In India recently, an increasing number of women have been suffering from PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. According to medical experts, especially gynecologists', more awareness is needed in this regard. The doctors say it is not a matter of panic; with proper precautions, diet, and lifestyle modifications, you can easily prevent and manage PCOS.

More than 20% of Indian women are now suffering from PCOS. Dr. Duru Shah, the founder of the PCOS society in India, says "PCOS is not a disease but a serious health condition. We need to shed some light on this issue; otherwise, it might negatively impact Indian women's health." 

What is PCOS? 

PCOS is a condition where a woman's reproductive health is affected the most. The ovaries produce fewer female hormones (oestrogen) and more male hormones (androgen) in this condition. As a result, women start skipping periods, gaining extra weight, facial and body hair, hair loss on the scalp, etc.

Also, most women face hindrances while trying to get pregnant. Unfortunately, most women are diagnosed with PCOS in childbearing age (18-44). Almost 25% of women who belongs to this age group have PCOS. Doctors that nearly 70% of women are not even aware that they have PCOS.  

 Causes 

Till date, doctors can't discover one particular reason for PCOS. The source of PCOS starts with male and female hormonal disbalances. But there will be a shower of explanation if we try to find out all the reasons behind such an occurrence.

But there are a few common causes for PCOS: 

Genetics: Sometimes, genes matter a lot in a few cases. If PCOS runs in your family, then you also might catch it quickly. In this case, the only way out is to take precautions and preventions from an earlier age.  

Messy lifestyle: A messy lifestyle with a lot of coffee shots and junk food- that's the main villain of your movie. In this fast technical world, we have completely forgotten about our health. Our laptops and mobile screens have snatched the essence of our sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes, eating a lot of carbs, caffeine, red meat, and inadequate sleep trigger hormonal imbalances resulting in PCOS.  

Obesity: Being overweight or obese is one of the most prominent reasons for having PCOS. Obesity can also run in genes, but sometimes it may happen due to food habits or past medical history.  

Taking stress/ anxiety: Taking too much stress or tension instigates cortisol of stress hormone secretion. The cortisol hormone prevents the ovaries from producing enough amount of estrogen.  

Remedies: 

Managing PCOS is a matter of making a few modifications in your lifestyle: 

• ➼ Exercise daily 
• ➼ Sleep for at least 6-8 hours 
• ➼ Include plenty of fibre, protein, vitamins, and healthy fats in your diet 
• ➼ Avoid eating caffeine, processed or sugary products 
• ➼ Take natural health supplements. For example, andMe's herbal PCOS drink. This plant-based powder is one of the best drinks for PCOS enriched with Ayurvedic herbs' goodness. 

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