PCOS & Presence of Metabolic Syndrome in PCOS – Awareness regarding this is crucial.

One-day Masterclass on Metabolic Syndrome in PCOS at KIMS hospital

One out of every five women in India is affected by PCOS

* From adolescence through menopause, anyone can be affected

* Proper diagnosis and treatment are important

* National and international experts speak on this subject to increase awareness

* Doctors from all over India attend

Hyderabad, 24th March 2024: "Many young girls and women with PCOS  experience issues such as acne, unwanted hair growth, and irregular menstrual cycles. Some women present to fertility specialists with difficulty getting pregnant and these women with PCOS also have more complications during pregnancy. They seek medical attention from specialists to address these concerns.

Gynecologists often prescribe hormone therapy to regulate the menstrual cycle, while dermatologists address concerns regarding  skin problems. However, it's important to note that some of these individuals with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) may also have metabolic problems like diabetes, hypertension and lipid profile alterations.. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this metabolic syndrome, which can be managed through lifestyle changes, weight loss, and achieve positive outcomes.

The PCOS Society of India, in conjunction with the KIMS Fertility Center, organized this masterclass, which was attended by more than 400 doctors from across the country. Professor Gerard Conway and Dr. Ephia Yasim from University College London Hospitals spoke about this matter during a one-day masterclass on "Metabolic Syndrome in PCOS - The Worrisome Twosome" on Sunday at KIMS Hospitals.

Convener of the Masterclass, Head of Department & Consultant Fertility Specialist, KIMS Fertility Centre, Dr. S. Vyjayanthi said, "In our country, around 20 percent of women, right from teenagers to women of child bearing age to menopause experience PCOS-related problems. As I am a Fertility specialist, I see many women with PCOS presenting to us with challenges getting pregnant. We always screen for metabolic problems like diabetes prior to starting fertility treatment, which we see in one out of three women with PCOS presenting with infertility.

Though conventionally, management of PCOS has focussed on infertility, menstrual and cosmetic issues the need of the hour  is to raise awareness amongst clinicians on Metabolic syndrome in PCOS. Our aim to arrange this meeting is to empower gynaecologists, endocrinologists and clinicians in allied specialities with a thorough understanding of the recent advances in managing metabolic syndrome in PCOS which poses a huge health burden to women.

About 70% of women with PCOS have obesity. There will be a lot of benefits even if they lose weight by 5-10% through lifestyle modifications and dietary changes.  Therefore, any woman  with symptoms suggestive of PCOS when they approach doctors should also be screened for diabetes, hypertension and lipid profile to rule out the metabolic problems associated with PCOS (as 1 in 3 have metabolic problems) to improve the overall health of women apart from addressing the specific problems suggested Dr Vyjayanthi.

The Founder President of the PCOS Society of India, Dr. Duru Shah stated, "PCOS is a condition that every healthcare professional should recognize in their respective fields. They should understand its symptoms and how to identify it. They should also know how to manage and prevent it and be aware of possible solutions. Primarily, lifestyle changes including modifying diet and incorporating exercise for weight reduction play a crucial role in controlling this condition. To ensure that doctors across the country are well-informed about this problem, we have established the PCOS Society."

PCOS Society of India Vice President, Padmasri Awardee Dr. Shashank R. Joshi, masterclass co-convener Dr. Kanthi Bansal, eminent doctor from Karnataka Dr. Shobana Patted, noted Endocrinologists Dr. Prasun Deb, Dr. Hari Kumar, Dr. Smitha Nalla, Dr. Leenatha Jakkidi, Dr. Kavitha Sakamuri, Dr. Kishore Baske, Senior Cardiologist Dr. Dayasagar, and several nutritionists participated in the master class and explained on PCOS diagnosis and control in their respective fields.

Doctors from across the country

The very first masterclass on metabolic syndrome in PCOS witnessed an exuberant response from several doctors across the country, i.e. from Kashmir to Tamilnadu, from states like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. 150 doctors  from other states, and 250 from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana attended this master class. There was a lot of discussion and interaction making it a grand success and take home messages creating the much desired awareness regarding metabolic syndrome in PCOS.