Psychological Aspects of Hyperandrogenic States in Late Adolescent and Young Women

May 2015 in “ Clinical Endocrinology ”

Jenny Guidi, Alessandra Gambineri, Laura Zanotti, Flaminia Fanelli, Giovanni A. Fava, Renato Pasquali

hyperandrogenism polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS clinical hyperandrogenism

TLDR Young women with high male hormone levels or PCOS often feel more psychological distress and have a lower quality of life.

In a 2015 study involving 835 high school female students aged 16-19, with 394 providing additional laboratory tests, it was found that those with isolated clinical hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) experienced significantly higher levels of psychological distress, lower well-being, and quality of life compared to healthy controls. Women with isolated clinical hyperandrogenism showed higher scores for depressive and anxiety symptoms, while those with PCOS exhibited more hostility/irritability. The study highlights the importance of early recognition and management of psychological distress in young women with hyperandrogenic states to improve their psychosocial health and therapy adherence.

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