Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Key points:

• One in five women in India grapples with PCOS, with 60% of those seeking infertility treatments doing so due to PCOS-related problems.

About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:

• It is a very common hormone problem for women of childbearing age.
• Symptoms:
  • Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and have many small cysts on the ovaries.
  • It can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain. 
• Causes: Genetic predisposition, often marked by a family history of diabetes or obesity, exposed to environments that encourage neither a healthy diet nor regular exercise and are stress-laden.
• Treatment: It can be prevented through lifestyle changes, medications and fertility treatments. 

Q1) What are Androgens?

Androgens are a group of sex hormones that are primarily associated with the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics. However, they are also present in females, albeit in lower quantities, where they play important roles in various physiological processes.

Source: PCOS: hidden toll of academic pressure on health among young girls