Women with ovary syndrome more likely to attempt suicide: study

By Isobel Williams via SWNS

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are eight times more likely to attempt suicide, according to a new study.

The disorder, known as PCOS, affects up to 10 percent of women in their reproductive years.

Common symptoms of PCOS include infertility, acne, severe menstrual pain, unwanted hair, and obesity.

The symptoms can all contribute to a decreased quality of life.

In addition, a substantial body of evidence indicates that persons diagnosed with PCOS have higher risk for psychiatric conditions, such as depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorder, and schizoaffective disorder.

The researchers from Taipei Veterans General Hospital studied data from the Taiwanese nationwide database from 1997 to 2012 for 18,960 women diagnosed with PCOS to assess suicide risk.

The results, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, found that persons diagnosed with PCOS faced an 8.47-fold increase in risk for suicide attempt compared with the control group.

An adolescent subgroup also had a notable 5.38-fold elevated risk for suicide attempt.

The researchers believe their findings show the importance of keeping an eye on PCOS patients’ mental health.

Dr. Mu Hong Chen said: “These findings highlight the importance of routine monitoring of mental health and suicide risk in persons diagnosed with PCOS.”