The mental health effects of polycystic ovary syndrome are more serious than previously thought
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Among adolescent girls, the risk of suicide attempt is 5.38 times higher if they are diagnosed with PCOS. This rate increases to 9.15 times for adults under the age of 40.
Health – Affecting 8 to 13% of women according to the WHO, polycystic ovary syndrome is recognized as a cause of infertility and being overweight or a factor in diabetes.
We often talk less about its consequences on mental health: if researchers have already highlighted the link between PCOS and depression, a Taiwanese study shows that women affected by this chronic hormonal disease have a higher risk of attempting suicide.
The study was published in the journal February 2024 History of internal medicine and occupied by The Guardian, analyzed the national database of Taiwan between 1997 and 2012. Objective: To compare the rates of 18,960 women aged 12 to 64 years diagnosed with PCOS and those unaffected by the disease but with lifestyle and similar physical and mental health characteristics.
The risk of suicide attempt is nine times higher
The results are clear: in adolescents, the risk of suicide attempt is 5.38 times higher in case of PCOS diagnosis. This rate increases to 9.15 times for adults under the age of 40 and decreases to 3.75 times for older adults. To explain this evolution on life expectancy, the authors suggest that the consequences of PCOS on fertility and physical appearance, among other things, may be a precipitating factor for the mental health of adolescents and young adults.
In the conclusion of the study, the authors emphasize “The Importance of Regular Monitoring of Mental Health and Suicide Risk”. of affected people. An important area of study, but still very rare, recalled by psychology researcher and PCOS expert Sophie Williams. The Guardian : “Polycystic ovary syndrome is a topic that has been very little researched, and within that topic, mental health is even less studied. “, she lamented.
In France, awareness organizations estimate that it takes an average of seven years to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome.
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