Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Academic and Psychosocial Impact
Ashini Patel 1,
Caitlyn Curley 1,
Ganesh Chilukuri 1,
Hannah Lee 1,
Samantha Snyder 1,
vivek joshi 2 3 * More Detail
1 Doctoral Program, Drexel University College of Medicine, West Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
2 Department of Biochemistry, Drexel University College of Medicine, West Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
3 Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
* Corresponding Author
J CLIN MED KAZ, Volume 22, Issue 6, pp. 54-59.
https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/17365
OPEN ACCESS
300 Views
66 Downloads
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; methodology, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; formal analysis, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; investigation, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; resources, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; data curation, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; writing – original draft preparation, V.J., C.C., G.C., S.S., H.L., and A.P.; writing – review and editing, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; visualization, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S.; supervision, A.P., V.J., G.C., C.C., H.L., and S.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Data availability statement: The data generated during the research and analysis are not available publicly but are available from the corresponding author on a reasonable request.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure Statement: AI-Unassisted Work.
ABSTRACT
Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting up to 13% of reproductive-aged females, often accompanied by physical, metabolic, and psychological challenges. Despite the demanding nature of medical education, limited research explores the burden of PCOS among medical students.
Objective: To evaluate the academic, emotional, and psychosocial impact of PCOS on medical students across four U.S. medical schools.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to assigned female at birth medical students aged 18 and older. The questionnaire assessed PCOS diagnosis and treatment, academic performance, symptom burden, emotional well-being, and coping mechanisms. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were performed.
Results: Of the 380 respondents (mean age 25.9), 30.3% reported a PCOS diagnosis—more than double the estimated global prevalence. PCOS was associated with academic stress (34.0%) and reduced work productivity due to emotional distress (70.2%). Symptom burden included menstrual irregularities, weight concerns, bloating, and acne. Emotional impacts were significant: 49.3% reported feeling unattractive, 50.7% worried about infertility, and 50.7% experienced self-blame. While many students demonstrated resilience and adopted positive coping strategies, a notable proportion reported emotional exhaustion and giving up efforts to manage the condition.
Conclusion: Medical students with PCOS experience significant emotional and academic challenges, compounded by the rigors of their training. The prevalence and impact of PCOS in this population highlight the need for targeted institutional support, improved awareness, and mental health resources to promote student well-being and success.
CITATION
Patel A, Curley C, Chilukuri G, Lee H, Snyder S, joshi V. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Academic and Psychosocial Impact. J CLIN MED KAZ. 2025;22(6):54-9.
https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/17365
REFERENCES
- Stener VE., Teede H, Norman RJ, Legro RS, Goodarzi, MO, Dokras A, Piltonen, TT. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2024; 10(1): 27. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-024-00484-9
- Azziz R, Carmina E, Chen Z, Dunaif A, Laven JS, Legro RS, Lizneva D. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2016; 2: 16057. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.57
- Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Shanafelt TD. Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students. Academic Medicine. 2006; 81(4): 354–373. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-200604000-00009
- Aziz R, Sthanadar AA, Liaqat A, Noor S. Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome among medical students. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. 2005; 17(4): 72–75.
- Hart R, Hickey M, Franks S. Definitions, prevalence and symptoms of polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2004; 18(5): 671–683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2004.05.006
- PMC. Impact of early intervention on fertility outcomes in PCOS: A systematic review. PubMed Central. 2025: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9983155/
- Li Y, Ng EH, Stener-Victorin EH, Wu LT, Wu X. Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with negatively variable impacts on domains of health-related quality of life: Evidence from a meta-analysis. Fertility and Sterility. 2011; 96(2): 452–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.05.090
- Aspire Fertility. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and fertility. Aspire Fertility. 2025: https://www.aspirefertility.com/fertility-treatment/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome
- Medscape. More women entering medical school than men for the sixth straight year. Medscape. 2025: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/more-women-entering-medical-school-than-men-sixth-straight-2025a100021y
- Dokras A, Clifton S, Futterweit W, Wild R. Increased prevalence of anxiety symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertility and Sterility. 2012; 97(1): 225–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.10.022
- Huddleston HG, Milani A, Blank R. Productivity loss due to polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship to race, mental health, and healthcare delivery indices. F&S Reports. 2024; 5(2): 157–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfgr.2023.12.004.
- Kupoluyi JA. Intimate partner violence as a factor in contraceptive discontinuation among sexually active married women in Nigeria. BMC Women's Health. 2020; 128. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00990-y.
- Murugesu S, Saso S, Jones BP, Bracewell-Milnes T, Athanasiou T, Mania A, Serhal P, Ben-Nagi J. Does the use of calcium ionophore during artificial oocyte activation demonstrate an effect on pregnancy rate? A meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2017; 108(3):468-482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.029. PMID: 28865547.
- Murri M, Luque-Ramírez M, Insenser M, Ojeda-Ojeda M, Escobar-Morreale HF. Circulating markers of oxidative stress and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2013;19(3):268-88. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dms059.
- Ofei-Dodoo S, Moser SE, Kellerman R, Wipperman J, Paolo A. Burnout and Other Types of Emotional Distress Among Medical Students. Med Sci Educ. 2019; 29(4):1061-1069. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-019-00810-5.