Sireesha (name changed) was taken aback when her 11-year-old daughter began menstruating. “She was far too young to comprehend the changes taking place in her body. However, I did my best to help her understand and navigate these changes,” Sireesha says. Sireesha understood the importance of having a regular menstrual cycle and became concerned when she noticed her daughter’s period was extremely unpredictable. Dr. Anupama Kiran, the best gynecologist in town, was immediately consulted.
Dr. Anupama is a gynecologist at Tiruttani’s Peacock Hospital, which has world-class facilities for treating women and their specific issues. “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common problem that affects young girls and women of reproductive age. In most cases, it is a lifestyle disease that can be easily treated with lifestyle changes,” opines Dr.Anupama. Sireesha’s daughter developed classic PCOS symptoms following menarche (first menstrual period). After a thorough physical examination, ultrasound scanning, and various blood tests, Dr. Anupama confirmed this.
PCOS symptoms include irregular periods, sudden weight gain, hirsutism (excessive hair growth in the face, chest, stomach, and so on), acne, hair loss, and so on. “The real issue with PCOS is that it raises your risk of developing other health-related problems later in life,” says Dr. Anupama. Women with PCOS are more likely to develop fertility issues, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health problems as they grow older. This increases the risk of endometrial thickening, endometrial cancer, and other complications in older women. “Hence it is critical that PCOS be treated as soon as possible,” Dr. Anupama warns.
Self-care is the most important aspect of treating PCOS which includes a nutritious diet and regular exercise. According to Dr. Anupama, the main cause of PCOS in girls approaching menarche is a lack of exercise. “Schools and parents are so focused on their children’s academic education that they overlook the importance of physical activity in growing up. Therefore, I always ask parents to incorporate more play time into their daughters’ routines,” says Dr. Anupama. Her advice to women of reproductive age is to marry at the appropriate age and not postpone pregnancy too much.
Dr. Anupama notes that many of her patients have overcome PCOS by adopting a healthier lifestyle, taking medications in a consistent manner, and attending regular follow-up appointments. “After having a child, many of these women begin having regular menstrual cycles. This is proof that the very thing these women struggled to have, a baby, turned out to be the cure they required,” Dr. Anupama observes.
Dr. Anupama consoles Sireesha by citing her patients who have been cured of PCOS. She reassures Sireesha that her daughter will grow up to be a healthy young woman with no long-term effects from PCOS as long as she leads a healthy and active lifestyle and takes her medication regularly.