The Experience of Living With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in the Military

Using a qualitative descriptive approach with focus groups (FG) and individual interviews (II), the investigators will seek to describe the experience of living with PCOS as an active duty service woman (ADSW). This method will allow the investigators to obtain a comprehensive summary of living with PCOS in the every day terms of ADSW. The discussion in the (FG) meetings will be an effective way to supply information about what people think, or how they feel, or on the way they act. Advantages of this method include: (a) it can cover a large number of people in one session, (b) it is an efficient way of gaining a large amount of information in a short time, (c) it is comparatively easier to drive or conduct, and (d) it generates an opportunity to collect data from the group interaction, which concentrates on the topic of the researcher's interest [64, 65].

This proposed study will focus on six primary areas of inquiry: (a) experience of receiving PCOS diagnosis (b) symptoms experienced and methods of coping with them, (c) military-specific experience of managing and living with PCOS, (d) access to/availability of information related to PCOS and how they have applied it, (e) experience of support, and (f) present and future concerns about having PCOS.

Inclusion criteria

• Women, active duty or prior (within 5 years) in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps
• Diagnosed with PCOS
• 18 years of age or over

Exclusion criteria

• Reservist, Coast Guard, women who have separated or retired > 5 years ago