Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is becoming increasingly common, according to research from Cardiff University. The university estimates that PCOS is costing the UK around £1.2bn ($1.6 bn) each year as women require multiple GP consultations to manage a cluster of symptoms such as weight gain, excess hair, acne, and infrequent or absence of periods. PCOS can cause mental and physical health problems such as heart disease, depression, anxiety, and type 2 diabetes, and can impact fertility.
Welsh sisters Annika Thomas, 39, and Sarah Davies, 44, from Carmarthenshire, spent years attending different appointments and chasing up tests before they were diagnosed with PCOS. Thomas said she felt alone and unsupported and was not offered help. Davies experienced infertility, weight gain, and acne, and believes there is a lack of joined-up thinking around the condition.
Cardiff University’s research into 120,000 PCOS patients found that diagnosis levels are increasing, particularly among Asian ethnicity and low socio-economic background patients. Experts say more funding is needed to improve resources and research for patients. Professor of endocrinology Aled Rees stated that there is no condition-specific treatment for PCOS and called for urgent research. Victoria Vasey, the director of Women’s Equality Network Wales, said that PCOS was a profoundly difficult, human condition with physical and mental health impacts, but progress can be made by acknowledging the specific populations affected by the condition.
A Welsh Government plan for women’s health will be announced by the end of the year, including specific provisions for PCOS. Aiming to address inequalities and negative experiences, the clinical lead for women’s health and the women’s health network has been established to develop the ten-year women’s health plan for Wales and to launch £750,000 ($1m) of research into women’s health priorities from 2025. The Hywel Dda University Health Board in Wales apologized for poor patient experience and said better communication to direct patients to the right clinician was needed
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
