Top 15 Facts and Stats on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is one of the most common health problems encountered in women. It is characterized by a hormonal imbalance and presence of cysts in the ovaries (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Polycystic ovary syndrome

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Normally, both male and female hormones are required for the proper functioning of the body. In women with PCOS, male hormones are produced in excess. This hormonal disorder causes symptoms like hirsutism (excess facial hair growth), obesity, thinning of hair, male pattern baldness, acne, irregular periods, high blood pressure, lack of ovulation, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and endometrial cancer (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

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If any two of the above symptoms are seen in a woman, then PCOS has to be considered and investigated.

Here are Some Must Know Facts About PCOS

Statistics on PCOS

1. Around 6-20% of women in the reproductive age group are affected by PCOS (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   The management of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
   
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2. Nearly 70% of PCOS affected women remain undiagnosed worldwide (4^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   About Polycystic ovary syndrome
   
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3. PCOS is also extremely common in India with approximately 1 in every 10 women suffering from the condition (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Polycystic ovary syndrome fact sheet
   
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4. Around 40 % of women with PCOS develop either prediabetes or diabetes by the age of 40 years. Women with PCOS often respond to treatment with the anti-diabetes medication metformin (6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Diabetes
   
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5. Patients with PCOS are also at a high risk for cardiac disease; the risk of a heart attack is 4-7 times higher in women with PCOS than in their counterparts without PCOS (7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: How Your Ovaries Can Affect Your Heart
   
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6. Around 38-88% of women with PCOS suffer from obesity. The obesity could be the reason behind these women commonly developing obstructive sleep apnea (8^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Implications for Pathogenesis and Novel Management Strategies
   
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7. Women with PCOS are likely to reach menopause 2 - 5 years later than the women without PCOS. Thus, their reproductive age may last longer than in women without PCOS (9^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Menopause in Forty Plus Women
   
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8. Hirsutism affects around 70%-80% of women with PCOS (10^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Hirsutism
   
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9. Excess androgen is seen in 60-80% of girls and women with PCOS. It is a key problem in the disorder (11^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Information About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
   
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10. Women with PCOS are 50% more likely to have a mother, aunt or sister with PCOS (12^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    What is Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?
    
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Effects of PCOS

11. PCOS is among the most common causes of infertility in females. Women with PCOS are more prone to miscarriages, still births, preterm delivery and gestational diabetes (13^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Pregnancy in polycystic ovary syndrome
    
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12. PCOS also affects the mental health of women. Women with PCOS have high rates of anxiety and depression, which should be diagnosed and treated (14^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
    
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13. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has also been noted in women with PCOS. Women with PCOS should therefore get their liver functions checked to detect fatty liver at the earliest (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Polycystic ovary syndrome fact sheet
    
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When PCOS Can be Diagnosed?

14. PCOS can affect any time but is usually diagnosed when the woman is in her twenties or thirties (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Polycystic ovary syndrome fact sheet
    
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Management of PCOS

15. There is no cure for PCOS, but it can be managed with the proper diet and physical activity (12^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    What is Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?
    
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