Effect of oral contraceptives treatment on quality of life of Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) may improve quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, data on the effect of OCP on the quality of life of women with PCOS are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of OCP on the quality of life of Korean women with PCOS. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 32 women with PCOS who were 19- to 30-years-old. All women were prescribed OCP after the diagnosis of PCOS. A survey was carried out using 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and PCOS-specific health-related quality of life questionnaire (PCOSQ) at the moment of PCOS diagnosis and at six months later after the OCP treatment. Results: In SF-36, scores for all subscales except body pain increased without statistical significance. In PCOSQ, emotions, infertility, and menstrual problem scores were significant different between the two survey points (emotion score: 40.6 ± 3.4 vs. 42.9 ± 3.0, p < 0.000; infertility: 22.5 ± 1.4 vs. 23.0 ± 1.0, p = 0.033; menstrual problem score: 21.2 ± 1.2 vs. 23.3 ± 1.1, p < 0.000). Conclusions: OCP treatment improved the quality of life of Korean women with PCOS.