Exploring the experiences of Indian women in diagnosis and treatment of PCOS/PCOD

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)/Polycystic Ovary Disorder (PCOD) can have a substantial influence on the quality of life, which is why research into its diagnosis and treatment, with a special emphasis on the issues faced by women in the context of healthcare, is critical. The study's goal was to explore and understand the experiences of Indian women with PCOS/PCOD regarding their diagnosis and treatment. The data was collected from 12 women in their early twenties with PCOS/PCOD with the help of snowball sampling. The interviews were narrative, and the data was subjected to reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2019).The main 3 themes were-1) Communicating about the diagnosis, 2) Experiences with the healthcare professionals, and 3) Treatment and Acceptance. The study concluded with the need for sensitizing healthcare professionals to the problems of women with PCOS/ PCOD, also making them aware of the psycho-social impact of it on women’s lives. The limitation of this study is the homogeneity of the sample as the participants were mainly women who were educated and belonged to high-income families, which restricted the kind of experience and responses the researcher got in the study. This study can be used in making various interventions for women with PCOS/PCOD.