A Simple Assessing Method for Screening Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (The Thief of Womanhood) and Emotional Distress in Female Students at Northern Border University (NBU) in Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

ABSTRACT

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine condition which is caused due to disturbance in hormonal balances. There are more than one influencing factors that can lead to cause of PCOS. Yet, there are few reports that have fully elucidated the connection of conventional factors linked with PCOS so far. Aim and objectives: 1. To study the prevalence of risk factors associated with PCOS among female students of NBU, Arar, KSA. 2. To study the correlation between emotional distress and associated risk factors of PCOS among female students of NBU. 3. To create the awareness of PCOS and its associated risk factors among female students of NBU. Material and methods: The Northern Border University female students those were willing to participate were selected to enroll in our study. A pre-validated self-structured questionnaire was used as a tool for the collection of the data. Students were grouped into two viz PCOS-group and non-PCOS-group founded on criteria’s given by NIH (National Institutes of Health Criteria). As per this criteria diagnosis of PCOS is established founded on incidence of both chronic anovulation (ANOVU) characterized by occurrence of vaginal bleeding for more than 35 days gaps or 8 cycles/year to understand absence of menstruation and clinical hyperandrogenism (CH). CH is defined as the occurrence of acne, androgenic alopecia, acanthosis and hirsutism. Conclusion: Students recognized with linked risk factors for PCOS were guided and counseled to have complete investigations done including radiological and hormonal assays for confirming diagnosis and starting treatment.