Effect of Adolescent Reproductive Health Education on Awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Article Sidebar

Full Text PDF
Published: 2026-03-30
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61919/498cdn47
Keywords:
PCOS awareness; adolescent girls; reproductive health education; menstrual health; school health; health-seeking behaviour; Attock; Pakistan.

Main Article Content

Asia Attique
MCPS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hamza Hospital and Maternity Home, Fateh Jang, District Attock, Pakistan
Aneela Dar
Doctor, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
Aisha Arshad
House Officer, Ziauddin Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
Sadaf Saeed
MPhil Scholar in Psychology, Rawalpindi Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Farhan Muhammad Qureshi
Professor, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Shaikh Khalid Muhammad
Professor of Medicine, CMC Teaching Hospital, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with menstrual, hyperandrogenic, reproductive, metabolic, and psychological consequences, yet awareness among adolescent girls remains variable. Objective: To assess awareness of PCOS manifestations, long-term risks, health-seeking intentions, and educational preferences among adolescent girls immediately after a reproductive-health education session. Methods: A school-based post-education cross-sectional study included 300 girls aged 13–19 years from selected educational institutions in Attock, Pakistan. Participants attended a 30–40-minute reproductive-health session and then completed a structured questionnaire. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages, and age as mean ± standard deviation. Results: The mean age was 16.1 ± 1.7 years. Irregular menstrual periods were recognized as a possible PCOS manifestation by 252 participants (84.0%), followed by excessive facial or body hair by 188 (62.7%), acne by 175 (58.3%), and weight gain by 165 (55.0%). Fertility-related consequences were recognized by 146 participants (48.7%), and diabetes risk by 124 (41.3%). Overall awareness was poor in 78 (26.0%), moderate in 137 (45.7%), and good in 85 (28.3%). Medical advice for persistent menstrual irregularity was supported by 236 participants (78.7%), while 261 (87.0%) supported inclusion of PCOS in school health education. Conclusion: Participants demonstrated predominantly moderate post-session awareness, with substantial gaps concerning reproductive and metabolic risks. The findings support structured school-based education but do not establish educational effectiveness

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 6 (2026)

Section

Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

1.
Asia Attique, Aneela Dar, Aisha Arshad, Sadaf Saeed, Farhan Muhammad Qureshi, Shaikh Khalid Muhammad. Effect of Adolescent Reproductive Health Education on Awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). JHWCR [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 30 [cited 2026 Jul. 31];4(6):1-10. Available from: https://jhwcr.com/index.php/jhwcr/article/view/1981

References

1. Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2023;38(9):1655–1679. doi:10.1093/humrep/dead156.

2. Peña AS, Witchel SF, Hoeger KM, Oberfield SE, Vogiatzi MG, Misso M, et al. Adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome according to the international evidence-based guideline. BMC Med. 2020;18(1):72. doi:10.1186/s12916-020-01516-x.

3. Witchel SF, Oberfield SE, Peña AS. Polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment with emphasis on adolescent girls. J Endocr Soc. 2019;3(8):1545–1573. doi:10.1210/js.2019-00078.

4. Azziz R. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;132(2):321–336. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002698.

5. Escobar-Morreale HF. Polycystic ovary syndrome: definition, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2018;14(5):270–284. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2018.24.

6. Rosenfield RL, Ehrmann DA. The pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome: the hypothesis of PCOS as functional ovarian hyperandrogenism revisited. Endocr Rev. 2016;37(5):467–520. doi:10.1210/er.2015-1104.

7. Joham AE, Norman RJ, Stener-Victorin E, Legro RS, Franks S, Moran LJ, et al. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022;10(9):668–680. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00163-2.

8. Deswal R, Narwal V, Dang A, Pundir CS. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome: a brief systematic review. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2020;13(4):261–271. doi:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18.

9. Sharma M, Khapre M, Saxena V, Kaushal P. Polycystic ovary syndrome among Indian adolescent girls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nepal J Epidemiol. 2021;11(3):1063–1075. doi:10.3126/nje.v11i3.38460.

