Abstract
Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinological disorder affecting millions of women worldwide, often leading to significant physiological and psychological challenges among medical students because of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among female medical students at Taif University in Saudi Arabia in January 2024 using an online questionnaire distributed via a Google form. Results Out of 243 participants, 23 students (9.5%) were diagnosed with PCOS. One hundred and fifty-six (64.9%) of females experienced skin symptoms, including acne and oily skin, mostly during exam periods. More than half (n=131, 54.4%) had generalized anxiety, and 42 students (17.4%) reported delays in the menstrual cycle. Significant associations were found between being diagnosed with PCOS and experiencing generalized anxiety (p=0.020), irregular menstrual cycles (p=0.004), having diabetes (p=0.006), family history of PCOS (p=0.001), and being aware of PCOS and lifestyle relation (p=0.022). Conclusion The study findings showed that Taif University medical students do not exhibit a noticeably increased prevalence of PCOS. Still, most students are at risk of developing PCOS due to the positive family history of PCOS and excessive generalized anxiety and females with irregularity in the menstrual cycle and those who have diabetes.