We use cookies to ensure our website works properly and to personalise your experience. Cookies policy
Department Of Pharmacy, Dr. D. Y. Patil College Of Pharmacy, Akurdi, Pune, India
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a widespread endocrine disease in women of reproductive age that is manifested by hormonal disequilibrium, metabolic disruptions, and reproductive issues. The current paper set out to assess the clinical presentation, lifestyle, treatment of PCOS, and awareness of the disease among women. The survey was done across sections and a structured questionnaire was issued to the participants who represent various age groups. The questionnaire contained a section on demographic, symptom profile, clinical diagnosis, treatment methods, lifestyle habits, and awareness about PCOS. The results showed that a high percentage of the respondents had irregular menstrual cycles and had frequent complaints of acne, loss of hair, and weight gain. There were also psychological implications of stress and anxiety which were rampant. Many participants were found to be having lifestyle factors such as poor dietary habits and insufficient physical activity. Although some participants had consulted a doctor, there were loopholes in treatment adherence and awareness. The research indicates that diagnosis, awareness, and lifestyle change should be done at an early age to effectively manage PCOS..
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a widespread endocrine disorder that occurs in women during the reproductive age group and has gained relevance as a health issue over the past few years. It is a multifactorial disorder that is associated with hormonal unbalance, menstrual abnormality and metabolic abnormalities like insulin resistance. The condition not only impacts the reproductive health but also has long-term complications such as infertility, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular risks.
PCOS has a diverse clinical presentation in different people, and this can easily pose a problem in early diagnosis. The most common symptoms are irregular menstrual cycles, acne, too much hair, weight gain and thinning of hair. Besides physical symptoms, PCOS affects mental well-being significantly, and a significant number of people are affected by stress, anxiety, and lack of self-confidence.
Diet, physical activity, sleep and stress are lifestyle factors that are important in the development and progression of PCOS. Poor lifestyle habits can exacerbate the symptoms, and proper lifestyle changes can be used to help manage the disease in a positive way.
Although the prevalence of PCOS is on the rise, the level of awareness about this condition, its symptoms, and ways of managing it is still lacking in most women. Such ignorance mostly results in failure to make an early diagnosis and prognosis. It is therefore important to understand the experiences of patients, patterns in treatment and lifestyle behaviours to fill in the gaps in the management.
The current investigation aims to evaluate clinical profile, pattern of treatment, lifestyle and perception of patient with PCOS in women using a structured questionnaire. Involving both diagnosed and undiagnosed, the research will aim to offer a more comprehensive perspective on the condition and emphasize the need to raise awareness and intervene early.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The survey-based cross-sectional study was carried out to assess different factors involved with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women. It was conducted in 2025, through a structured questionnaire that was used to gather pertinent data. The survey was made up of a cross-sectional survey based on a structured questionnaire.
The questionnaire was divided into various sections such as demographic information, health and symptom profile, clinical diagnosis, treatment patterns, lifestyle and dietary habits, awareness of PCOS and perception of the patient. To elicit both qualitative and quantitative answers, the questions were structured in such a way that they would.
The questionnaire was sent over the Internet, and the respondents of various ages have volunteered to participate in the research. The involvement was fully voluntary and the responses were kept confidential all through the study.
The sample consisted of both PCOS diagnosed and non-diagnosed people, as well as in order to gain a more general picture of awareness, symptoms, and lifestyle-related factors in the general population.
The data obtained were summarized and interpreted by descriptive statistical tools like frequency distribution and percentage analysis. The results were analyzed to comprehend trends in clinical presentation, life style changes, treatment modalities, and attitudes regarding PCOS.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The current research collected the results of 230 respondents based on the structured survey that allowed covering all aspects of clinical manifestations, lifestyle behaviours, treatment, and awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The data gathered in four key areas, namely, demographic characteristics, symptom profile, clinical diagnosis and treatment, and lifestyle and awareness were packaged into tables and discussed in any detail. The tabulated findings in each section below are presented and extensively discussed comparatively and interpretatively. Table 1 shows the demographic data of the 230 participants.
