The paper concluded that depression and anxiety are more prevalent in patients with PCOS. Women with PCOS were nearly three times as likely to report anxiety symptoms compared to women without PCOS (odds ratio (OR) =2.76; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.26-6.02; p=0.011).
Serotonin is a chemical messenger within the nervous system that is associated with positive feelings. In people with PCOS, serotonin and other neurotransmitters are typically low which is why they experience increased despair and anxiety symptoms.
Yoga practice that includes poses, guided relaxation, breathing exercises, and meditation may also improve symptoms of anxiety in people with PCOS (25). Some people with PCOS may experience an increase in facial hair. Depending on the culture they live in, they may feel self-conscious about it.
“Androgens (a group of hormones including testosterone) are elevated in many people with PCOS. This may cause anxiety and depression in women with PCOS.” According to Dr Tomar, women who have PCOS-linked anxiety can talk to their doctor about various treatment options.
Women with PCOS have also been found to produce more cortisol at baseline than women without PCOS. This means that women with PCOS may have more sensitive stress response systems.
The scientific literature now shows clearly that anxiety levels, psychological distress, depressive feelings, and social fears are much higher in the women with PCOS. In one study of 300 women, nearly 30% had anxiety, and quality of life was lowest in those with a combination of stress and depression.
In a study on psychological disorders in women with PCOS, higher risks for depression disorder (2.79% higher), anxiety disorder (2.75% higher), bipolar disorder (1.78% higher), and major depression disorder (1.37% higher) were reported for women with this syndrome than the general population.
PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain. Women with PCOS may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and endometrial cancer.
Women with PCOS often report signs of mood swings, depression and anxiety. Mood swings can feel like rapidly fluctuating emotions that can manifest as irritability, temper, sadness and/or anxiety that results from hormonal imbalance. Many women do experience signs of mood swings, especially near their menstrual cycle.
Your partner may be very discouraged if she has been diagnosed with PCOS, but with a supportive partner, the journey is much more manageable. As symptoms of the condition can be annoying and she will need you for support, make sure you have a support system in place to get the support you need.
Ovofolic is a combination of myo-inositol and d-chiro inositol with clinically proven benefits for managing PCOS symptoms including anxiety.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone imbalance that causes infertility, obesity, and excessive facial hair in women, can also lead to severe mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Researchers at the University of Cardiff assessed the mental health history of more than 17,000 women diagnosed with the condition and the results showed that those with PCOS were more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Conclusions. Child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women without psychiatric disorders.
PCOS and mood issues
As the mind and the body are interlinked, changes in one can affect the other. For example, the hormonal fluctuations that women with PCOS experience are also likely to bring about mood swings or emotional instability, which could be one of the symptoms of depression as well.
Two of those studies had only assessed the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders among women with PCOS and had found a prevalence of 28% and 39% for anxiety and 11% and 25% for depression.
Many women with PCOS find that their menstrual cycles become more regular as they get closer to menopause. However, their PCOS hormonal imbalance does not change with age, so they may continue to have symptoms of PCOS.
Lifestyle modification (diet and exercise) is the most important method of reducing PCOS symptoms. Women with PCOS with an inactive lifestyle are more likely to have mild depression. Regular exercise, even without weight loss, improves ovulation in about half of women with PCOS.
Metformin is commonly prescribed to manage polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of childbearing age and is associated with high prevalence rates of depression and anxiety.
As the problem of PCOS is a life-long problem it will continue, removing the ovaries will not cure the problem. There have been circumstances where some women have had regular menstrual cycles in the months following surgery and even some pregnancies.
Excess insulin causes polycystic ovaries because it impairs ovulation and stimulates the ovaries to make testosterone instead of estrogen. We have an epidemic of insulin resistance, so it makes sense that we also have an epidemic of PCOS.
Lea Michele
The Glee star has opened up about being diagnosed with PCOS after experiencing severe acne and fluctuating weight. “The side effects [of PCOS] can be brutal — like weight gain and bad skin,” Lea shared with Health. “I went to a great doctor, and the minute she looked at me, she was like, 'Oh, you have PCOS.