10. Rizvi M, Islam MA, Aftab MT, Naqvi AA, Jahangir A, Ishaqui AA, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and perceptions about polycystic ovarian syndrome, and its determinants among Pakistani undergraduate students. PLoS One. 2023;18(5):e0285284. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0285284.

11. Sidra S, Tariq MH, Farrukh MJ, Mohsin M. Evaluation of clinical manifestations, health risks, and quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0223329. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0223329.

12. Khalfe SA, Rafi U, Fatima B. Prevalence and awareness of polycystic ovarian syndrome among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan. J Shifa Tameer-e-Millat Univ. 2023;6(2):78–82. doi:10.32593/jstmu/Vol6.Iss2.260.

13. Qasim M, Hina L, Fatima Y, Sibgha A, Asima Y, Hadiqa S. A cross-sectional survey of reproductive health knowledge, lifestyle choices, and polycystic ovary syndrome awareness among female medical students of Punjab, Pakistan. medtigo J Med. 2024;2(4):e30622415. doi:10.63096/medtigo30622415.

14. Aslam M, Iqbal H, Jabeen S. Prevalence and risk factors of polycystic ovary syndrome among adolescent girls in urban and rural Pakistan. Biol Clin Sci Res J. 2025;6(4):50–53. doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v6i4.1642.

15. Chandra-Mouli V, Plesons M, Hadi S, Baig Q, Lang I. Building support for adolescent sexuality and reproductive health education and responding to resistance in conservative contexts: cases from Pakistan. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2018;6(1):128–136. doi:10.9745/GHSP-D-17-00285.

16. Khan S. Countdown to 2030: adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(12):3321–3322. doi:10.12669/pjms.41.12.13828.

17. Alshdaifat E, Sindiani A, Amarin Z, Absy N, AlOsta N, Abuhayyeh HA, et al. Awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome: a university students’ perspective. Ann Med Surg. 2021;72:103123. doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2021.103123.

18. Goh JE, Farrukh MJ, Keshavarzi F, Yap CS, Saleem Z, Salman M, et al. Assessment of prevalence, knowledge of polycystic ovary syndrome and health-related practices among women in Klang Valley: a cross-sectional survey. Front Endocrinol. 2022;13:985588. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.985588.

19. Malekzadeh F, Mohammadi M, Noorbala B, Ramezani Tehrani F, Omani-Samani R. Awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome among schoolgirls and their mothers: a cross-sectional study. Int J Fertil Steril. 2023;17(4):299–305. doi:10.22074/IJFS.2023.543119.1224.

20. Zaitoun B, AlAbdullah A, AlQattan N, AlAnzi A, Binshehab A, AlSubaie A, et al. Polycystic ovarian syndrome awareness among females in the UAE: a cross-sectional study. BMC Womens Health. 2023;23:181. doi:10.1186/s12905-023-02318-y.

21. Shrateh ON, Waqar E, Al-Qudimat AR, Alrojoub S, Deek R, Adawi Y, et al. Polycystic ovarian syndrome awareness among females in Palestine: a cross-sectional study. Ann Med Surg. 2025;87:2639–2647. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000003057.

22. Pramodh S. Exploration of lifestyle choices, reproductive health knowledge, and polycystic ovary syndrome awareness among female Emirati university students. Int J Womens Health. 2020;12:927–938. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S272867.

23. Jakhar R, Sen ED, Dutt R. Awareness of polycystic ovarian syndrome among college-going females in Gurgaon: a cross-sectional study. Ann Natl Acad Med Sci. 2022;58(3):149–156. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1750359.

24. Kirthika SV, Daggumati H, Padmanabhan K, Paul J, Sudhakar S, Selvam SP. Effect of structured awareness programme on polycystic ovarian syndrome among adolescent girls. Res J Pharm Technol. 2019;12(12):6097–6100. doi:10.5958/0974-360X.2019.01059.X.

25. Gibson-Helm M, Teede H, Dunaif A, Dokras A. Delayed diagnosis and a lack of information associated with dissatisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;102(2):604–612. doi:10.1210/jc.2016-2963.