Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationships between BMI, PCOS, and dietary habits, along their psychosocial and emotional impacts, on subfertility among reproductive-aged group Pakistani women.
Methodology: This study, conducted from July 2021 to June 2022 at the Gynecology Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, employed a mixed methods approach. Women aged 18–49 years were categorized into two groups: cases (PCOS diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria) and controls (BMI ≥22.9 kg/m² without PCOS). A total of 125 participants consented to study. Data were collected using an expert-validated questionnaire to assess BMI, symptoms, and psychological impacts of subfertility. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed to explore associations and emotional factors.
Results: The patients with PCOS, had a mean BMI of 26.48±3.7kg, compared to 26.96±7.6 for controls. The likelihood ratio for obesity in cases and controls was 0.243 (p>0.05), suggesting no significant relationship. Emotional analysis revealed that cases reported higher levels of depression, mood swings, and worry related to infertility compared to controls. Dietary habits, including binge eating and intake of oily foods, were significantly different between the groups (p

Key words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, subfertility, BMI, obesity, dietary habits, & psychological impact.