SÍNDROME DOS OVÁRIOS POLICÍSTICOS: PERFORMANCES ‘DESATUALIZADA’ E ‘ATUALIZADA’ EM GRUPOS NO FACEBOOK

Abstract

This work’s purpose is to investigate the public discourses around the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which are produced and circulated on Facebook groups around the topic. The present study is part of the project entitled “New forms of knowledge circulation and access to biomedical technologies: contemporary scenarios for bodily and subjective transformations”, which aims to reflect on body transformations in contexts where the search for procedures represents mainly a search for the self-improvement, focusing on body contours and physical performance. Hence, it is essential to observe the interactions and production of public discourses around biomedical technologies considered to be innovative. PCOS is a syndrome that affects 6% from 16% of women in reproductive age and it can brings consequences for the endocrine and reproductive systems of the patients. Through the observation of the posts and the comments on Facebook groups it was possible to understand the field in a general way and also to identify what the group participants consider as ‘updated’ or ‘outdated’ surrounding the definition, the diagnosis, the treatment and the health professionals indicated to treat PCOS. The insertion on the groups took place in September 2020 and the data were collected until July 2021. The aim is: a) to introduce PCOS from a gynecological and a nutritional perspective; b) describe the function of these Facebook groups, which were identified from the writers observation work; and c) introduce  the discussion around the ‘updated’ and ‘outdated’ performances of PCOS surrounding the definition, the diagnosis, the treatment and the health professionals indicated to treat the patients