Click to play videoNew Delhi: Twenty-two-year-old Swati writes for a living, but every month she has to put her pen down for at least three to four days during which she can hardly get out of bed.
“When I bleed profusely it makes me irritable. People might perceive me as somebody who is always in a bad mood but I think it’s all because I am weak and tired,” says Swati.
Three years back Swati started to suffer from menstrual irregularities, weight gain and weakness. "Initially I didn’t understand what the problem was or its implications. The whole thing just made me feel very weak,” Swati recollects.
What Swati didn't know at that time was that one in 10 Indian women suffered from the same affliction – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – the most common cause of infertility.
"Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a chronic condition that causes irregular menstrual periods and elevated levels of androgens (male hormones) in women. The elevated androgen hormones can sometimes cause excessive facial hair growth, acne, and/or male pattern hair thinning,” endocrinologist, Dr Sujeet Jha explains.
Ultrasound of the lower abdomen is the most common way of detecting PCOS. Blood tests for pregnancy, prolactin level, thyroid stimulating hormone and follicle stimulating hormone are also recommended.
Studies prove that lifestyle modification controls the symptoms of PCOS to a great extent. If you have any of those symptoms, the best you can do right now is exercise regularly, eat healthy, reduce your stress levels and stay happy.
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