Currently submitted to: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Jan 18, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Jan 18, 2026 - Mar 15, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Infertility of women in Focus: Risk factors and predictive Outcome among Women diagnosed with PCOS in Bangladesh
ABSTRACT
Background:
In Bangladesh, infertility is an increasing concern, influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors. One of the leading contributors to female infertility is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Characterized by elevated androgen levels, PCOS results in the development of multiple fluid-filled cysts on the ovaries, disrupting normal ovulation. The current fertility rate in Bangladesh stands at 1.93 births per woman as of 2023, reflecting a decline in recent years.
Objective:
This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with infertility in women and to explore potential prevention and treatment strategies.
Methods:
Conducted as a cross-sectional study at two tertiary hospitals, 189 women participated, with 163 diagnosed with PCOS and facing prolonged difficulties in conceiving. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, and multivariate logistic regression.
Results:
The results showed that the average age of the participants was 26.96 ± 4.88 years, with an average infertility duration of 5.03 ± 2.80 years. The highest prevalence of PCOS was observed in women aged 19-25 (40.2%), followed by those aged 26-30 (31.8%) and 31-35 (15.1%). A smaller percentage (3.9%) were aged 36-40. The findings indicate that most PCOS-related infertility cases occur in women in their early 20s.
Conclusions:
Despite its prevalence, PCOS poses significant health risks, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Effective management of PCOS is essential for reducing its long-term health impacts and improving reproductive outcomes for women in Bangladesh.
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