Community Awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among WomenCommunity Awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Women

<i>Background</i><i>: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common long-term hormonal disorder that affects women during their reproductive years. It disrupts ovarian function and metabolism. Prevalence rates vary between 4% and 20%, depending on diagnostic criteria and population. Symptoms usually appear between ages 18 and 39. Many women experience delays in diagnosis and treatment. This results in undetected cases and unmanaged symptoms.</i><i>Study Objectives</i><i>: Measure the level of awareness and understanding of PCOS among women in the community. Identify links between women's demographic traits and their knowledge of PCOS.</i><i>Method</i><i>: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data collection took place from December 2024 to April 2025. A non-random (purposeful) sample of 200 women from Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf participated. Researchers used structured questionnaires to collect data on demographics and PCOS awareness.</i><i>Findings</i><i>: Most participants were young, unmarried, and lived in urban areas. Few had a family history of PCOS. Many had never received a PCOS diagnosis. Overall awareness of PCOS was rated as good. Employment status had a strong statistical link to knowledge levels. Occupied women showed better understanding compared to unemployed women. Younger women, especially those unemployed or with limited health access, may lack key information. Education efforts should target specific groups based on age, location, and employment.</i><i>Conclusion: Most of the study sample of women are unmarried young adults living in urban residences. Most of them don’t have a family history of PCOS, and many of them were not diagnosed with the disease. Also, we found that women's knowledge regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is Good, and women's occupation is a statistically highly significant factor related to their knowledge regarding PCOS.</i><i>Recommendation: Further studies should be conducted regarding women's knowledge and attitudes regarding PCOS in a larger area. The Ministry of Health should employ mass media to increase community knowledge about PCOS and emphasize collaborative work between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Higher Education to lead more research-based practice topics about PCOS.</i>