Impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on fertility, psychological well-being, and quality of life among Saudi Women

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among reproduc tive-aged women and is associated with infertility, metabolic complications, and profound psychosocial impact. Understanding its effect on fertility, psychological health, and quality of life (QoL) in Saudi women is essential to guide culturally tailored interventions. Objective: To evaluate the impact of PCOS on fertility-related concerns, psychological well-being, and QoL among Saudi women. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 222 Saudi women diagnosed with PCOS. The questionnaire assessed fertility-related concerns, psychological distress (five Likert-scale items), QoL (five WHOQOL-derived items), and PCOS symptom burden (hair growth, weight, menstrual irregularities, social impact, and infertility worry). Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlations, and chi-square tests were applied. Results: The mean psychological distress score was 10.9 ± 3.1/20, mean QoL score 16.8 ± 4.4/25, and mean PCOS burden 15.1 ± 5.0/25. Women worried about infertility (32% of sample) reported significantly higher psychological distress (11.8 vs. 10.5, p = 0.0049) and lower QoL (15.7 vs. 17.3, p = 0.016). PCOS burden correlated moderately with distress (r = +0.52, p < 0.0001) and moderately with reduced QoL (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001). Chi-square analyses showed that weight concern (χ² = 25.17, p < 0.0001) and social life disruption (χ² = 25.15, p < 0.0001) were most strongly associated with lower QoL, while hair growth (p = 0.002) and menstrual irregularities (p = 0.025) were also significant; infertility worry was not directly linked to QoL category (p = 0.11). Conclusion: PCOS substantially affects Saudi women's mental health and quality of life, especially through weight-related distress and social limitations. Addressing body image and social support may be critical in improving outcomes.