Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndromes (PCOS) in adolescent girls and young women: A questionnaire-based study

Abstract

Background: One of the most prevalent metabolic disorders among women of reproductive age is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Menstrual dysfunction and androgen excess symptoms, such as hirsutism and acne, are common in women with PCOS. Additionally, there may be an increased risk of other morbidities such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, infertility, cancer, and psychological disorders. Aim: This study is an attempt to summarise the prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS) in adolescent girls and young women residing in the National Capital Region belonging to the age group of 11-30 years. Materials and Methods: The study was questionnaire-based and carried out for a duration of 6 months with 267 participants. The BMI of the participants was calculated using the formula: BMI= weight in kgs/ height in m2. PCOS was diagnosed using a questionnaire with Rotterdam’s criteria. Result: The prevalence of PCOS was found to be 77.1%. The mean age group at which maximum number of participants were diagnosed with PCOS was 18-20 years. The BMI (BMI=kg/m2) of all the participants was calculated and 8% participants came under the obese category. 90% of the participants were aware of PCOS, 79.2% participants agreed PCOS is increasing rapidly while 19.3% participants had no idea about PCOS. Conclusion: The study concludes that respondents were less aware of the actual prevalence of PCOS and also associate the disorder’s manifestation with lifestyle variations. Even at this young age adolescent girls and women are at a high risk of metabolic syndrome because of the increased prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and lack of physical activity. A good diet, regular exercise, early diagnosis, and treatment modalities available are all critical components of raising awareness about PCOS and the risk factors associated with it.