Many people live with non-cancerous gynaecological conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. While these conditions are often understood in terms of physical symptoms, such as pain or hormonal difficulties, their psychological and social impacts are less recognised. It is important to understand how mental health and social experiences are linked to these conditions. By looking at the emotional and social impact of these conditions, we can see how physical health, mental wellbeing, and social experiences are connected. Understanding this can help to improve integrated care.
Chapter one reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of 161 papers that explored prevalence rates and levels of depression, anxiety, and perceived social support across a range of non-cancerous gynaecological conditions. The findings showed that around two in five individuals experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Depression was mostly mild, while anxiety tended to be more noticeable. People’s experiences of support from others varied, where some experienced strong support and others had little support. This highlights that emotional wellbeing should be considered when supporting people with these conditions. More research is needed to understand the role of perceived social support.
Chapter two explored psychological and social factors in more detail within one condition of PCOS. Given that infertility is a common experience in PCOS, the study focused on how psychosocial factors relate to the experience of infertility grief for people with PCOS. 71 adults with PCOS-related infertility completed online questionnaires on infertility grief, depression, anxiety, social support, and internal and external shame. The findings suggest that less perceived social support and higher levels of depression, anxiety, internal shame, and external shame were linked to greater infertility grief. These findings highlight the importance of ensuring people with PCOS have access to psychological and social support.