Demographic Data
The most common age group was that of 1925 (83.6%), and this is attributed to the fact that the study sample comprised of mainly young adults. Regarding residential background, 71.1% of the participants were in urban or semi-urban backgrounds. In terms of educational level, 60.9% of the respondents were either graduation level or higher indicating a moderately educated sample of participants. Regarding the family history, 75.1% of the participants stated that they had no family history regarding PCOS but the rest of the proportion stated that they have a positive family background of the condition.
Table 1: Demographic Profile of Participants
|
Parameters |
Percentage (%) |
|
Age Group (19-25) |
83.6% |
|
Urban/ Semi-Urban |
71.1% |
|
Education |
60.9% |
|
Family History |
75.1% (No) |
The large proportion of the 1925 age group (83.6) is not only indicative of the age group most susceptible to PCOS but an indication of increased awareness and survey response by younger women. PCOS is already known as a disease that usually manifests itself in the reproductive age bracket and this is the age group that would be of the greatest clinical interest in such studies. The high involvement of urban and semi-urban inhabitants (71.1) indicates that there might be a disparity in access to digital resources where the survey was distributed, yet it also begs the question of why rural women were underrepresented to an even greater extent, and they might have even more barriers to diagnosis and treatment.
The level of education of the study participants (60.9% graduated or beyond) also highlights the reason why the baseline awareness rate was comparatively high in subsequent parts of the study. Education helps them to be prepared by providing the skills to identify symptoms, consult a doctor in time and be more critical in understanding health-related information. Simultaneously, the fact that most of the reporting no family history (75.1%) does not exclude a genetic influence since PCOS can also be generated by polygenic patterns of inheritance that do not necessarily have to be tracked along immediate family lineages. The 24.9% who did report a positive family history supports the well-established hereditary influence of PCOS in accord with the published literature that indicate a two- to three-fold increased risk among the first-degree relatives of the affected women.
Health and Symptoms
Table 2 shows the prevalence of self-reported symptoms within the population surveyed. The most common symptom was hair fall (58.6%), then acne and oily skin (40.4%), abnormal menstrual periods (37.5%), and the gain of weight (25.8%).
Table 2: Health and Symptoms of Participants
|
Symptoms |
Percentage (%) |
|
Irregular cycles |
37.5% |
|
Acne and oily skin |
40.4% |
|
Hair fall |
58.6% |
|
Weight gain |
25.8% |
The symptom profile of the current study creates an interesting visualization of the androgenic and metabolic load of the population of the study. The most common complaint reported by over half of participants (58.6) was hair fall. Clinically known as female-pattern alopecia or androgenic alopecia in relation to PCOS, this symptom occurs due to high levels of androgens, especially dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that has a miniaturising effect on hair follicles, gradually reducing the length of the growth cycle.
The fact that this symptom was so common in the entire population of the study indicates that there was a significantly high level of androgenic environment, even amongst the individuals who might not have been diagnosed with PCOS. Placed against a background of acnes, and oily skin (40.4%), the tendency is more evident: both ailments have the same hormonal basis, i.e. too much androgen activity, though it is expressed in different body parts the scalp and the sebaceous glands respectively.
The most diagnostically important symptom in the classical Rotterdam criteria of PCOS is irregular menstrual cycles, as 37.5% of the participants reported. Clinically, due to disturbance in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, when the luteinising hormone (LH) is high in relation to the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), this symptom is known as oligomenorrhoea or anovulation, and prevents normal follicular development and ovulation. This symptom (37.5% of the survey respondents) compares well with the 37.3% who reported a formal PCOS diagnosis (Table 3), indicating menstrual irregularity can be a good indicator of future clinical diagnosis of the condition among this cohort.
The least commonly reported symptom (25.8) is weight gain, which has disproportional clinical significance. With PCOS, weight gain does not only pose a cosmetic issue, but one of the main drivers of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia, which in turn further increases androgen synthesis and continues the hormonal loop behind the disorder. The slight increase in body weight may greatly increase the intensity of all other symptoms, such as menstrual irregularity, acne, and hair fall.
Clinical Profile and Treatment
The findings suggest that menstrual irregularities and dermatological symptoms are among the most prevalent features in the study population as shown in the table 3. The high occurrence of hair fall and acne indicates underlying hormonal imbalance. Additionally, the presence of mood changes reflects the psychological burden associated with PCOS and related symptoms.
