Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
The Untold Reality of PCOS in Pakistan | EP 14 | Dear Body
11 Plays7 hours ago
What happens when more than half the women in a country are living with a condition no one talks about? In this episode of Dear Body, we’re diving into the world of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), what it is, how it affects women’s bodies and minds, and why silence around it can be just as harmful as the symptoms themselves.
I’ll share stories of young women navigating shame, stigma, and confusion, while also highlighting the groundbreaking work of initiatives like PCOS Helps, who are reframing PCOS as not just a health issue, but a human rights issue.
This isn’t just about medical facts, it’s about empathy, awareness, and breaking cultural silences. Whether you’re living with PCOS or want to better understand the women around you, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow the journey and join the conversation with me on Instagram: @saroshibrahim
Recommended
Transcript
Prevalence and Impact of PCOS in Pakistan
00:00:00
Speaker
What happens when half the women in country are suffering in silence? In Pakistan, more than half of all women of reproductive age are living with a condition that most of them don't even know they have.
00:00:13
Speaker
It disrupts periods, causes acne, weight gain, unwanted facial hair, infertility and in many cases depression. It's called polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS and despite being so common, it's still shrouded in silence and shame.
00:00:34
Speaker
Hello everyone, my name is Sirosh and you're listening to Dear Body. Today we're breaking the silence on PCOS in Pakistan, what it is, how it impacts women's health and self-esteem, and why awareness and empathy are so urgently needed. Let's start with the basics.
PCOS Symptoms and Health Implications
00:00:50
Speaker
PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders in the world. According to World Health Organization, it affects about 116 million women globally. Doctors say between 4% to 18% of women of reproductive age are living with PCOS.
00:01:07
Speaker
But here's the catch. In Pakistan, studies suggest that more than 52% of women are affected. That's more than one in every two women you know. Your cousins, your colleagues, your classmates. And yet, it's barely talked about. Most women don't even know the science. They might think irregular periods are just a normal inconvenience.
00:01:29
Speaker
or that sudden weight gain is because of overeating or that acne is just teenage skin. Families, teachers and sometimes even doctors dismiss symptoms.
00:01:40
Speaker
PCOS is not just about skipped periods. It's a complex condition that affects the whole body. The primary symptoms include irregular or missed menstrual cycles, difficulty conceiving and cysts in the ovaries. Secondary symptoms include weight gain, acne, hair loss from the scalp, insomnia, and hirsutism, which is the medical word for excessive hair growth in places we usually associate with men, like chin, the chest area, and back.
Personal Stories and Societal Stigma
00:02:10
Speaker
And while these physical symptoms are challenging enough, they're just the surface of what women experience. I would like to take a moment to share some stories here. Huren, the teenager from Karachi, sat nervously in a maternity clinic at 17, wondering why her body felt like it was betraying her. She remembers walking out of that clinic more confused than when she went in, whispering to herself,
00:02:33
Speaker
Am I turning into a man? That question haunted her for years, not because she was misinformed, but because no one around her was willing to explain what was happening to her body. Then there's Tahira, a 28-year-old woman who feared that PCOS would take away her dream of becoming a mother. She describes her cramps as if someone was trying to cut her gut out.
00:02:57
Speaker
For years, she dealt with confusion and silence. Only her mother and younger sister knew about her condition. After marriage, her supportive husband stood by her. But they still had to hide doctor's visits from his family, afraid of the whispers and blame that always fall on women in our society.
00:03:16
Speaker
With treatment, she did become a mother. but still carries the scars of silence. And these are not isolated events. A study conducted in Lahore interviewed 12 women with PCOS. Their ages ranged from early twenty s to mid 30s, some unmarried, some married with children. Their experiences reveal how deeply silence and stigma worsened their condition.
00:03:39
Speaker
One unmarried respondent said she had such irregular cycles that she fainted in class from blood loss. only to discover later at the hospital that she had PCOS.
00:03:50
Speaker
She had never even heard the term before. Another married woman said she thought her painful cycles and facial hair were just bad luck until she couldn't conceive for years. Only then did she learn she had PCOS and by then her in-laws were already blaming her and her marriage was under stress.
00:04:08
Speaker
and Another young woman shared that her mother cried when she found out her daughter had PCOS, convinced that it was incurable. It took a gynecologist patiently explaining the treatment to calm her fears.
00:04:21
Speaker
These stories highlight something important. PCOS isn't just a medical condition. It's a social condition. It's shaped by family reactions, by stigma, by misinformation and by silence.
Cultural Challenges and Mental Health Impact
00:04:34
Speaker
In Pakistan, conversations about women's health are almost always silenced. Menstruation itself is still considered a taboo subject. Girls are told to whisper about it, to hide sanitary paths, to never talk about cramps or irregular cycles in front of men.
00:04:52
Speaker
So imagine what happens when the symptoms are more visible. Facial hair, weight gain, acne. Women are ridiculed. They're told to lose weight. to back to stop eating junk food. One woman said her marriage proposals were rejected because she was considered too fat. No one stopped to ask if there was a medical reason. For married women, the pressure is even more intense. Infertility is one of the most painful aspects of PCOS.
00:05:20
Speaker
not just biologically but socially. In-laws often blame the woman entirely. One respondent from Lahore said her mother-in-law accused her family of hiding her PCOS before marriage, as if it were a shameful secret instead of a health condition.
00:05:36
Speaker
And because of this stigma, many women delay treatment or turn to unsafe alternatives. Some families take their daughters to spiritual healers or peers who give them amulets or holy water. Others rely on local birth attendants who lack medical training.
