‘PCOS ails one in five women’

Chennai

Every day, Dr Rajapriya Ayyappan, gynaecologist, Om fertility centre, Srinivas Priya hospital in Perambur, comes across 10-15 girls and women with PCOS at her clinic. Going by the increasing number of cases, Dr Rajapriya says that it is time that girls are educated about the condition at an earlier age so they can take the necessary precautions as PCOS is also linked to infertility.

She says that it manifests in girls and women due to various reasons. “Causes could vary from weight to genetic predisposition. I see girls as young as 14 with the syndrome and it is a long-time fight and requires follow up,” she says.

Some of the symptoms of PCOS includes weight gain, irregular periods, oily acne-prone skin with excess facial hair. It warrants a visit to gynaecologist who further verifies through scan and blood tests. “It is essential to know it has implications like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and endometrial cancer,” she adds.

Not the end of road

Dr Amudha Hari, gynaecologist and fertility specialist, Motherhood, says that PCOS is now rampant because of increased diagnosis. “However, there is a lot of variation in the condition from mild to severe. Treatment options also depend on which spectrum the person is in. Treatment protocol also varies with the other parameters - like if the person has hirsutism or is trying to conceive and is not able to. Treatment is not standardised. The diagnosis has to be made with clinical material,” she says.

Just like human beings are prone to fall sick, women are prone to PCOS, says Dr Radhika Ramesh, gynaecologist, Raju Hospital, T Nagar. “I see many women, especially those in their reproductive age, with PCOS. Women are predisposed to it and it can be managed effectively through treatment and modifications,” she says.

Catch them young

Given the increasing number of women with PCOS, Dr Rajapriya has now started educational awareness programmes for schoolgirls. She says, “It was alarming to see so many women having the syndrome and I thought they should be educated when they are young. Apart from a road rally, which we held recently, we have opened a Saturday speciality clinic dedicated to PCOS.”

How to prevent PCOS

• Good nutrition
• Balanced diet
• Exercise
• Balanced Lifestyle