Table 3: Clinical Profile and Treatment of Participants
|
Parameters |
Percentage |
|
Diagnosed with PCOS (Yes) |
37.3% |
|
Hormonal imbalance |
37.8% |
|
Thyroid disorder |
8.5% |
|
Irregular menstrual cycle |
24.2% |
|
Consulted doctor (Yes) |
41.4% |
|
Diagnosis by ultrasound |
14.5% |
|
Allopathy treatment |
9.4% |
|
Lifestyle modification |
25.2% |
|
Metformin use |
4% |
|
Oral contraceptive pills |
7% |
|
Treatment adherence (Always/ Sometimes) |
14.4% |
The data reflects variability in both diagnosis and treatment practices among participants. While a proportion of individuals had consulted healthcare professionals and received a diagnosis, treatment uptake and adherence remained relatively low. Lifestyle modification appeared to be more commonly followed compared to pharmacological treatment. These findings highlight gaps in consistent treatment practices and emphasize the need for improved medical guidance and patient compliance.
Lifestyle, Awareness and Outcome
Table 4 brings together various factors that include lifestyle patterns, knowledge about PCOS, sources of information related to health, and the psychological impact of the disease. Some of the identified aspects have potential to negatively influence the hormone and metabolic levels. For instance, 43.3% indicated low physical activity, while 46.1% noted unhealthy dietary practices. Moreover, there were 55.1% of those participants who got no more than seven hours of sleep per day. Finally, 10.67% experienced higher than normal levels of stress.
Knowledge about PCOS appeared to be relatively good. There was a total of 85% of participants who already knew what the disease is before the study. Sources of information related to PCOS mainly included social networks, with their percentage equaling 42.7%. Nevertheless, 83.3% of participants showed their interest in receiving additional information on the disease.
Table 4: Lifestyle, Awareness and Outcome of Survey
|
Parameters |
Percentage |
|
Exercise( Rarely/ Never) |
43.3% |
|
Unhealthy Diet |
46.1% |
|
Sleep(5-7 hrs. or below) |
55.1% |
|
High Stress Levels |
10.67% |
|
Awareness of PCOS before survey |
85% |
|
Learned from social media |
42.7% |
|
Wants more Information |
83.3% |
|
Mental Health Affected |
27.3% |
|
Confidence / Self-esteem affected |
25.67% |
|
Anxiety/Mood swings |
40.8% |
The psychosocial dimension of the disease affects patients equally as much as the biological one. One out of four participants reported a decline in mental health (27.3%), while 25.67% indicated lower self-respect or reduced confidence. The presence of anxiety and emotional swings was also common among the respondents, with 40.8% reporting problems with their moods. Thus, the influence of PCOS cannot be confined to physiological changes and extends to an individual's psychological state.
Combining the collected behavioral information yields a pattern of several interlinked risk factors associated with PCOS development. Insufficient amounts of sleep, inappropriate diet, and inadequate physical exercise were common among the study subjects. Impaired sleep contributes to disruptions in the production and regulation of hormonal processes involved in the synthesis of stress hormones and metabolism. Furthermore, sleep deficiency is considered a risk factor for developing insulin resistance and metabolic/endocrine disorders. The high proportion of individuals suffering from impaired sleeping habits suggests its significance as one of the behavioral factors contributing to the disease.
This demonstrates that diet is indeed important. Many respondents reported having an unhealthy diet, suggesting higher instances of diets that include food items which contain a high amount of calories and a disproportionate distribution of nutrients. This can lead to problems within the body’s metabolism and contribute to weight issues, which is consistent with additional signals from other parts of the study, such as weight gain and hormonal imbalance, all of which could be linked to diet choices.
This problem is compounded by a lack of physical activity. Individuals that tend to exercise infrequently might be vulnerable to having slow metabolism and issues controlling their weight. Physical activity typically results in more stable hormone levels and better insulin reaction in individuals. Thus, the combination of factors such as insufficient sleep, bad diet, and physical inactivity seen among many of the respondents implies that there is a strong need for more awareness on the subject of PCOS prevention and management.
