4 min readNew DelhiAug 15, 2023 09:10 AM IST
First published on: Aug 15, 2023 at 09:10 AM IST
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) has been one of the commonest hormonal problems in women. Recent data shows that at least three out of 10 women are diagnosed with it and alarming fact is six out of 10 diagnosed women of PCOS are teenagers, said Dr Vaishali Joshi, senior obstetrician and gynaecologist at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital.
“PCOS is a lifestyle disease which involves problems like irregular periods, scanty menstrual flow, acne, excess body hair, weight gain, darkening of skin along with Polycystic bulky ovaries (PCOD) on sonography and hormonal imbalance including high insulin resistance and excess of male hormones. Many young women get wrongly diagnosed as PCOD instead of PCOS by the problems they face without correct investigations. There are a lot of myths and facts around PCOS,” she added.
Dr Joshi explains myths that need to be busted:
*PCOS happens only in young women in early twenties to thirties.
PCOS can happen any time from age of 18 till peri- menopause age group and not necessarily in this age group.
*All women showing Polycystic Ovaries (PCOD) have PCOS
Polycystic ovaries can be found in 20 per cent of healthy women. At the same time, all women with PCOS do not necessarily have PCOD ovaries on sonography.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance disorder that is commonly found in women of reproductive age group. (Pic source: Getty/Thinkstock)
*PCOD ovaries give abdominal pain
PCOD ovaries are ovaries where small (< 10mm) size water bubbles (cysts) are arranged at the periphery of the ovary in a pattern of pearl necklace. They do not give any pain or discomfort. The ovarian cysts which give rise to pain are at least 3 cm or more in size which are not found in PCOS.
*Irregular periods and scanty period flow causes weight gain and PCOS
Culturally menstruation has been considered as a process where unhealthy blood is thrown out of the women’s body. The skipping of periods or decreased flow prevents this cleansing process and leads to accumulation of fat and obesity. Unfortunately its other way round. The weight gain gives rise to hormonal imbalance and hence irregularity of the periods and development of PCOS.
*PCOS happens only in overweight women
Weight gain is common in women with acquired PCOS due to a bad lifestyle. Almost 80-85 per cent PCOS women are overweight. But PCOS can happen in women with normal bodyweight, particularly those who have family history.
*All women with irregular periods have PCOS
Period irregularity can also occur in thyroid disorders, in hyper-prolactinaemia, eating disorders, over exercise induced low hormonal conditions, particularly in long distance runners.
*Acnes are always due to PCOS
Acne or pimples on the face can be due to various causes. PCOS is one of them. Most common are due to skin problems, allergy or dandruff.
*All PCOS women have difficulty in conceiving
PCOS causes anovulation i.e stops release of an egg every month, but doesn’t stop it completely. PCOS women have in-consistent and delayed ovulation and can conceive naturally. Most of the time due to regular skipping of periods they don’t realise they are pregnant!
*Medicines can cure PCOS
Usually drugs are used to treat the symptoms of the PCOS depending on treatment necessary e.g, infertility or regularisation of periods. These treatments don’t treat the root cause and hence not the curative drugs. PCOS is a lifestyle disease and the cure is obtained by regular exercises, dietary modifications, and weight loss.
*Losing weight can completely cure PCOS
Unfortunately PCOS is a life-long disease. A weight loss of at least 10 per cent will result in improvement of symptoms by decreasing hyper insulinemia and excess male hormones. One needs to continue lifestyle measures and weight loss should be maintained.
📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!
Many young women get wrongly diagnosed as PCOD instead of PCOS by the problems they face without correct investigations. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock) 
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance disorder that is commonly found in women of reproductive age group. (Pic source: Getty/Thinkstock)
Share
