The below blog post has been written by the research team, and details of how to participate in the research can be found at the bottom of this post. Verity have sighted the ethics approval granted for the recruitment of this study.
This study explores how women with PCOS experience this stigma in their everyday lives – within familial relationships, the society, in healthcare settings. By listening to women’s voices through on-on-one interviews, the project aims to understand how self-stigma affects the health and wellbeing of these women. Your experiences can help shape better care and understanding for women with PCOS.
The goal is to highlight both the challenges and the strength of women living with PCOS and identify ways to reduce stigma and improve support for women navigation PCOS in everyday life. Understandings from this study will help raise awareness, inform policy and contribute to existing literature while promoting compassion, understanding and equality. The research is led by the University of Worcester and has been approved by the university’s ethics committee.
What’s Involved?
- Participants will take part in one confidential online interview lasting about 45-60 minutes.
- You will be asked about your experiences with PCOS, your interactions with your family, friends and health care professionals since learning of your condition.
- You will have the opportunity to share what changes you would like to see in healthcare and support for PCOS.
Who Can Take Part?
- Women over the age of 18 years
- Clinically or self-diagnosed with PCOS
- Having experienced weight-related concerns or stigma
- Live in the UK
Why Take Part?
Your story can have a great impact. By learning personal experiences, this study aims to contribute both theoretical and practical insights: developing a comprehensive framework for better management that addresses the stigma, amplifying women’s voices, supporting policy development and increasing awareness for future interventions.
How to Get Involved
If you’d like to take part or find out more, please email Utpreksha Gaude at gauu1_25@uni.worc.ac.uk
About the Researcher(s)
Utpreksha Gaude is a PhD researcher at the University of Worcester exploring experiences of women with PCOS and weight stigma. Her work aims to amplify women’s voices and help create better understanding and compassionate healthcare.
Thank you for your interest and taking the time to go through the study. Please share it if you know of other people who could benefit from taking part. Kindly contact Utpreksha Gaude at gauu1_25@uni.worc.ac.uk for further details and information.
Verity - The PCOS charity 