GT
1
1
Moderate severity
· Gynaecology
PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome · Hormonal imbalance
Excess androgens disturb ovulation, cause acne, hair growth and weight gain — and raise diabetes risk. Lifestyle is the single biggest lever.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- 1 in 5 Indian women
- Typical age
- Teens to mid-30s
- Outlook
- Manageable
- System
- Hormones
Reviewed by a verified Gynaecology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Insulin resistance
- Genetics
- Inflammation
- Obesity (cause and effect)
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Irregular or absent periods
- Acne and oily skin
- Excess facial / body hair
- Weight gain around abdomen
- Difficulty getting pregnant
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Lifestyle: diet + 150 min/wk exercise
- Combined OCP for cycle regulation
- Metformin for insulin resistance
- Spironolactone for hirsutism
- Letrozole for ovulation induction
Staying ahead
Prevention
- Maintain healthy weight
- Manage stress and sleep
- Reduce refined carbs
- Check thyroid and vitamin D
Do’s
- Eat low-GI meals
- Strength-train twice a week
- Track periods on an app
- Treat acne early to prevent scarring
Don’ts
- Crash diet then binge
- Skip annual diabetes screening
- Ignore mood changes
- Self-medicate hormones
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
See all gynaecology doctors Top 4 doctors for PCOS
Ranked by patient rating, years of experience and review volume. All verified by MediConsult’s clinical team.
DG
2
2
KK
3
3
AP
4
4
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.