Comparison of Magnitude of Psychological Disturbances among Infertile Women with and without Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders with higher risk of infertility.The interrelationship between infertility and psychological health is a critical area of concern, particularly for women suffering from PCOS.Aim: To compare the magnitude of psychological disturbances among infertile women with and without PCOS.Materials and methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at AVMC&H, Puducherry.The study included 212 infertile women aged 21-45 years into two groups: 106 with PCOS (Group A) and 106 without PCOS (Group B).Psychological disturbances were assessed using the DASS-21 scale.Data were analyzed using SPSS v28.0 with DASS-21 severity scores.Results: Group A showed higher levels of severe anxiety (37.7%) and mild to moderate depression (52.8% and 26.4%) compared to group B patients, which was statistically significant.About 2.8% had mild stress in group B, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.08).The mean scores for depression and anxiety were higher in group A (11.76 ± 2.8 vs 13.43 ± 3.17) compared to group B (7.4 ± 2.52 vs 11.74 ± 2.91), and these differences were statistically significant (p = 0.01).The mean scores of stress in both groups were not statistically significant (p = 0.138). Conclusion:The study concludes that infertile patients with PCOS are associated with higher incidence of anxiety and depression compared to other infertile patients. Clinical significance:The outcome of the study helps us to understand the psychological burden associated with infertile patients with PCOS.Hence, early identification and intervention, including counseling and mental health support, should be prioritized while managing these patients.