A 2011 Human Reproduction meta-analysis compared data on 910 women with PCOS and 1,347 women without it. Women with PCOS had higher depression scores on average. In the six studies that assessed anxiety, their anxiety scores were also higher.
What is important to know
The authors note that the average difference is not large, and that it was smaller in studies that took body mass index into account. This suggests that mood may be shaped not by one factor but by several: hormones, weight, how a woman feels about her appearance, and fertility worries.
What this means for you
- If you have PCOS and feel low or anxious, it is not a coincidence.
- When talking to your doctor, mention emotional symptoms as well as physical ones.
- Psychological support can be an important part of treatment.
Sources
- Barry J. A., Kuczmierczyk A. R., Hardiman P. J. (2011). Anxiety and depression in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Reproduction, 26(9), 2442–2451. doi:10.1093/humrep/der197