The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Objective: To determine associations of childhood emotional and physical abuse and neglect with the incidence of menstrual irregularity, male pattern hair growth, and possible PCOS. Design: Cross-sectional Study at University. Subjects: 410 individuals, 18–45 years old. Intervention: Survey. Main Ou...
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Mary Ann Liebert
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Women's Health Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0130 |
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| author | Akanksha Misra Olivia Wolfe Ricardo Azziz |
| author_facet | Akanksha Misra Olivia Wolfe Ricardo Azziz |
| author_sort | Akanksha Misra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: To determine associations of childhood emotional and physical abuse and neglect with the incidence of menstrual irregularity, male pattern hair growth, and possible PCOS. Design: Cross-sectional Study at University. Subjects: 410 individuals, 18–45 years old. Intervention: Survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): A questionnaire was administered to students, faculty, and staff at a regional State University of New York (SUNY) campus. Data on sociodemographic factors, menstrual dysfunction (irregularity, male pattern hair growth, and PCOS), and experiences of childhood abuse and neglect were collected. Results: Participants were sub-grouped into those with menstrual irregularity (MI: defined as >35 days between one period’s beginning and the next, or ≤8 cycles/year, or absent periods altogether), or male pattern hair growth (MHG: defined as excess hair on the upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, buttocks, or back), both (MI+MHG), or those who did have neither (Unaffected). Family income status yielded some association with the presence of MI, MHG, or MI+MHG. There were significant correlations between individuals reporting MI, MHG, and MI+MHG and reported experiences of feeling loved by their caregiver (p value = 0.0029988), experiencing verbal abuse (p value = 0.0000004293), experiencing physical neglect (p value = 0.030228), feeling emotionally disconnected from their caregiver (p value = 0.0006138), and not having a peaceful home (p value = 0.00005760630462), vis-à-vis Unaffected individuals. Almost all respondents with a prior diagnosis of PCOS (97.6%) reported MI and/or MHG. Conclusions: All childhood experiences of abuse and neglect, except the loss of a parent, were significantly associated with features suggestive of PCOS. Larger, unbiased population studies across different demographics, are needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-183d54eb2ab84c2f9897ce7823c1eb49 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2688-4844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Women's Health Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-183d54eb2ab84c2f9897ce7823c1eb492025-08-20T02:30:55ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442025-01-016141242010.1089/whr.2024.0130The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot StudyAkanksha Misra0Olivia Wolfe1Ricardo Azziz2SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York, USA.SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York, USA.Depts. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama, USA.Objective: To determine associations of childhood emotional and physical abuse and neglect with the incidence of menstrual irregularity, male pattern hair growth, and possible PCOS. Design: Cross-sectional Study at University. Subjects: 410 individuals, 18–45 years old. Intervention: Survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): A questionnaire was administered to students, faculty, and staff at a regional State University of New York (SUNY) campus. Data on sociodemographic factors, menstrual dysfunction (irregularity, male pattern hair growth, and PCOS), and experiences of childhood abuse and neglect were collected. Results: Participants were sub-grouped into those with menstrual irregularity (MI: defined as >35 days between one period’s beginning and the next, or ≤8 cycles/year, or absent periods altogether), or male pattern hair growth (MHG: defined as excess hair on the upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, buttocks, or back), both (MI+MHG), or those who did have neither (Unaffected). Family income status yielded some association with the presence of MI, MHG, or MI+MHG. There were significant correlations between individuals reporting MI, MHG, and MI+MHG and reported experiences of feeling loved by their caregiver (p value = 0.0029988), experiencing verbal abuse (p value = 0.0000004293), experiencing physical neglect (p value = 0.030228), feeling emotionally disconnected from their caregiver (p value = 0.0006138), and not having a peaceful home (p value = 0.00005760630462), vis-à-vis Unaffected individuals. Almost all respondents with a prior diagnosis of PCOS (97.6%) reported MI and/or MHG. Conclusions: All childhood experiences of abuse and neglect, except the loss of a parent, were significantly associated with features suggestive of PCOS. Larger, unbiased population studies across different demographics, are needed.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0130PCOSmenstrual dysfunctionadverse childhood experienceemotional abusechildhood neglect |
| spellingShingle | Akanksha Misra Olivia Wolfe Ricardo Azziz The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study Women's Health Reports PCOS menstrual dysfunction adverse childhood experience emotional abuse childhood neglect |
| title | The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on the Development of Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | impact of childhood abuse and neglect on the development of features of polycystic ovary syndrome a pilot study |
| topic | PCOS menstrual dysfunction adverse childhood experience emotional abuse childhood neglect |
| url | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0130 |
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