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Introduction
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal
disorder characterized by oligomenorrhea or abnormal
menstrual cycles, anovulation or failure of eggs to
mature, and hyperandrogenism (excess testosterone) in
women (Rushinaidu & Eswari, 2023). These endocrine
disorders occur in reproductive age (Williams et al.,
2016), affecting 20% of the women population
globally. Rushinaidu and Eswari (2023) mentioned that
the main symptoms commonly experienced included
disorders of the reproductive system when the woman's
eggs fail to mature. This resulted in irregular menstrual
cycles known as oligomenorrhea, acne, and excessive
hair growth on the face and other limbs known as
hirsutism.
PCOS is a reproductive health issue
predominantly observed in women aged 15 to 49 years.
Limitation of awareness regarding the syndrome often
results in its diagnosis occurring after women reach the
age range of 20 to 30 years. PCOS Women are often
identified in adolescence or early adulthood with
symptoms of oligomenorrhea (irregular menstrual
cycles), hirsutism (excessive hair growth), or when
presenting for treatment related to infertility issues
(Cooney & Dokras, 2018).
The cause of PCOS is unknown but some research
suggested the inclusion of genetic factors. According to
Joham et al. (2022), the effects are complex, including
genetic and epigenetic susceptibility, hypothalamic and
ovarian dysfunction, excess androgen exposure, insulin
resistance, and mechanisms related to the accumulation
of excess fat. Research conducted by Wahyuni et al.
(2022) also mentioned a relationship between PCOS
incidence and a family history of the complication.
Giampaolino et al. (2021) stated that PCOS etiology is
still unclear. However, the interaction between genetic
and environmental factors as well as the changes in the
microbiome can lead to the development of
gynecological problems and systemic metabolic
syndrome.
PCOS prevalence and its symptoms increase with
age, stating the need for a multidisciplinary approach
to catch the disorder at an early stage (Mehreen et al.,
2021). Guidelines from the Endocrine Society
Quality of Life in The Community of Women with Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Phenomenology Study
Neina Qonita Istiqomah
1,2*
, Zainal Abidin
1
, Agit Candoruk
3
1
Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia
2
Faculty of Psychology, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
3
Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa, Turkey
Abstract. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal, endocrine, and metabolic
disorder in women of reproductive age. This is characterized by symptoms such as hirsutism,
menstrual disorders and infertility, affecting almost 20% of women. In this context, the
syndrome affects the physical and psychological disorders of women. Conditions that
predominate in PCOS women cause depression and affect their quality of life. Using a
phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted to determine quality of life
in six PCOS women. The participants were recruited using purposive sampling from PCOS
Fighter Indonesia community in the Bandung area. Furthermore, three themes were
developed from the analysis, namely positive thinking, healthy behavior and social support.
This resarch showed the favorable facets of the experiences of women coping with PCOS and
showed the important role of the community in offering support to individuals affected by the
syndrome. The identified themes emanated from interviews exploring quality of life among
women with PCOS, providing insights into their daily lives and the challenges posed by the
symptoms.
Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, quality of life, PCOS
Psympathic :
Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi
Vol.10:2, December
2023,
Page 123-136
eISSN: 2502-2903
pISSN: 2356-3591
Article Info
Received:
August 2, 2023
Accepted:
November 25, 2023
Published:
December 31, 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/psy.v10i2.28829
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Fakultas Psikologi UIN SGD Bandung, Indonesia.
This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license
___________________________________________
*
Corresponding author: Faculty of Psychology, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang, Indonesia and Faculty of Psychology, UIN Sunan
Gunung Djati Bandung, Jl. A. H. Nasution No. 105 Cibiru, Indonesia
E-mail: neinaqonita@gmail.com