WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Teenage girls with menstrual problems and other hormone-related symptoms are much more concerned about their future fertility than are their healthy peers.
So says a study in the February issue of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.
The study adds that the teenagers with these problems and worries need more health care and counseling than they currently receive.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Harvard University surveyed 187 healthy teen girls and 97 teen girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). That's a common hormonal disorder and a leading cause of infertility and it affects about 5 percent to 10 percent of girls and women of childbearing age.
Symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstrual cycles, excessive body hair, acne and obesity. Besides infertility, other potential complications of PCOS include heart disease, diabetes and uterine cancer.
The study found that teenage girls with PCOS were three times more likely than other teen girls to be concerned about their future fertility. More than half the girls with PCOS reported their condition had a negative impact on their lives.
The findings indicate that counseling to address the girls' concerns may be critical to improving their quality of life.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about polycystic ovary syndrome.
