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BMC Women's Health
Published in: BMC Women's Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Health-related quality of life in Iranian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a qualitative study

Authors: Seyed Abdolvahab Taghavi, Fatemeh Bazarganipour, Siobhan Hugh-Jones, Nazafarin Hosseini

Published in: BMC Women's Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with a range of challenging symptoms which impact patient’s lives. Iranian women with PCOS are likely to face a number of unique difficulties given particular societal and cultural norms for women. Understanding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from a patients’perspective is critical to developing the appropriate support interventions. The present study aimed to generate an in-depthunderstanding of HRQoL Iranian women with PCOS.

Methods

Twenty Iranian women were interviewed and data was subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

Women reported substantial effects of PCOS on their quality of life, Themes generated from the data related to sexual - physical problems (An unsexualised self: loss, change and pain; and Being pained and painful); exposure and nvasion: the rejecting and invading social world (Concealing and Avoiding and Public property: public scrutiny), diminished self and diminished life (Infertile as inferior and Exhausted mind andbody) respectively.

Conclusion

PCOS is a physical - sexual, psychological and social syndrome; therefore, it is necessary to taking a more holistic approach to patient care beyond treating physical symptoms.
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Metadata
Title
Health-related quality of life in Iranian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a qualitative study
Authors
Seyed Abdolvahab Taghavi
Fatemeh Bazarganipour
Siobhan Hugh-Jones
Nazafarin Hosseini
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Women's Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-015-0272-4

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