TLDR Many young women in Punjab, Pakistan, show symptoms of PCOS and have a lower quality of life, but they are not aware of the condition.
In 2020, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1258 young females aged 18-25 years in the Punjab district of Pakistan to determine the prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) symptoms based on the Rotterdam criteria. The study found an increased prevalence of one or two PCOS symptoms, specifically menstrual irregularity and hirsutism, in most of the participants. However, most of these females were not aware of PCOS. The study also found a correlation between increased PCOS symptomology and a poorer quality of life. The researchers concluded that despite being educated, most females were largely unaware of PCOS symptoms, suggesting a need for educational seminars to promote awareness about risk factors, which could contribute to early diagnosis and prevention.
111 citations,
November 2010 in “Human Reproduction” South Asian women with PCOS are more likely to have metabolic issues and central obesity, and simple measures like waist size and blood pressure can help identify these risks early.
3 citations,
March 2018 in “Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing” Continuing education programs significantly increased rural nurse practitioners' knowledge about PCOS.
30 citations,
April 2014 in “Seminars in Reproductive Medicine” Diagnosing PCOS in teenagers is hard because its symptoms often look like normal puberty, and there's a need for better diagnosis methods and agreement on criteria.
October 2016 in “Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association” Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects 6%-15% of women of reproductive age, causing symptoms like acne and hair loss, and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease; it's managed through diet, exercise, and medications like Metformin and hormonal contraceptives.
4 citations,
September 2013 in “Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism” Different types of polycystic ovary syndrome show varying levels of insulin resistance, with the 'PHO' type being the most insulin resistant.
815 citations,
April 2010 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Women with PCOS should be screened for heart disease risk and manage their health to prevent it.
