Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 1497 - 1503
• Main Authors: de Niet, J.E., de Koning, C.M., Pastoor, H., Duivenvoorden, H.J., Valkenburg, O., Ramakers, M.J., Passchier, J., de Klerk, C., Laven, J.S.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Amenorrhea - complications; Amenorrhea - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; body satisfaction; Coitus - psychology; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hyperandrogenism - complications; Hyperandrogenism - psychology; Linear Models; Medical sciences; negative appearance; PCOS; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - complications; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - psychology; Self Concept; self-esteem; sexarche; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; self-esteem; negative appearance; PCOS; body satisfaction; sexarche; Human; Satisfaction; Female sterility; Polycystic ovary; Female genital diseases; Ovarian diseases; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cyst; Female; Self esteem; Benign neoplasm; Psychological well-being
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deq068

BACKGROUND The characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as hyperandrogenism and anovulation can be highly stressful and might negatively affect psychological well-being and sexuality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between PCOS characteristics and psychological well-being as well as sexarche. METHODS Patients (n = 1148) underwent standardized clinical evaluation. Psychological well-being was investigated in 480 patients with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), the body cathexis scale (BCS) and the fear of negative appearance evaluation scale (FNAES). Sexarche was also assessed. RESULTS Amenorrhoea was associated with lower self-esteem (P = 0.03), greater fear of negative appearance evaluation (P = 0.01) and earlier sexarche (P= 0.004). Hyperandrogenism and acne were associated with poorer body satisfaction (P = 0.03, 0.02, respectively). Hirsutism and BMI were negatively associated with all psychological variables (RSES, P = 0.01; BCS, P = 0.05; FNAES, P = 0.02 and RSES, P = 0.03; BCS, P = 0.001; FNAES, P = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that menstrual irregularities might be related to sexarche. Moreover, this study stresses that the treatment of women with PCOS should notably focus on physical but also on psychological and sexual characteristics.