PCOS Survey

[~MaryO~]

Survey Suggests Women with Prevalent Incurable Hormonal Disorder Understand the Importance of and Seek Self-Help Lifestyle Modification Services

 

 

Lack of Insurance for Self-Help Services Could Prove Obstacle for the Millions of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Seeking to Prevent Diabetes and Heart Disease

 

PHILADELPHIA, and SYLVA, N.C., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), an incurable hormonal disorder which affects 10% of all reproductive age women, understand the importance of and seek self- help lifestyle modification support services, according to the results of a survey conducted by PCOStrategies, Inc. and the Reproductive Associates of Delaware. PCOS, which previous research has shown is best treated through lifestyle intervention, is a leading cause of infertility and if left untreated long term risks include the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and endometrial cancer. These results are being presented Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 2:15 p.m. EDT at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, which is currently in progress.

 

Lesa Childers, MSW, President & CEO, PCOStrategies and board members Ronald Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D. and Barbara McGuirk, M.D., of Reproductive Associates of Delaware sought to determine the attitude, motivation, level of importance and cost thresholds of self-help life management options considered beneficial to women with PCOS. The issues of relevance to women with PCOS were incorporated into an Internet-based Likert questionnaire, which assessed respondents' level of interest in seeking professional services to improve their metabolic and emotional well-being. In addition, the survey sought information about respondents' willingness to utilize doctor-referred programs for improving nutrition and positive attitude.

 

The survey found that women with PCOS understand the importance of professional services that focus on their health, fertility and emotional well-being. They recognize the value and would even embrace referrals by their physicians to group and/or individualized life management programs with 78 percent expressing an interest in life management programs, 49 percent preferring weekly group sessions while 44 percent desired individualized counseling. They would prefer more frequent visits to their physicians while working to heal their underlying metabolic syndrome with 57 percent desiring weekly visits. However, access to insurance reimbursements for these activities may prove to be a hindrance for many women as only 15 percent of women expressed a willingness to participate with 25 percent or less insurance coverage.

 

The most common endocrine disorder in women, PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder effecting approximately 10 percent of reproductive-age women worldwide. Previous research has pinpointed its cause to the body's failure to respond to insulin correctly resulting in an excess of insulin, which further creates an imbalance with other bodily hormones. PCOS symptoms include lack of, infrequent or irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, hirsutism or excessive body or facial hair growth, weight gain, obesity, baldness and thinning hair, adult acne, depression, skin tags or teardrop- shaped pieces of skin and acanthosis nigricans or patches of rough brown to black skin.

 

"The willingness of those with PCOS to embrace lifestyle changes has long been a question of ours," said Ronald Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of the Professional Advisory Board for PCOStrategies and author of the new book "Healing Syndrome O". "This survey confirms that the majority of women with PCOS are not only willing but are seeking lifestyle modification services to improve their health and are looking for their treating medical professionals to provide more guidance."

 

PCOStrategies is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating, motivating and stimulating women with PCOS and Syndrome O. Their mission is to assist women with PCOS in the development of a healthy lifestyle through their Syndrome O Coaching Services and Survival Strategies Programs, O Rounds Magazine and online support services to enhance fertility and overall well-being. Comprised of leaders in their respective fields, PCOStrategies has successfully helped many women with PCOS to realize better health and well-being and to conceive.

 

For more information visit http://www.asrm.org or http://www.pcostrategies.org.

 

About PCOStrategies, Inc.

 

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Sylva, NC, PCOStrategies, Inc. is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating, motivating and stimulating women with PCOS and Syndrome O. Their mission is to assist women with PCOS in the development of a healthy lifestyle through their Syndrome O Coaching Services and Survival Strategies Programs, O Rounds Magazine and online support services to enhance fertility and overall well-being. Comprised of leaders in their respective fields, PCOStrategies has successfully helped many women with PCOS to realize better health and well- being and to conceive.

 

SOURCE PCOStrategies, Inc.

 

CO: PCOStrategies, Inc.

 

ST: Pennsylvania, North Carolina

 

SU: SVY WOM NPT

 

Web site: http://www.asrm.org

 

http://www.prnewswire.com

 

10/18/2004 08:56 EDT