Karachi Study Shows Over Half of Women at Gynecology Clinics Have PCOS

A recent hospital-based study in Karachi has revealed that more than 55 percent of women visiting gynecology outpatient departments show signs of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), highlighting a growing health concern in urban Pakistan. Doctors warn that the condition is increasingly affecting teenage girls due to obesity, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and major lifestyle changes.

At the launch of the Discovering PCOS awareness and screening initiative in Karachi, medical experts described PCOS as a silent but expanding public health challenge. Research from Civil Hospital Karachi showed that 55.4 percent of women assessed for gynecological issues exhibited features consistent with PCOS, signaling a high burden of the disorder in the city. While these hospital-based figures do not reflect national prevalence, they underline the frequency with which PCOS is now appearing in clinical practice, often at advanced stages due to delayed diagnosis and limited awareness.

PharmEvo CEO Syed Jamshed Ahmed emphasised the importance of early diagnosis to prevent long-term complications such as infertility, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. He noted that many women in Pakistan seek medical help late, after symptoms have worsened, stressing the need for early screening, community awareness, and timely consultations, particularly for adolescent girls.

Dr Hina Haris pointed out that PCOS is no longer confined to adult women and is increasingly being detected in girls under 15. Clinical observations suggest around 52 percent of women evaluated for hormonal issues show signs of PCOS, with junk food consumption, sedentary lifestyles, and excessive screen time as major contributing factors. Common warning signs include irregular menstrual cycles, unexplained weight gain, excessive facial or body hair, and acne. Untreated PCOS can eventually lead to infertility, making early medical intervention crucial. Families are urged not to dismiss these symptoms as normal teenage changes.

Doctors working with children and adolescents have noted that the age of onset is shifting downward, with more girls presenting soon after puberty with hormonal disturbances. Dr Hina Bashir Khan from the Sindh government pediatric hospital linked this trend to late sleeping habits, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy diets, estimating that around 15 percent of Pakistani girls and young women show clear features of PCOS.

Experts, including Dr Shaheen Zafar, emphasised that obesity is the strongest aggravating factor and that lifestyle changes, such as weight management and regular exercise, are essential for long-term management. While awareness has increased due to social media, stigma and embarrassment still prevent many girls from seeking timely medical help. Genetic predisposition and stress-related hormonal imbalances also contribute to the condition.

Clinicians warned that even in affluent urban areas, awareness remains limited, with girls aged 16 to 17 commonly presenting with menstrual problems, obesity, and excessive hair growth. Symptoms are increasingly being noticed in girls as young as 12 or 13. Global WHO data suggests nearly 70 percent of women with PCOS remain unaware of their condition, a trend mirrored in Pakistan.

The Discovering PCOS initiative aims to screen 10 million women of reproductive age and establish 100 PCOS clinics nationwide. A digital chatbot has been developed to help women identify early symptoms and connect with nearby clinics. Influencer Sidra Iqbal has been appointed brand ambassador to engage younger audiences and reduce stigma surrounding women’s hormonal health.

Senior gynecologists stressed that unless lifestyle patterns change and early screening becomes routine, Pakistan could face a surge in infertility, metabolic disorders, and diabetes linked to untreated PCOS.