The Overlooked Link Between PCOS and Mental Health: What Every Woman Should Know:

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is well-known for certain features; the most common being irregular periods, acne, excessive facial hair, and weight gain. However, the psychological implications are often overlooked. Along with the hormonal imbalance, women with PCOS also have to deal with considerable mental health issues.

As per Dr Suruchi Desai, Senior Consultant at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, this condition affects almost every sphere of a woman’s life.

“In PCOS, women suffer from increased stress and irritability along with emotional tiredness which is largely because of the fluctuating hormones. Though these go unnoticed, they can worsen into anxiety and depression,” she states.

Emotional aspects of PCOS
PCOS has a variety of emotional effects on women which include:
All chronic mental health concerns, such as:

Fatigue or low energy

Poor sleep

Anxiety and mood alterations

Overwhelming emotions associated with self-image and appearance

Care of PCOS-related issues like acne or significant hair growth can harm one’s self-esteem and confidence, especially for women, as Dr Desai pointed out.

Added family pressure combined with fear of infertility further adds to the burden

The gradual weight gain or delayed periods often trigger discussions and assumptions around fertility, which can be very intimidating for younger unmarried women.

“Married women with PCOS do suffer emotional distress due to facing social backlash over not being able to conceive,” adds Dr Desai.

The Relationship Between Mental Health and PCOS: 6 Facts You Need To Know

Hormonal shifts have an effect on one’s mental health.

The hormonal changes associated with PCOS, such as insulin, estrogen, and androgen, also alter the chemistry of the brain. Every body is different and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression have physiological underpinnings.

Self-image takes a massive blow.

Women often experience a loss in self-esteem due to facial hirsutism, acne, and alopecia. Beauty standards do not often shine favorably on many women and that makes it even worse.

Concerns surrounding fertility exist and are pretty normal.

Anxiety in regard to motherhood can often be triggered due to the difficulty in conceiving or having irregular periods. Lack of control over these aspects can invite unsolicited advice and scrutiny too.

Mental healthcare is not prioritized in the same way other aspects of medical care are.

Women tend to avoid talking about their emotions with physicians. On the contrary, most practitioners pay scant regard to psychosocial factors important for well-being and concentrate on physical signs.

Adding to the feeling of lack of choice in life is the absence of conversation.

Women suffering from PCOS tend to feel isolated as the lack of discourse around their emotional challenges makes them feel alone despite the overwhelming number of shared experiences.

Systems of support are important and make a significant difference.

Appropriate mental health care, psychotherapy, self-help PCOS groups, changes in lifestyle and other measures greatly enhance physical health as well as psychological wellbeing.