00:05:52
Speaker
These delays worsen the condition, sometimes leading to long-term complications. We can't talk about PCOS without talking about mental health. Doctors estimate that between 14% and 67% of women with PCOS suffer from depression.
00:06:09
Speaker
That's a wide range, but even the lowest estimate is alarmingly high. Imagine being told by relatives that your body is un-womanly. Imagine carrying the fear that you may never be able to have children in a culture that equates womanhood with motherhood.
00:06:26
Speaker
No wonder so many women with PCOS describe feeling isolated, anxious and ashamed. One young woman shared that she avoided meeting people altogether because she was terrified they would notice her facial hair. Another said she stood in front of a mirror every night, reminding herself, you're a woman, you're beautiful, this doesn't define you. She had to become her own cheerleader because society wasn't giving her that support. And let's be clear, this is not just about body image. PCOS is linked to real biological hormonal imbalances that affect mood regulation.
00:07:03
Speaker
That means women are already at a higher risk of anxiety and depression and society's judgement only makes it worse. The
Barriers to Diagnosis and the Need for Advocacy
00:07:12
Speaker
lack of awareness is not just frustrating, it's dangerous.
00:07:15
Speaker
Most women in Pakistan only find out they have PCOS years after symptoms begin. By that time, infertility may already be a problem. Delayed treatment also increases risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Doctors say the most effective way to manage PCOS is through early detection, lifestyle changes and consistent medical care.
00:07:40
Speaker
That means diet, exercise and medication when needed. But how can women manage something they don't even know they have? This is why a awareness at school and college level is critical. Girls need to be taught about their bodies, about hormonal health and about when to seek medical advice.
00:07:58
Speaker
and families especially mothers husbands and in-laws And families, especially mothers, husbands and in-laws, need to unlearn the shame and replace it with empathy It's easy to think of PCOS only as a health problem, but that's not the full story. In reality, PCOS is also a social and human rights issue. by Because Pakistan has one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Up to 52% of women of reproductive age and yet more than 70% of cases remain undiagnosed. That's not just a medical gap, that's a policy failure. It means women are denied their constitutional right to health and dignity under Articles 9 and 14, equality before law under Article 25, and even their international rights under treaties like CEDAW and the Sustainable Development Goals.
00:08:55
Speaker
PCOS doesn't just affect fertility or periods, it affects mental health, with high rates of depression and anxiety prevalent in our society, social stability in cases where marriages are strained, women are blamed or abused, and even economic well-being where the cost of diagnosis, medication,
00:09:17
Speaker
Fertility treatments and job losses are common. Yet, in Pakistan, PCOS is completely absent from national health policies, reproductive health strategies or legal frameworks.
00:09:30
Speaker
This is where initiatives like PCOS helps matters so much. They're not just raising awareness, they're reframing PCOS as an issue of justice, equality and rights.
00:09:42
Speaker
Their free online course, Know Your Body, A Girl's Guide to Growing Up Healthy, gives teenage girls the tools to understand their cycles and recognize symptoms early. And their advocacy highlights how ignoring PCOS amounts to structural discrimination against women. Other countries are already moving forward.
00:10:04
Speaker
Australia has national PCOS clinical guidelines. The yeah UK includes PCOS in its women's health strategy. India screens adolescents through school clinics.
00:10:15
Speaker
Pakistan can and must do the same. From PCOS clinics and school curriculum integration to legal protections against infertility-related abuse. In a country where even saying the word ovary is a hush-hush situation, this is groundbreaking.
Education and Open Dialogue for Change
00:10:32
Speaker
Imagine if every teenage girl had access to this kind of education. It could mean earlier detection, healthier lifestyles and most importantly, less shame. PCOS helps also run social media campaigns, busts myths and connects women to reliable information.
00:10:53
Speaker
It's grassroots work, but it's exactly what we need. Because awareness doesn't just come from doctors and hospitals. It comes from community, from conversation, from women sharing their stories.
00:11:05
Speaker
And that's where all of us come in. So, what can you do if you suspect you might have PCOS? First, pay attention to your body. If your periods are irregular, if you are experiencing sudden weight changes, excessive hair growth or unusual acne, don't dismiss it. These are not just phases.
00:11:28
Speaker
They might be your body asking for help. They might be your body asking for help. Second, talk about it. Whether it's with your mother, your sister or a trusted friend, don't stay silent.
00:11:41
Speaker
Silence only feeds the stigma. Third, seek medical help. Yes, I know it can be intimidating. Yes, gynecology clinics can feel unwelcoming. But getting proper medical advice is essential. Don't settle for myths.
00:11:56
Speaker
spiritual cures or home remedies alone. And finally, if you don't have PCOS but you know someone who does, be kind, listen, support them. Don't dismiss their pain or blame them for their symptoms. Sometimes the most healing thing we can do is simply believe women when they tell us what they're going through. So here's the truth. PCOS is not just a medical condition. It's a social condition. It's shaped by culture, stigma and silence. But it doesn't have to stay that way. If we can talk about it openly, if we can educate young girls, if we can challenge shame with empathy, then maybe the next generation won't grow up whispering about their bodies in closed spaces. Maybe they'll grow up knowing
00:12:42
Speaker
that health is not a secret and womanhood is not defined by fertility or appearance. If you're listening to this and you have PCOS, you are not alone. Millions of women across Pakistan are with you. Your body is not broken. Your worth is not defined by your condition. And if you don't have PCOS, start the conversation. Talk about it.
00:13:06
Speaker
learn about it and help break the silence. Because women's health is not a matter of shame, it's a public health issue. And the more we talk about it, the more power we take away from the silence.