 Based on analysis of articles, titles, captions, and user comments in popular women's magazines, PCOS was characterized as:

• A  hinderance to women’s roles as wives and mothers

• A personal responsibility for management and failures

• A catalyst for advocacy

These themes contribute to the social construct of PCOS.

Characterizations of PCOS in Women’s Magazines

While PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility and affects 7-10% of women of reproductive age, there is both a lack of public awareness of and research on PCOS. 

Grand Valley State University

Magazines, blogs, television, and social media can all be sources of "edutainment" that disseminate useful health information in addition to other content such as beauty, sports, news, etc. While there is potential to use the media as an effective vehicle for public health information, the way it is conveyed  can introduce bias, misconceptions, and overgeneralizations.

Public Health Information and Misinformation in the Media

Sanchez, N., & Jones, H. (2016). “Less Than A Wife”: A Study of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Content in Teen and Women’s Digital Magazines. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(6). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.5417


"Less Than A Wife": A Study of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Content in Teen and Women's Digital Magazines

A critical consumer of health information uses their knowledge of empirical evidence and discernment to identify accurate and useful information. Both media and health literacy are important to make informed decisions about healthcare. 

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