A new study has revealed the significant productivity loss due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects one in every 10 women across the world.
The research, published by the US virtual care platform Allara Health, investigated the impact of PCOS on workplace productivity and offered insights into how the hormonal disorder affects women’s professional lives.
The study looked at 1,000 American women with a PCOS diagnosis and found that more than 50 per cent of women with PCOS have missed work due to their condition.
It found that a significant 72 per cent of women reported that PCOS adversely affected the quality of their work, with 51 per cent feeling held back in their careers due to it.
The findings revealed that Black women, those without health insurance and those dissatisfied with their PCOS care are more likely to miss work.
Additionally, they underscored a critical need for better PCOS care and increased awareness, pointing to the necessity of addressing healthcare disparities to mitigate broader professional and economic impacts of the condition.
“For so long, employers have focused on only pregnancy and fertility when it comes to supporting their female population,” Rachel Blank, Allara’s founder and CEO, told Femtech World.
“I am so proud of our new research that illustrates what many patients already know – that chronic hormonal conditions impact a woman’s whole life – not just when she is pregnant or trying to conceive.”
She added: “When anyone is suffering without answers, they struggle to remain focused on their normal everyday activities and productivity suffers. I myself was diagnosed with PCOS after years of struggling with unexplained health issues.
“This took up so much of my time and mental bandwidth. That’s why at Allara we are so committed to shining a light on these often otherwise ignored conditions.”
Dr Heather Huddleston, director of the University of California San Francisco PCOS Clinic, who led the study, said: “PCOS symptoms often emerge or worsen just as women are launching their professional lives, and disruptions at such crucial times could inevitably impact career trajectory.
“We need to do better meeting the needs of this patient population so they can get back to participating fully in their lives.”
The study concluded that further research is required to deepen understanding and develop more effective strategies for managing PCOS in the workplace.
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