weight concerns, infertility concerns and menstrual irregularities. PCOSQ translation from English to Swedish was followed by a test-retest and a factor analysis of obtained PCOSQ completed twice by 69 women with PCOS. The median age was 30 (21-37) years. The Kappa (kappa) statistic for the five domains ranged from 0.29 to 0.69 demonstrating fair to good agreement among items. The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for the five domains was high to excellent ranging from 0.79 to 0.96. The factor analysis presented six domains and the original domain structure was partly confirmed. The Swedish version of PCOSQ is reliable and can be used to measure HRQL in PCOS. Researchers and clinicians should be aware of the benefits of PCOSQ.

Health-related quality of life in PCOS and related infertility: How can we assess this?

In recent years there has been an increasing demand for the design, development and use of questionnaires that can assess patients' experiences of health and illness or their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The application of these questionnaires in research and clinical practice provides information from the patient's perspective on the ways in which symptoms and treatments can affect their daily well-being and functioning. The aim of this paper is to report on the ways in which information on the HRQoL of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be collected. With particular reference to PCOS–associated infertility, this paper will discuss the types of questionnaires that are currently available. It will discuss the benefits and limitations of the disease-specific PCOS questionnaire, and the other generic and condition-specific tools that have been used in the existing PCOS literature. Recommendations for future researchers interested in measuring HRQoL outcomes in women with PCOS–associated infertility are also made.

Health-related quality of life measurement in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

The symptoms typically associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as acne, hirsutism, irregular menses, amenorrhoea, obesity and subfertility are a major source of psychological morbidity and can negatively affect quality of life (QoL). We systematically searched the literature to identify the impact of symptoms and treatments for PCOS on health-related QoL (HRQoL) and to report on the types and psychometric properties of the instruments used. Papers were retrieved by systematically searching four electronic databases and hand searching relevant reference lists and bibliographies. Nineteen papers used a standardized questionnaire to measure health status; of these 12 (63.2%) used generic tools and 8 (42%) used the disease-specific PCOS questionnaire. Although a meta-analysis was not possible, it appears that weight concerns have a particular negative impact upon HRQoL, although the role of body mass index in affecting HRQoL scores is inconclusive from the available evidence. Acne is the area least reported upon in terms of its impact upon HRQoL. With the exception of three studies, most of the research has focused upon adult women with PCOS. Despite the benefits of HRQoL measures in research, few are being used to evaluate the outcomes of treatment for PCOS upon the subjective health status of women with the condition.

Health-related quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A comparison with the general population using the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36)

Background. We examined whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than women in the general population and than patients with other medical conditions.Method. Women with PCOS were recruited from an outpatient clinic and a control group was recruited from a family planning clinic. Both groups completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ). SF-36 data from the Oxford Health and Lifestyle Survey were used to compare PCOS with other conditions.Results. Twenty-two women with PCOS and 96 control women took part. Women with PCOS scored lower in both summary scores of the SF-36 and in all domains of the PCOSQ. After adjusting for body mass index, the differences between the groups in the SF-36 disappeared, while those in the PCOSQ remained. When compared with asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, back pain, arthritis and coronary heart disease, our PCOS group had the same or better physical HRQoL but poorer psychological HRQoL. The PCOSQ showed good internal reliability, good concurrent validity and good discriminant validity.Conclusions. PCOS has a negative impact on HRQoL even when compared with other serious health conditions. The PCOSQ is reliable and valid for clinical use.