Obesity, hirsutism, and infertility may reduce self-confidence and create depressive symptoms in patients with PCOS. In addition, changes in hormonal levels may lead to anxiety directly. Possibly, depressive symptoms are a secondary reflection of these changes.
People who have been diagnosed with PCOS are about 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and depression than people without PCOS (1-3). People with PCOS are also much more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression and those symptoms are more likely to be severe (3-5).
Depression and anxiety are common in women with PCOS. Learn how PCOS might affect your mental and emotional health, including mood, stress and body image. There is also information on what you can do if you find your mental and emotional health is affected by PCOS.
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.
Practice positive affirmations
When you're dealing with PCOS, being told to be positive might come across as a little annoying. However, there is an effective way to challenge and overcome pessimistic thought patterns. This is by practicing positive affirmations, which can reinforce feelings of self-love and belief.
Practising meditation, mindfulness, journaling, and taking up a hobby or leisure activity can help improve your overall mood and well-being. Knowing your triggers and managing them beforehand will help.
Compared to unaffected controls, women with PCOS had a significantly increased risk of developing bipolar disorder after adjusting for age, medical comorbidity, and different treatment options (1.05 vs. 0.12 per 1,000 person-years, HR: 8.29, 95% CI: 4.65–14.7).
Physical abuse was associated with PCOS (OR = 4.21, CI 1.43; 12.38), but was not significant when other maltreatment types were factored in. Conclusions: Child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women without psychiatric disorders.
This is due to the loss of sense of control over women's bodies and disrupted body image (4). In a study in women with PCOS, it has been shown that low self-worth and body image perception in women causes increasing of the anxiety level (5).
PCOS was significantly associated with depression (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.4, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.7), anxiety (adjusted OR 1.2, 95 % CI 1.0-1.5), post-traumatic stress disorder (adjusted OR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.1-1.9) and obsessive compulsive disorder (adjusted OR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.2-2.5).
Reducing stress levels through activities like yoga, meditation, mindfulness and journalling will help to support your nervous system and your hormones. Get enough sleep each night. Make sure you're getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night to support your stress levels and recovery. Avoid high intensity exercise.
Women with PCOS are at an increased risk for depression and anxiety disorders (1, 8, 9). Several studies have revealed diminished quality of life (QOL) in PCOS patients. Women with PCOS and their partners are less satisfied with their sex life (4, 7, 10, 11).
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.
People with PCOS should avoid these foods that can ramp up inflammation: Fried foods (French fries, potato chips, corn chips and fried chicken or fish) Saturated fats such as butter or margarine. Red meat, including hamburgers, roast beef and steaks, processed luncheon meat and hot dogs.
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.
depression and mood swings – because the symptoms of PCOS can affect your confidence and self-esteem. high blood pressure and high cholesterol – which can lead to heart disease and stroke. sleep apnoea – overweight women may also develop sleep apnoea, a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep.
Introduction. Patients with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, particularly a tendency to depression and anxiety, as well as schizophrenia.
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.
PCOS can cause menstrual irregularities, infertility, insulin resistance, excess and male patterned body hair, and is strongly associated with depression and anxiety. PCOS affects everything from one's self-conception and identity, to social relationships, intimacy and sexuality, to physical and mental health.
Consequences of untreated PCOD can be serious
Irregular periods, lack of ovulation and infertility in PCOD are caused by abnormal levels of androgens and luteinizing hormones. Management of PCOD symptoms include medication and lifestyle modification that involve diet changes and weight reduction.
Previous studies have found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have some degree of brain function change as well as cognitive function and emotions, such as poor executive functioning and memory, anxiety and depressive symptoms.