KARACHI: More than 55 percent of women visiting gynaecology outpatient departments in Karachi have been found to have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a hospital-based study has shown, as doctors warn that the condition is rising rapidly among teenage girls due to obesity, junk food consumption, physical inactivity and major lifestyle shifts. The findings were highlighted at the launch of Discovering PCOS, an awareness and screening initiative unveiled at a local hotel in Karachi, where medical experts described PCOS as a silent but expanding public health challenge that is increasingly affecting girls at younger ages. Doctors referred to research conducted at Civil Hospital Karachi, which found that 55.4 percent of women presenting at gynaecology outpatient departments showed features consistent with PCOS, pointing to what clinicians described as an unusually high burden of the disorder in urban Pakistan. Medical specialists warned that hospital-based figures should not be interpreted as national prevalence but said they reflect how frequently PCOS is now appearing in routine clinical practice, often at advanced stages due to delayed diagnosis and poor awareness. Speaking at the event, PharmEvo CEO Syed Jamshed Ahmed stressed that early diagnosis of PCOS could significantly reduce long-term complications and prevent progression to infertility, diabetes and metabolic disorders. He said most women in Pakistan reach hospitals late, when symptoms have already worsened, underscoring the need for early screening, community awareness and timely medical consultation, especially for adolescent girls. Speaking at the event, Dr Hina Haris said PCOS is no longer confined to adult women and is increasingly being diagnosed in adolescent girls, including those under the age of 15. She said local clinical observations show that around 52 percent of women assessed for hormonal complaints exhibit signs of PCOS, with junk food intake, sedentary lifestyles and excessive screen time emerging as major contributing factors. She explained that irregular menstrual cycles, unexplained weight gain, excessive facial or body hair and acne are common warning signs, adding that untreated PCOS can eventually lead to infertility. Families, she urged, should not dismiss these symptoms as routine teenage changes and must seek medical advice early. Doctors working with children and adolescents said the age of onset appears to be shifting downward. Dr Hina Bashir Khan from the Sindh government paediatric hospital noted that more girls are now presenting soon after puberty with hormonal disturbances. She linked the trend to late sleeping habits, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diets, adding that clinical observations suggest around 15 percent of Pakistani girls and young women show clear features of PCOS. Experts including Dr Shaheen Zafar stressed that early diagnosis is critical to reduce complications, warning that obesity is the strongest aggravating factor. Without sustained lifestyle changes, including weight control and regular exercise, long-term management becomes difficult, she said. Other speakers noted that awareness of PCOS has increased in recent years, partly due to social media, but stigma and embarrassment still prevent many girls from seeking timely medical help. Stress-related hormonal imbalance and genetic predisposition were also identified as contributing factors, with doctors urging families to prioritise regular sleep, balanced diets and healthy body weight. Clinicians further warned that PCOS awareness remains weak even in affluent urban neighbourhoods, with girls aged 16 and 17 commonly presenting with menstrual problems, obesity and excessive hair growth. In some cases, symptoms are appearing as early as 12 or 13 years of age. Experts said that as per WHO findings, nearly 70 percent of women with PCOS worldwide are unaware of their condition; a gap doctors said is clearly reflected in Pakistan. As part of the Discovering PCOS initiative, organisers announced plans to screen 10 million women of reproductive age and establish 100 PCOS clinics across Pakistan. Advisor to the programme Dr Masood Javed said a digital chatbot has also been developed to help women identify symptoms early and connect them with nearby clinics for further evaluation. An agreement related to the campaign was signed by PharmEvo CEO Syed Jamshed Ahmed and influencer Sidra Iqbal, who was also appointed brand ambassador to help reach younger audiences and reduce stigma around women’s hormonal health. Senior gynaecologists from major public and private hospitals attended the launch and warned that unless lifestyle patterns change and early screening becomes routine, Pakistan could face a rise in infertility, metabolic disorders and diabetes linked to untreated PCOS. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025