Incidence of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) among college students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age, and its diagnosis in adolescence is complicated by the absence of clear age-specific diagnostic criteria and by symptom overlap with normal pubertal change; this study therefore investigates the common symptoms and occurrence of PCOS among adolescent girls. A questionnaire-based survey was administered to female students at Parul University, Vadodara, distributed via Google Form through Gmail and WhatsApp, and results were expressed as the overall mean and mean percentage of respondents for each question. The study found a 7.10% incidence of PCOS, with depression emerging as the psychological parameter most affecting participants' lives. Although the overall incidence of PCOS in adolescence remains low, its evaluation is challenging at this age, and lifestyle modification is essential to prevent long-term metabolic and reproductive complications.