Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Its Impact on Psychological Distress: A Comparative Study among Urban and Rural Reproductive-aged women in Bangladesh

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder of reproductive-aged women all over the world. Low- and middle-income countries, such as Bangladesh, pay less attention to mental health issues. As a result, the prevalence of psychological issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia, is increasing alarmingly, as PCOS has a negative impact on these detrimental aspects. The study assesses the prevalence and psychological impacts of PCOS among reproductive-aged women as well as compared the mental health inequalities between rural and urban women in Bangladesh. A sample of 212 reproductive-aged women was collected using a convenience sampling procedure. Additionally, for diagnosis of PCOS, the Rotterdam criteria were used. Depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia were measured using DASS-21 and ISI-7 tool. To analyse the association and impact of PCOS on mental health problems, a chi-square test and multivariate binary logistic regression were conducted. The Mann-Whitney U test was implemented to assess mental health disparities among rural-urban reproductive women. Among the participants, the PCOS prevalence was 50.9%, and the rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia were 51.4%, 62.3%, 46.7%, and 53.3%, respectively. The prevalence’s were significantly greater in women with PCOS than those without PCOS. Women residing in rural region were more prone to meet Rotterdam criteria and had higher anxiety and insomnia syndrome. Women who met two or three diagnostic criteria had a higher chance of experiencing psychological distress than others. Furthermore, relationship status and BMI are useful predictive factors of mental health consequences. The findings showed a substantial prevalence of emotional distress among PCOS women in Bangladesh. Additionally, a comprehensive mental health investigation is suggested for PCOS. Addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of PCOS is essential to develop women’s overall well-being and quality of life.