DS
dr. sulochana pednekar
Goa University
Taleigão, India
About this Research Topic
Manuscript Submission Deadline 5 February 2027
This Research Topic is currently accepting articles
Background
Women’s health status plays a fundamental aspect of their overall well-being and is influenced by a range of biological, social, economic, political and environmental factors. Research shows that women are more likely than men to experience depression and anxiety . Additionally, women may face gender-based violence, discrimination, and the responsibilities of caregiving, which can lead to self-neglect and psychological distress. These challenges, alongside reproductive health transitions throughout life increase vulnerability to mental health issues. Chronic gynaecological conditions - including endometriosis, polycystic metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease - collectively affect an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide. Despite their widespread prevalence, the psychological and psychosocial dimensions of these conditions have historically received far less clinical and research attention than their physical manifestations, especially in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. This lack of focus represents a critical gap in women's healthcare and research.
Qualitative and mixed-methods explorations of lived experience are sparse, especially those representing cross-cultural and LMIC perspectives. In psychosocial intervention studies evaluating the effectiveness of behavioural and psychosocial interventions, multidisciplinary care models have not been widely published. Co-morbid presentations involving multiple gynaecological diagnoses are rarely examined, and the experiences of adolescents and perimenopausal women are insufficiently studied. Several important factors underscore the importance of this research area:
● Patient burden is profound and underacknowledged. Chronic pain, fertility concerns, hormonal fluctuations, and socially invisible symptoms can create psychological distress that can disrupt relationships, employment, and functionality.
● Healthcare systems mainly focused on symptom management, with limited integration of mental health support, psychological screening, or psychosocial referral options.
● Stigma and delayed diagnosis cause harm. Cultural silence around menstruation and gynaecological health leads to delayed help-seeking, misdiagnosis, and trivializing of women's experiences - all of which worsen psychological outcomes.
● Clinicians and policy makers require robust evidence to support investment in psychological therapies, peer support networks, and multidisciplinary care models tailored to this population.
● Women in LMICs face compounded barriers - limited diagnostic access, greater financial burden, and cultural constraints - yet remain largely invisible in the psychological well-being literature.
This Research Topic seeks original research articles, systematic reviews, case studies and mixed-methods studies that examine the mental health burden, quality-of-life outcomes, and psychosocial support needs of women living with these conditions. We aim to advance evidence-based understanding, experiences, and interventions related to the psychological well-being of women and promote integrated, person-centred approaches to gynaecological care.
We welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
● Psychosocial well-being across the lifespan among women, including adolescence, reproductive years and beyond reproductive years
● Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and disordered eating in endometriosis, PMOS, fibroids, or related conditions
● Access to mental health services and support systems for women to effectively address psychological distress.
● Health-related quality of life measurement and outcomes across the lifespan
● Impact of diagnostic delay on the psychological well-being of women
● Fertility-(Gynaecology) related distress, body image, and sexual wellbeing (shame, stigma, self-esteem and societal pressures)
● Psychosocial interventions that have been used have been found effective, including peer support models and digital health tools
● Multidisciplinary and integrated care models with psychological components, including implementation of integrated models of care, routine psychological screening, and evaluation of multidisciplinary services
● Patient-reported outcomes and co-produced research methodologies, including co-production and patient engagement approaches as key areas of interest
● Adolescence to perimenopausal women's experiences
● Psychological and psychosocial impact of key reproductive health transitions - puberty, pregnancy and the postpartum period, and menopause - as distinct inflection points in women’s mental health and gynaecological wellbeing
● Cross-cultural, intersectional, and LMIC perspectives on psychosocial well-being across the lifespan
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
- Brief Research Report
- Case Report
- Classification
- Clinical Trial
- Community Case Study
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
- Data Report
- Editorial
- FAIR² Data
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Keywords: Psycho-social, Mental Wellbeing, Gynaecological Condition, Interventions, Support Systems
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
