Listing PCOS as the most common reproductive endocrinological disorder in women, Anita Talwar, senior consultant at the obstetric and gynaecology department of Max hospital, said it can even occur in girls as young as 11 years. The disorder manifests in 11.2 percent of women in their reproductive years with 50 percent comprising adolescent girls.
"We are seeing this problem among young girls, which is a worrying factor," she said.
A study published last year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the effects of a low glycemic index diet compared with a conventional low-fat, high-fibre diet on women with PCOS.
They found that women who followed a low glycemic index diet-a weight loss diet based on controlling blood sugar-had better insulin sensitivity and more menstrual regularity.
Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman's stage of life.
For younger women who desire birth control, the birth control pill, especially those with low androgenic (male hormone-like) side effects, can revert the PCOS effect by leading to regular periods and prevent the risk of uterine cancer.
Another option is intermittent therapy with the hormone progesterone. Progesterone therapy induces menstrual periods and reduces the risk of uterine cancer, but does not provide contraceptive protection.
Srivastava said the need of the hour is to create more awareness about the problem among people, especially women.
