PCOS is the abbreviation of Polycystic ovary syndrome. It is when the ovaries produce too much androgen leading to hormonal imbalance in women. As a result, women with PCOS experience irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, no ovulation, or unpredictable ovulation. The ovaries develop small fluid-filled sacs called cysts which contain the undeveloped follicles. These follicles mature and release egg - ovulation. Thus there is no ovulation or unpredictable ovulation with PCOS. In addition to this PCOS also causes acne, weight gain, increased facial and body hair, fatigue, hair fall, mood swings, pigmentation of skin, etc. Insulin resistance is also seen in PCOS, and it can increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. (1) PCOS can happen in young girls as well, anytime after puberty. (2)
PCOS affects about 3.7%-22.5% i.e. 1.3 crore to 7.9 crore women in India and 4%-20% i.e. 8 crore to 40 crore women worldwide. These are huge numbers. There is an ongoing epidemic of PCOS worldwide. (3) It is crucial to raise awareness about PCOS as timely diagnosis and early management does wonders.
So what causes PCOS and why is there an epidemic of PCOS today whereas it was something unheard of in the previous generations?
PCOS today is caused mainly by a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, high stress, junk, and processed food. The solution to reversing PCOS lies in reverting to the traditional ways, to the methods of our previous generations i.e.
Eating fresh, nutritious home-cooked food, and avoiding junk and processed food as much as possible.
Include daily physical activity, such as walking, aerobics, strength, and weight training, and maintain a healthy weight.
Managing stress. Stress has increased significantly today with women managing homes and jobs, and due to many different factors like social media, lack of women's safety, etc. However, it is important to manage stress as increased cortisol levels worsen the symptoms of PCOS.
The good news is that PCOS can be managed to a great extent with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and managing stress levels. In addition to this, other treatment options include - hormonal birth control to regulate the menstrual cycle, metformin to help with insulin resistance, and drugs like clomiphene, letrozole, and gonadotropins to induce ovulation. (2) PCOS is not a disease but it is caused by lifestyle and food habits and can be managed with the right care and control.
References -
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - Mayo Clinic
The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review- Ritu Deswal et. al - J Hum Reprod Sci. 2020 Dec 28;13(4):261–271. doi: 10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board