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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on August 27, 2004
Human Reproduction 2004 19(10):2251-2257; doi:10.1093/humrep/deh432
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Human Reproduction vol. 19 no. 10 © European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004; all rights reserved

Infertility caused by PCOS—health-related quality of life among Austrian and Moslem immigrant women in Austria

Julia Schmid1, Sylvia Kirchengast1,3, Elisabeth Vytiska-Binstorfer2 and Johannes Huber2

1 Institute for Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14 and 2 University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–22, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: sylvia.kirchengast{at}univie.ac.at

BACKGROUND: The polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting female fertility. In this study, we examined the symptomatology of PCOS and the health-related quality of life among infertility patients suffering from PCOS with different socio-cultural and ethnic background. METHODS: Symptomatology of PCOS, body composition characteristics as well as socio-economic factors were examined in 49 PCOS infertility patients of the University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, in Vienna, who originated from two socio-cultural subgroups, Austrian women and Moslem immigrant women. Additionally, the Cronins health-related quality of life questionnaire of women with PCOS was used in order to examine the impact of PCOS symptoms on the individual quality of life of the affected women. RESULTS: In terms of the appearance of the symptoms, the typical heterogeneity of PCOS could be found in both subgroups with no differences. However, differences in the health-related quality of life were impressive. Health-related quality of life of women from an Islamic background was affected to a greater degree than that of Austrian women, although no differences in symptomatology were found. This was true of all five domains investigated (infertility, overweight, hirsutism, menstrual irregularities and emotional problems). First of all, infertility was a dramatic problem for immigrant women. Islamic women had very high reproductive pressure. The Moslem immigrant PCOS women suffer more from infertility than do Austrian women. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals should be sensitive to the ethnicity, religious and cultural background of their patients to provide the best possible medical support.

Key words: ethnicity/infertility/Moslem immigrants/polycystic ovarian syndrome/socio-cultural aspects


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