New Delhi: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome has assumed an epidemic proposition in India because nearly 30 percent adolescent females are facing the risk of infertility and other complications following its appearance, doctors have warned.
They said the main trigger factor for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is poor life style among young females during the condition called ‘polycystic ovaries’.
“The extreme life style changes among Indian females and consumption of junk food has increased the prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in them over a decade,” Dr Jaideep Malhotra, a leading gynecologist and former president, the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) told the Healthwire.
She claimed that nearly 15 percent females in India develop multiple cysts in ovaries during early age and “the condition can lead to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in them if they don’t follow healthy lifestyle and proper treatment.
Following the emergence of PCOS, the hormonal imbalance can give rise to obesity, metabolic disorders, hypertension and other complications among the women, according to her.
“The syndrome can lead to lifelong ailments among the females if the underlying pathophysiology like pre-diabetes or pre-hypertension is neglected. The long-term ailments include gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, poor obstetric outcome, risks for cardiovascular diseases and endometrial proliferative diseases,” Dr Malhotra has warned.
The PCOS is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. This has become a major public health concern over the years as large number of females reported having complications especially infertility followings the multiple cysts.
The main symptoms include irregular in periods, male features and excessive weight besides having physiological implications.
“As per our assessment across India nearly 30 percent female patients coming to infertility or IVF clinics are having PCOS,” Dr Malhotra said.
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh has also found, in its recently concluded study, that uncontrolled or untreated PCOS can raise the risk of infertility and other ailments like diabetes, heart disease.
The study involved 300 females including 150 patients with untreated and uncontrolled PCOS and the other group of 150 women who had controlled PCOS.
“Females who followed poor lifestyle, consumed excessive junk food, no or low physical activity, more intake of carbohydrates and high stress levels get affected with PCOS,” the study revealed.
It also discovered that lack of awareness increases the problem among the affected women.
About 40 per cent females are seeking information online while many were scared due to misinformation from unverified sources, the PGIMER study revealed.
The study concluded that PCOS has heterogeneous representation and most women suffered in ignorance and isolation.
“They hardly have any information about the disease and were dependent on internet as their main source of information. The routine treatment for PCOS is comparatively expensive and less effective. Poor lifestyle is a major reason for the rising prevalence of the disease,” it said.
According to the study, weight reduction has a comprehensive impact in controlling other health problems like insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, etc.
“With the weight reduction, there was also improvement in the symptoms and the test reports. Probiotic supplementation had an overall additional benefit in reducing the abdominal fat, LH:FSH ratio, total testosterone, LPS level, menstrual regularity and also preserving the gut motility. Thus, it can be used as a new PCOS treatment modality in future,” it said.