Integrated Comparative Interpretation across All Domains
With the combination of information obtained from the four databases, the picture concerning the syndrome Polycystic Ovary Syndrome becomes more evident. As can be seen from the data obtained, the syndrome under study is not due to any single cause but is caused by a complex of factors including the symptoms of the disease itself, the lifestyles of the patients, their approaches to treatment, and psychological stress.
The recurring feature of the syndrome under study is the frequency of hormonal disorders. Indeed, most respondents mentioned such problems as acne, hair loss, and menstrual cycle disorders. Also, there was evidence of hormonal imbalance and a lifestyle prone to metabolic disorders, including an unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise, and poor sleep patterns. All of these features of the syndrome lead to the conclusion that lifestyle is a key element influencing the development and progression of hormonal and metabolic disorders associated with PCOS.
Yet another significant finding concerns the interaction with the healthcare system and the continuity of care. A large number of the participants are aware of PCOS and have either visited a doctor or have been diagnosed however the percentage of people who regularly adhere to the treatment or management plans is noticeably smaller. This discrepancy could imply that mere awareness does not necessarily lead to the adherence of the treatment plan over time, or a sustained involvement in the healthcare. Besides financial constraints, other reasons that may become obstacles to this situation include: difficulty of accessing health services, lack of persistent follow-up, poor counselling, or a lower level of motivation to carry out the management over a longer period.
Results related to lifestyle confirm that habits and behaviours play a very important role in this condition. Respondents had a very high rate of unhealthy eating habits, lack of sleep, and very little physical activity. Since these three factors are commonly linked to the metabolic disorder and the resistance to insulin, it is understandable that the participants who exhibited these lifestyles might have more severe symptoms and may even develop long-term complications. Even though modifying the lifestyle was identified as one of the main management methods adopted, the fact that unhealthy lifestyle habits are still predominant indicates that making behavioural changes that can be maintained over time may still be quite challenging for most people.
This paper shows that PCOS can affect not only the physical but also the psychological condition of women. The percentage of individuals who have experienced depression, mood swings, lack of confidence, and other forms of psychological stress was significant among the survey respondents. It means that PCOS may also influence not only the physical state of patients but also their emotions. However, the statistics provided by the authors cannot be taken as proof that psychological therapy or counseling is regularly offered to women suffering from PCOS.
In general, the findings obtained indicate the presence of numerous intertwined factors affecting PCOS patients' condition: PCOS-related problems, improper nutrition and exercise, infrequent contact with medical staff, and psychological issues, among others. The research findings show that an integrated approach to treatment that includes professional advice and recommendations about healthy lifestyles should be considered to increase the effectiveness of PCOS management.
CONCLUSION
The research indicates that PCOS is defined by a series of interrelated components such as physical wellbeing, lifestyle choices, and psychological wellbeing. A considerable percentage of respondents experienced PCOS symptoms, such as breakouts, hair thinning, and infrequent menstrual cycles, reflecting PCOS-related hormonal imbalances. The findings also indicate that lifestyle choices have an impact on the rate of occurrence of PCOS, and the development of its complications. The fact is that the majority of respondents led a rather unhealthy lifestyle characterized by poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of sufficient sleep. Unhealthy lifestyles can trigger hormonal and metabolic dysfunctions contributing to PCOS complications.
Notably, although almost all respondents knew about the existence of PCOS, many lacked sufficient knowledge regarding its prevention, treatment, and management. The conclusion that can be drawn from this situation is that affordable and trustworthy educational resources should be promoted to raise awareness about PCOS.
More importantly, the study uncovers emotional and psychological barriers associated with PCOS. A lot of the patients admitted being concerned about several other feelings that arose due to the disease, such as a loss of self-confidence. It is evident that the disease not only poses physical issues but also influences one’s psychological state and day-to-day experience.
Therefore, it becomes obvious that the management of PCOS should be comprehensive. It should include medical, lifestyle, and psychological approaches. Thus, early diagnosis and awareness raising, better living standards, and strong social support networks could significantly help people suffering from PCOS.
REFERENCES
S. Golvilkar, S. Narwade, A Cross-Sectional Study on Clinical and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Women, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2026, Vol 4, Issue 4, 4820-4827, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19906568
10.5281/zenodo.19906568