Emotional Needs of Teens With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Teens with polycystic ovary syndrome have serious health issues that impact them on multiple levels—hormonal concerns affecting female health and fertility, disfiguring body changes causing self-image problems, and lifelong health consequences related to metabolic disorders. Health care providers are now beginning to understand underlying pathophysiologic processes and make earlier diagnoses in the 6%–10% of teens with this disorder. However, the profound psychological and social needs are often inadequately recognized by health care providers, causing many teens turn to peers and the Internet for guidance and support. More research is needed to identify and address the emotional aspects of this common disorder in healthcare settings.