PCOS: hidden toll of academic pressure on our daughters’ health Premium

In September, amid PCOS awareness month, a concerning reality emerges: academic pressure may unknowingly contribute to a silent health crisis among young girls.

In September, amid PCOS awareness month, a concerning reality emerges: academic pressure may unknowingly contribute to a silent health crisis among young girls. It starts in classrooms but often leads to gynaecologists’ offices, where ultrasound scans reveal ovarian cysts, resulting in a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

(For top health news of the day, subscribe to our newsletter Health Matters)

As a doctor who had recently graduated, I found myself in such an office, confronting this condition, rooted in a high-stress, self-care-deprived lifestyle imposed by my demanding environment. Alongside recommendations for lifestyle changes—like a high-protein diet, daily exercise, and stress reduction—I was told, that my health issue stemmed from my less-than-ideal lifestyle during 15 of my 28 years, enforced by relentless academic pressure.

This narrative echoes through countless young women’s lives in India, raising a pivotal question: Is our competitive education shaping a generation prone to PCOS?

Let’s explore the intricate link between education, lifestyle, and health in India—a matter of great significance.

Various studies and reports, including those by The Hindu, reveal PCOS as an increasingly common health issue among modern Indian women. One in five women in India grapples with PCOS, with 60% of those seeking infertilitytreatments doing so due to PCOS-related problems. Gynaecologists nationwide concur that this condition is on the rise.

PCOS lacks a single known cause. It affects individuals with a genetic predisposition, often marked by a family history of diabetes or obesity, exposed to environments that encourage neither a healthy diet nor regular exercise and are stress-laden.