Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) awareness month is celebrated in the month of September in order to spread awareness about the disorders, their associated taboo, and stigma. PCOS is very prevalent in today’s generation of ladies, characterized by conditions occurring due to hormonal issues, the disease can be cured easily, but it is the stigma that sticks leading to more associated problems with it. The disease is very complex in nature and so it impacts the body not only physically but psychologically as well. In a study, it was found that women diagnosed with PCOD are 3 times more vulnerable to develop mood swings, anxiety, and depression along as compared to relatively healthy controls.
PCOS is a culprit behind distorted body weight and consequently to related body dissatisfaction . one is grossly obsessed with the perfect body size and the disease imbalances the weight by reducing the metabolic rate of the body to a certain extent which makes it difficult to maintain fitness, ultimately the patient may also develop eating disorders to get the desired appearance. According to over 2000 scientific research articles, scientists have witnessed a strong link between PCOD and its deteriorated effects on mental health due to several associated social factors like the inability to conceive, repeated miscarriages, and long-term diseases like diabetes.
The severity of the disease symptoms is directly proportional to its mental impact, on severity level if the mental issues are complex it will require psychiatric therapy. According to IVF consultant Dr.Illa Gupta, anxiety rises when the susceptibility to getting infected with Covid 19 increases in women who suffer from the disease already.
PCOS is characterized by increased facial hair, weight gain and irregular menstrual cycles that can negatively impact the body image and personality of the patient which even raises concerns about the self-esteem of the one suffering, these series of events can get a toll on mental health, which is often not addressed by the physician as they don’t consider it as a part of the disease.
The pandemic hit in a way that overall socializing has been impacted, as a part of which girls and women are not able to open up about their complications and health issues and especially anxiety.
In order to cope with the complications, it has to be addressed, both medical and cosmetic problems through medical care. The pivotal role of the increased weight has to be tackled by having a good and healthy diet and regular exercises which can even help in reducing hair growth. mental problems need to be addressed as well in terms of therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) along with lifestyle intervention. support groups and talk therapies are also of major help.
According to Dr. Madhuri Burande (Obstetrician and Gynaecologist ), it is recommended to take a low glycemic index diet that includes grain, legumes nuts, seeds, fruits, and starchy veggies so that future complications like irregular insulin levels can be avoided. In the list, emphasis has been given to avoid packaged and processed foods loaded with preservatives. Including cardio exercises and yoga are also beneficial to attain mental and physical balance
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