Body- and symptom-related concerns in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome: A gap in symptom management.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder among women aged from 18 to 40 years. Its debilitating menstrual/obesity-related symptoms challenge conceptions of femininity. To date, age-related differences in women's body esteem and physicians' symptom management recommendations have not been investigated. Age moderated the relationships between symptom concerns and both sexual attractiveness and physical condition, but only for midlife, not for emerging adult women. Midlife women received holistic management information from physicians, while emerging adult women received weight management information. This study highlights the need for physician training to manage women's health and age-targeted body acceptance interventions for women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The Diagnostic Experiences of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Ontario, Canada.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine syndrome that disproportionally affects women of childbearing age (~8% to 13% of women worldwide). If unmanaged, it can lead to chronic, lifelong complications. Over the past decade, improvements in diagnostic guidelines have not produced an expected reduction in the diagnostic timeframe. We examined the potential reasons underlying this diagnosis delay. Participants first constructed a diagnostic timeline and then charted and reflected on their diagnosis journeys. Through a reflexive thematic analysis, five themes represented the most common diagnostic trajectory: (a) dismissal of adolescents' early symptoms, (b) negative diagnostic encounters, (c) wariness of treatment options, (d) uncertainty for the future, and (e) self-education and advocacy. Our findings lead us to argue for education of physicians and allied professionals to strengthen patient-centered care delivery to women with a focus on building in training supports that include critically informed, social justice foundations.