What factors affect how severe PMS is in women with PCOS?

Aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common problem with many clinical findings such as anovulation, amenorrhea, menstrual irregularity and hirsutism. This study was aimed to investigate the factors affecting premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women with PCOS. Methods: The study included 120 patients diagnosed with PCOS. In data collection, an introductory information form and the premenstrual syndrome scale (PMSS) were used. Results: It was observed that 55% of the patients were of normal weight, 62.5% did not smoke, and 20% were diagnosed with anemia. It was observed that 43.3% of the patients menstruated every 2-6 months, 93.3% had fatigue, 65% had attention deficit, 76.7% had edema, 52.5% had headache. The mean total PMSS score of the sample group was 140.25 ± 31.59. It was found that as the number of patients’ complaints increased, the total and sub-dimension scores of the PMSS also increased (p < 0.05). It was found that the bloating and total scores of the smokers were higher than those of the non-smokers. Patients with lower education levels had higher pain and total scores. The total and sub-dimension scores of the PMSS patients treated for anemia were found to decrease. The severity of PMS was less in those with regular menstruation (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that women with PCOS experience severe PMS. Education, smoking status, and anemia significantly influence PMS, and PCOS was found to have a higher prevalence rate. Investigating the Hb level and applying prompt treatment can reduce the disturbing symptoms of PMS.

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