“I feel like it gets worse as I get older”: perspectives of peri-postmenopausal women with PCOS

The identified themes highlight the need for a more proactive, trauma-informed, culturally tailored healthcare approach that provides education and support in managing PCOS over the lifespan. Women's needs include resources after adverse pregnancy outcomes and routine screening of emotional health, with subsequent treatment when indicated. The findings indicate a need for healthcare provider communication and sensitivity training. Women with PCOS could benefit from advocacy and resilience training. As a relatively unexplored area of women's health, more research is needed to address the needs of older women with PCOS and develop and test programs that train healthcare providers to deliver patient-centered care and equip women with the information and resources to properly manage PCOS and cop effectively over their life course.