Prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome and its relationship with body mass index and stress in women attending a tertiary fertility center in Malaysia

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women attending the International Islamic University Malaysia Fertility (IIUM) Center in Kuantan, Pahang, and to explore how lifestyle factors relate to its cause. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design to assess the common occurrence of polycystic ovarian syndrome and its related outcomes in a specified population. Consequently, it explores the connections between contributing factors, like weight and lifestyle, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Results: Of the 759 female patients who visited the IIUM Fertility Center, 57 were diagnosed with PCOS, accounting for 7.5 % (57/759). Among the 40 women with PCOS who participated in the study, 18 (45 %) were categorized as having a high BMI, 16 (40 %) were classified as overweight, while 6 (15 %) were regarded as having a normal BMI. With respect to the stress levels, the medium-stress category reported the highest number, accounting for 22 patients, or 55 %, while the high-stress group had 18 patients, representing 45 %. Remarkably, no patients fell into the low-stress category, as none scored within that range. Furthermore, no significant correlation was identified between obesity and stress scores, as the p-value was above 0.05. Conclusion: Many women who have been diagnosed with PCOS have visited the IIUM Fertility Center in Kuantan, Pahang. While the reported 7.5 % prevalence of PCOS might seem minor in comparison to other fertility issues, this study focused solely on one particular center.