The Experiences of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome of the Healthcare They Receive: A Qualitative Systematic Review.
Baoying Zhang, Joan Lalor
PMID 41028898WHAT IT FOUND
Women with PCOS described delayed diagnosis, little explanation, weight bias, dismissive clinicians, and birth control offered without counselling.
They wanted information, respectful care, and attention to mental health.
Key findings
01Women with PCOS described delayed diagnosis and difficulty obtaining specialist referrals, often having to press clinicians for help.
02Participants reported inadequate information about PCOS and its risks, and weight bias where clinicians blamed obesity without giving practical advice.
03Birth control pills were often prescribed for irregular periods without explanation of effects, and mental health concerns were frequently overlooked.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
All included studies were from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, so the findings may not apply elsewhere. Participants were recruited by convenience or purposive sampling, so they may not represent all women with PCOS. Only English studies were included, and the review was not registered, so relevant studies may have been missed. The review included only 7 studies, with sample sizes from 10 to 296, and many participants were White/Caucasian (70% to 84.5%), limiting breadth. These are reported experiences and perceptions, not measured clinical outcomes or tested nursing interventions.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat this as evidence that nurses, clinics, or education improve PCOS outcomes. It is a qualitative synthesis of women's reported experiences, and the included studies did not measure treatment effects or test the recommended nursing actions.