Study finds 17.4% prevalence of PCOS in Delhi’s college-going women

Study in Delhi reveals 17.4% PCOS prevalence in college-going women aged 18-25, highlighting urban lifestyle impact.

A study of 1,164 college-going women in the age group 18-25 years in Delhi shows a 17.4% prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the second-highest in the country.

Partly funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the study was published recently in the peer-reviewed journal, BMC Health. It comprised a cross-sectional survey, and a systematic review which analysed similar studies from 2010 to 2024 across India in similar age groups.

The study notes that PCOS, the endocrinologic disorder affecting females in the reproductive age, characterised by menstrual dysfunction, infertility, hirsutism, acne, and obesity, is “prevalent yet under-researched”.

It states that the pooled prevalence of previous studies in similar age groups, using the same criteria, across various regions in India, stood at 8.41%.

In 2023, the Ministry of Science and Technology had stated that India has a PCOS prevalence of 3.70%-22.50%. The prevalence of PCOS can vary between rural and urban areas, socio-cultural settings, and age groups. In previous studies, Lucknow reported the lowest prevalence of 3.70%, while Mumbai reported a prevalence of 22.50%.

Another study found that the prevalence can go up to 36% in adolescents.

A higher prevalence of PCOS has been noted in urban areas with heterogeneous populations, with many women moving for academic opportunities and work, the study notes. “This displacement causes psychological stress, disrupted sleep routine, and poor dietary habits resulting from competition for education and jobs, and juggling responsibilities of home and work, that could possibly be associated with rising rates of PCOS,” the researchers stated.