- Atreum Speciality Hospital
- March 11, 2022
PCOS is on the rise among Indian women. Know why!
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)! It is a common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have rare or chronic menstrual periods or have high levels of male hormones (androgens). The ovaries may develop several small collections of fluid (vesicles) and do not release eggs regularly. The exact cause of PCOS is not found yet.
According to a study by the PCOS Society, one in five women in India have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 1 in 10 women have PCOS worldwide, a common endocrine system condition in women of reproductive age. Six out of every ten women with this condition are diagnosed with PCOS.
PCOS was first described in 1935. However, there is a general lack of understanding of the problem in India and it has not been noticed for years. It is thought that about 10 million women worldwide suffer from this disease. According to a study by the AIIMS Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, approximately 20-25% of Indian women of reproductive age have PCOS. 60% of women with PCOS are overweight and 35-50% have a fatty liver. About 70% have insulin resistance, 60-70% have high testosterone levels, and 40-60% have glucose intolerance.
Because the symptoms and severity of the disorder vary widely, many parts of it are unknown. Insulin levels are reported to be higher than normal in women with PCOS. It promotes the conversion of sugar (glucose) into energy in the body’s cells.
If you do not create enough insulin, blood sugar levels can rise. This can happen if you are insulin resistant, which means you will not be able to use the insulin you produce effectively. If you are insulin resistant, your body may be trying to control your blood sugar levels by producing a lot of insulin.
High insulin levels cause the ovaries to create more androgens, such as testosterone. Insulin resistance can also be caused by a higher than normal BMI. Insulin resistance makes it difficult to lose weight, which is why women with PCOS often face this problem.
Symptoms of PCOS are:
The signs and symptoms often develop during puberty, such as during the first menstruation. Sometimes PCOS develops later, for example, it depends on weight gain. However, the signs and symptoms may vary from one person to another.
Irregular periods: Rare or irregular menstrual cycles are the most common symptoms of PCOS. For example, you may have fewer than nine periods per year, more than 35 days between periods, and abnormally heavy periods.
Excess androgens: High levels of male hormones can cause physical signs, such as excess facial and body hair and occasionally severe acne and baldness.
Polycystic ovaries: Your ovaries can be large and contain blisters that surround the eggs, and as a result, the ovaries may not function properly.
PCOS is an urgent public health problem in women, especially adolescents, and requires careful assessment, rapid intervention, and appropriate treatment. The need for healthy lifestyle promotion, regular exercise, and increased PCOS awareness programs is the need of the moment to enable a holistic solution to this problem. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, visit the best gynecology hospital in Bangalore.
