**Background:** Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the predominant endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, with a 16% prevalence in the Middle East. Despite its significant health burden—including infertility, metabolic complications, and increased risk of gynecological cancers—PCOS remains underdiagnosed, partly due to insufficient disease knowledge among the population. In Jordan, prior studies suggested inadequate PCOS awareness among women, but no study had assessed knowledge in both sexes or across broader demographic strata. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of PCOS awareness among the Jordanian populace, including males as primary decision-makers in Jordan's hierarchical society.
**Methods:** A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and February 2022 targeting individuals over 18 from Jordan's central region. Participants were recruited through stratified random sampling via social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram) using a self-administered Google Forms questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised two domains: demographics and PCOS knowledge (25 items on a 5-point Likert scale, Cronbach's alpha 0.834). Scoring used a median cut-off; scores above the median indicated adequate knowledge. A minimum of 385 participants was required (80% power, 95% CI, 5% margin of error). Of 1,630 approached, 1,532 met inclusion criteria (94% eligibility). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 with Chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and binary/linear regression. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
**Key Results:** The mean age was 33.74 ± 12.45 years; 88.6% were female, 92.0% lived in urban areas, 52.8% were married, 62.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher, and 57.8% had non-medical degrees. Overall, participants demonstrated adequate knowledge of PCOS risk factors, etiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes, but showed subpar familiarity with PCOS comorbidities and genetic links. Notably, 60.8% did not know that PCOS patients do not necessarily have multiple ovarian cysts. The association between PCOS and heart disease was unknown to most (11% correct), and hypertension awareness was low (19.1%). The genetic component was the least known aspect: 32.9% answered incorrectly and 48.8% did not know. Regarding lifestyle management, 74.1% identified weight loss and 69.3% identified exercise as beneficial, but only 27.5% recognized protein-rich foods and 6.1% recognized fat-rich foods as helpful. Women scored significantly higher than men (57.5 ± 6.06 vs. 54.1 ± 6.71, p=0.019). Single participants, those with higher education, and healthcare workers had significantly higher scores (all p<0.001). A weak negative correlation existed between age and knowledge (r=-1.41, p<0.001). Binary logistic regression showed that older age (OR 0.976; 95%CI 0.962–0.989), no education (OR 0.463; 95%CI 0.263–0.816), and non-medical study fields (OR 0.458; 95%CI 0.343–0.613) predicted unsatisfactory knowledge. Female sex (OR 1.281; 95%CI 2.496–5.190) and income >JOD 2000 (OR 0.417; 95%CI 1.038–2.217) predicted adequate knowledge. Linear regression confirmed these predictors.
**Clinical Implications:** This study reveals that while Jordanians have acceptable baseline PCOS knowledge, critical gaps remain—particularly regarding comorbidities (heart disease, hypertension), genetic heritability, and nutritional management. These gaps persist even among healthcare workers. Given that men are primary healthcare decision-makers in Jordanian society, their lower knowledge levels represent a barrier to timely diagnosis and management of PCOS in female relatives. The authors recommend: (1) educational seminars by specialist gynecologists and endocrinologists for medical personnel; (2) physician education on nutritional management of PCOS; (3) adding vitamin D3 supplements (50,000 IU/week) to the national PCOS management plan, given high deficiency rates (37.3%) among Jordanian women; (4) public awareness campaigns via social media, radio, podcasts, and television targeting housewives, mothers, and men; and (5) use of mobile applications and SMS for PCOS education. The study's strengths include a large sample including both sexes and stratified sampling, but limitations include online-only recruitment (potential selection bias toward urban, internet-connected populations), self-reported data, and cross-sectional design precluding causal inference.