title: Delayed Diagnosis and a Lack of Information Associated With Dissatisfaction in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex, chronic, and under-recognized disorder. Diagnosis experience may have lasting effects on well-being and self-management.
  
  
  
  To investigate PCOS diagnosis experiences, information provided, and concerns about PCOS.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire.
  
  
  
  Recruitment via support group web sites in 2015 to 2016.
  
  
  
  There were 1385 women with a reported diagnosis of PCOS who were living in North America (53.0%), Europe (42.2%), or other world regions (4.9%); of these, 64.8% were 18 to 35 years of age.
  
  
  
  Satisfaction with PCOS diagnosis experience, satisfaction with PCOS information received at the time of diagnosis, and current concerns about PCOS.
  
  
  
  One-third or more of women reported >2 years (33.6%) and ≥3 health professionals (47.1%) before a diagnosis was established. Few were satisfied with their diagnosis experience (35.2%) or with the information they received (15.6%). Satisfaction with information received was positively associated with diagnosis satisfaction [odds ratio (OR), 7.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.9 to 9.9]; seeing ≥5 health professionals (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.8) and longer time to diagnosis (>2 years; OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.6) were negatively associated with diagnosis satisfaction (independent of time since diagnosis, age, and world region). Women's most common concerns were difficulty losing weight (53.6%), irregular menstrual cycles (50.8%), and infertility (44.5%).
  
  
  
  In the largest study of PCOS diagnosis experiences, many women reported delayed diagnosis and inadequate information. These gaps in early diagnosis, education, and support are clear opportunities for improving patient experience.
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gibson-Helm
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.|Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teede
authors.affiliation: Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611; and.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunaif
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, PENN PCOS Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
authors.forename: Anuja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dokras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult