PCOD awareness among women very low: Docs

Chennai: A sudden change in lifestyle, consumption of junk food, lack of any form of exercise, a diabetic father and a mother who has Poly Cystic Ovary Disorder (PCOD) are seen as contributing factors to the increasing number of women with PCOD today.

Lack of awareness on this disorder and its symptoms are alarming, doctors say
“Recently, a couple brought their 12-year-old daughter, weighing 112 kg, to me as they felt there was something wrong with her hormones. It hit me hard that her parents waited for her to put on so much weight before they brought her in for a checkup,” said Dr Rajapriya Ayyappan, MD, SrinivasPriya Hospital and Om Fertility Centre.

“I realised there could be many young girls who are obese and suffering with PCOD, without having the slightest idea,” she added. With this in mind, she decided to organize a rally last month involving the participation of schoolgirls to create awareness on PCOD.

“Awareness through such rallies may not limit the numbers, but can help control the severity of the chronic disorder,” said gynaecologist Dr Rajashree.
PCOD doesn’t fall under the purview of a gynaecologist alone, but that of a dermatologist, diabetologist and a general physician as well, she added.

“My husband noticed some sudden change in our daughter’s weight and decided to research on it. He suggested we take her to a gynaecologist as he felt she may have PCOD. He was right,” said Parvathy K. The next step is to educate fathers as most of them are diabetic, as it can contribute to PCOD among girls, said Dr Rajapriya.