RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Women’s experiences of diagnosis and management of polycystic ovary syndrome: a mixed-methods study in general practice JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP e322 OP e329 DO 10.3399/bjgp20X708881 VO 70 IS 694 A1 Sarah C Hillman A1 Carol Bryce A1 Rishi Caleyachetty A1 Jeremy Dale YR 2020 UL http://bjgp.org/content/70/694/e322.abstract AB Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common lifelong metabolic condition with serious associated comorbidities. Evidence points to a delay in diagnosis and inconsistency in the information provided to women with PCOS.Aim To capture women’s experiences of how PCOS is diagnosed and managed in UK general practice.Design and setting This was a mixed-methods study with an online questionnaire survey and semi-structured telephone interviews with a subset of responders.Method An online survey to elicit women’s experiences of general practice PCOS care was promoted by charities and BBC Radio Leicester. The survey was accessible online between January 2018 and November 2018. A subset of responders undertook a semi-structured telephone interview to provide more in-depth data.Results A total of 323 women completed the survey (average age 35.4 years) and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 women. There were five key themes identified through the survey responses. Participants described a variable lag time from presentation to PCOS diagnosis, with a median of 6–12 months. Many had experienced mental health problems associated with their PCOS symptoms, but had not discussed these with the GP. Many were unable to recall any discussion about associated comorbidities with the GP. Some differences were identified between the experiences of women from white British backgrounds and those from other ethnic backgrounds.Conclusion From the experiences of the women in this study, it appears that PCOS in general practice is not viewed as a long-term condition with an increased risk of comorbidities including mental health problems. Further research should explore GPs’ awareness of comorbidities and the differences in PCOS care experienced by women from different ethnic backgrounds.