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Practitioner’S Perspective On Barriers To Diagnosing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome In Adolescents: A Descriptive Study, Tara L. Williams

Master of Science in Nursing Theses

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common and reversible endocrine disorder affecting as many as 3.5-5.0 million women in the United States and has serious implications for women from adolescence to beyond menopause. PCOS is characterized by oligo-amenorrhea, anovulation, clinical, biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, or polycystic ovaries the majority which can be identified in adolescence (ages 13-18). Although the majority of these reproductive and metabolic consequences can be identified in adolescence, diagnosis of PCOS for subsequent early intervention is still not taking place as many women are not being diagnosed until their reproductive years often after seeking the cause of …