Sexual and Reproductive Health Concerns in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Their Spouses: A Qualitative Study

Objective: The aim was to explain the sexual and reproductive health concerns of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their spouses. Methods: This qualitative content analysis research was carried out among 16 Iranian women with PCOS and 7 husbands of these women. The participants were selected via purposive sampling and asked to attend semistructured in-depth interviews. Later, 5 women with PCOS, selected from the participants, were asked to participate in a focus group discussion and 5 interviews were conducted with experts. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Information collection continued until saturation and the collected data were analyzed via MAXqdall software. Results: According to the participants' viewpoints and experiences, PCOS-related concerns were classified under 2 main categories: 1) Reproductive health concerns containing 4subcategories of reproductive disorders, progression of the disease, menstrual disorders, and challenges in receiving health services; 2) Sexual health concerns with 2 subcategories of marital dissatisfaction and unfavorable sexual function. Conclusion: The findings indicated that sexual and reproductive health concerns of women with PCOS included menstrual and fertility disorders, disease development, marital dissatisfaction, and poor sexual function. Health policymakers and decision-makers are recommended to use our findings to design educational programs to promote the sexual and reproductive health of women with PCOS and their spouses Keywords: Women, sexual health, qualitative research, polycystic ovary syndrome