Box 1.

Key themes

  1. Symptoms, signs, and associated conditions of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

    • 1a Fertility

    • 1b Weight

    • 1c Associated conditions (including mental health)

  2. Information and diagnosis

    • 2a Receiving the diagnosis

    • 2b Information

  3. The GP and PCOS

    • 3a Significance placed by GP on having PCOS

    • 3b Common condition

    • 3c Sex of the GP

    • 3d GP as gatekeeper

  4. Treatment for PCOS

    • 4a Pharmacology

    • 4b Self/lifestyle as treatment

    • 4c Peer support as treatment

    • 4d Treat symptom not root cause

  5. Women’s emotional relationship with PCOS

    • 5a Having hope

    • 5b Blame

    • 5c Women’s ongoing relationship with PCOS

    • 5d PCOS: it’s all in a name

    • 5e Taboo subject