“It's not very feminine to have a mustache”: Experiences of Danish women with polycystic ovary syndrome

TY - JOUR

T1 - “It's not very feminine to have a mustache”

T2 - Experiences of Danish women with polycystic ovary syndrome

AU - Pfister, Gertrud Ursula

AU - Rømer, Kristine

N1 - CURIS 2017 NEXS 045

PY - 2017/2/1

Y1 - 2017/2/1

N2 - This article explores women's lived experiences with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the basis of semistructured interviews with 21 Danish women. It provides insights about the problems that they experienced and how they coped with PCOS. The interviews revealed that they were highly influenced by society's femininity norms. Many of them perceived their bodies as “different” because of the symptoms of PCOS, namely, hirsutism. They used different strategies to live up to body ideals and cope with the symptoms. However, hirsutism had a decisive negative influence on the women's everyday lives, particularly with regard to male partners and sexual relations.

AB - This article explores women's lived experiences with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the basis of semistructured interviews with 21 Danish women. It provides insights about the problems that they experienced and how they coped with PCOS. The interviews revealed that they were highly influenced by society's femininity norms. Many of them perceived their bodies as “different” because of the symptoms of PCOS, namely, hirsutism. They used different strategies to live up to body ideals and cope with the symptoms. However, hirsutism had a decisive negative influence on the women's everyday lives, particularly with regard to male partners and sexual relations.

U2 - 10.1080/07399332.2016.1236108

DO - 10.1080/07399332.2016.1236108

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27630044

AN - SCOPUS:84991508818

SN - 0739-9332

VL - 38

SP - 167

EP - 186

JO - Health Care for Women International

JF - Health Care for Women International

IS - 2

ER -