University of Twente Student Theses
Managing the Unseen : A Qualitative Study on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Related Pain and Symptom Management
Haddadi, Romina (2025) Managing the Unseen : A Qualitative Study on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Related Pain and Symptom Management.
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| Abstract: | Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrine disorder that affects multiple aspects of life for women of reproductive age. Along with symptoms like irregular periods, hormonal imbalances, and the presence of ovarian cysts, some women also face chronic pain. Although PCOS is recognised as a complex condition with diverse symptoms, the specific role of pain and its influence on quality of life remains underexplored in the existing literature. Objectives: This study aimed to explore how PCOS patients experience their symptoms, including pain, the strategies they use to manage their symptoms, and how effective they perceive those strategies to be. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 16 individuals diagnosed with PCOS. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns in symptom experiences and management strategies. Results: Pain was not initially mentioned as a primary symptom, but it emerged when prompted. For patients, pain was present but was often overlooked or minimised. They tend to report other symptoms they considered more visible or disruptive, such as acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and menstrual irregularities. Psychological factors, such as stress, played a significant role in the experience of pain. Many participants expressed dissatisfaction with pharmaceutical approaches for managing their symptoms and instead preferred self-monitoring, natural approaches, and support from other women with PCOS. Conclusions: Pain in PCOS is often overlooked, both by patients themselves and healthcare professionals. Psychological stress can exacerbate both symptoms and pain in individuals with PCOS. Self-management of other symptoms efforts often overlapped with pain management, with a preference for patient-directed strategies and psychological techniques for managing pain. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106342 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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