PCOS and mental health issues
It is well known that women affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are likely to have anxiety and depression.
Now a new study led by Dr Elisabet StenerVictorin and her colleagues say that this could be due to hormonal imbalances before birth that affect the brain.
PCOS is a condition that is characterised by the growth of benign masses in one or both of the ovaries, known as ovarian cysts, and an irregular menstrual cycle along with very high blood levels of testosterone.
It is also known that female offspring of women with afflicted with PCOS are more likely to develop the condition themselves. Even the sons of women with PCOS tend to have a greater risk for obesity and diabetes, which are also complications of PCOS.
Dr StenerVictorin said that almost 60% of women with PCOS have at least one mental health problem, such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder, and they are also at greater risk for suicide than women who don’t suffer from PCOS. This is because of an increased exposure to male hormones, or androgens, through the mother’s blood in utero. However, the mechanisms underlying this association is not clear, say the researchers.
