Concerns of Women Diagnosed With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Regarding the Process and Having Children: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to examine the concerns of women diagnosed with PCOS regarding the process and childbearing using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Methods: This qualitative research was conducted between February and June 2024 with 17 women, aged 18–35 years, who had been diagnosed with PCOS within the past 1–12 months and had visited a Women’s Health Clinic at a Training and Research Hospital. The study data were collected through a personal information form and a semistructured interview form, using individual face-to-face structured interviews.

Results: The emotions expressed in the interviews were categorized under three main themes: “Emotions Experienced Upon Diagnosis,” “Anxiety Regarding Childbearing,” and “Sources of Information.” During the interviews, participants narrated their emotions and experiences related to PCOS within a narrative flow. The study findings revealed that the most commonly experienced emotions were anxiety, sadness, and concerns about infertility. The majority of participants expressed significant anxiety about the possibility of not being able to conceive. The primary source of information about the disease was the Internet, followed by doctors, although it was noted that the participants felt that they did not receive sufficient information from their doctors about their condition.

Conclusion: The study highlights that women with PCOS experience anxiety related to the disease and concerns about infertility after diagnosis, and it identifies the factors influencing these anxieties. The findings from this study may contribute to the development of supportive healthcare and emotion regulation strategies for women with PCOS.