Experts say people with PCOS should closely monitor their mental health status. PCOS is a common health problem that can cause infertility, irregular periods, irregular hair growth, acne, and weight gain.
- New research suggests women with PCOS have an
eight-fold increased risk of suicide attempts.
- Experts say PCOS is a tough condition to live
with, but treatments are available to manage it.
People with polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an eight-fold higher risk of attempting suicide than
those without the condition.
That’s according
to research published today in the Annals of
Internal Medicine in which researchers report that the increased risk
was present in adolescents, young adults, and older adults with PCOS.
“Persons diagnosed
with PCOS face
a heightened susceptibility to suicide attempts and self-harm compared with
those without the condition,” the study authors wrote.
“Challenges associated
with fertility and the management of PCOS symptoms could further compound
existing mental health challenges,” the researchers added. “Women with PCOS
face stigmas due to obesity, hirsutism, menstrual
irregularities, and infertility… The stigma
linked to PCOS seems to be rooted in societal expectations, further adding to
the burden of this condition.”
PCOS impacts
between 6% and 12% of women in the United States of reproductive
age. It is one of the most common causes of infertility in females, but the
problems associated with the condition extend beyond child-bearing years.
Health
complications due to PCOS
Those living with PCOS
can develop a variety of health complications including diabetes, heart disease, high
levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL), low levels of “good” cholesterol
(HDL), high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and stroke.
People with PCOS are
also at a higher risk of psychiatric conditions such as personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder,
anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders.
Experts say the
association with mental health challenges could be for a number of reasons.
“At this time, the exact
cause is unknown and it is likely multifactorial. The higher androgens may play
a role. Many women with PCOS also have insulin resistance, which
also can increase mental illness such as depression. Women with PCOS may have
higher rates of obesity and infertility, which are also associated with
depression/anxiety. The physical changes associated with PCOS may also increase
depression/anxiety,” Dr. Sun Kim, an associate professor of medicine in endocrinology
at Stanford Medicine in California who was not involved the study, told Medical
News Today.
“PCOS has been
associated with increased risk for depression and anxiety.
Thus, we may expect higher risk for suicide; however, the 8-fold risk is
surprising,” she added.
The study authors
examined data from nearly 19,000 women diagnosed with PCOS between 1997 and
2012. The data was from the Taiwanese nationwide database.
Even after accounting
for other factors such as demographics, physical conditions, and psychiatric
co-morbid conditions, those with PCOS had a 8.47 fold increase in the risk
of attempting suicide compared with those in control groups.
The data from a subgroup
of adolescents showed a 5.38 fold increased risk of suicide attempts.
A tough
medical condition
People living with PCOS
have higher levels of androgens. These are male hormones that are also present
in females. This higher level of hormones can stop ovulation.
Many people with PCOS
are also insulin resistant, meaning that although the body makes enough
insulin, it can’t be used effectively.
Experts say this
combination can lead to a number of symptoms, which may take a toll on the
mental health of those living with PCOS.
“If you think about the
disorder itself… you could see how that medical disorder could create
psychological stress. The basic challenge [can be that] you’re overweight…
You’re a woman that may be growing a beard. You’re not getting periods. And
it’s like this wicked cycle because of the high insulin and you try to do
things to lose weight and you don’t lose weight. And what if you want to get
pregnant? Well, you can’t get pregnant if you’re not ovulating,” Dr G. Thomas Ruiz, an OB/GYN and the head of OB/GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical
Center in California, told Medical News Today.
“It’s a tough medical
condition and if your medical condition is a chronic medical condition, that in and of itself can lead to a reactive
depression,” said Ruiz, who was not involved in the research.
Experts say addressing
the mental health impacts of PCOS can be difficult.
“As an endocrinologist,
I find being able to help people (with or without PCOS) find mental health
services is challenging,” said Kim. “Of course, mental health is important.
However, it is challenging to provide mental health services in general. Women
with PCOS often seek care from endocrinologists and gynecologists and these
providers are not equipped to fully manage their mental health.”
“Awareness of higher
risk of mental illness is important. I try to understand what aspects of PCOS
are most distressing to the patient and try to address those to alleviate some
anxiety,” she added.
Kim says she is hopeful
the study increases awareness of the mental health challenges associated with
PCOS and encourages those with the condition to seek support.
“Acknowledging and
discussing the risks are important. Having family/friend support is also
helpful. Next step would be to discuss with their primary physician
regarding mental health resources,” she said.
Treating
PCOS is the key to managing mental health
There is no cure for
PCOS, but symptoms can be managed.
Losing weight,
maintaining a healthy diet and
exercising can help. Some medications can also be used to help ovulation,
reduce hair growth, and reduce acne.
Ruiz says the first step
in trying to avoid the mental health impact of PCOS is to properly treat the
condition.
“Seek medical care and
treat the condition so that you can control it. If you can control a
woman’s insulin levels
with PCOS, she will often start to ovulate spontaneously. And if you can
control their insulin levels and establish weight loss, that’ll typically
eventually lead to normal ovarian function,” he added.
“And once you have
normal ovarian function, you can start to treat the other issues,” Ruiz said.
“And if you become ovulatory and you’re trying to get pregnant, now you can get
pregnant. By focusing on treating the condition and managing the condition, the
patient will likely start to feel better about themselves because they’ll
effectively see body image changes, which may be leading to their depression.”
No comments:
Post a Comment