{"id":880,"date":"2025-07-22T16:30:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T16:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/?p=880"},"modified":"2025-07-23T09:16:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T09:16:21","slug":"silent-struggles-girls-pcod-pcos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/silent-struggles-girls-pcod-pcos\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silent Struggles of Girls with PCOD\/PCOS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhy Am I Always Tired?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\"Struggles<\/p>\n

Living in a Body That Feels Foreign<\/h2>\n

You wake up dreading the mirror. The reflection stares back with tired eyes, skin riddled with stubborn acne and strands of hair resting on your pillow. You\u2019ve been gaining weight rapidly, despite barely eating junk. Periods? They\u2019re either nowhere to be found or come knocking with unbearable pain.<\/p>\n

Teachers tell you to \u201cfocus more,\u201d friends tease your sudden weight gain and your parents suspect you\u2019re just stressed. But deep inside, you know something\u2019s off. Your body feels like it\u2019s revolting, emotionally, physically, hormonally.<\/p>\n

This is the silent cry of thousands of teenage girls navigating the maze of PCOD and PCOS. With hormonal imbalances at their root, these conditions not only affect physical health but deeply scar confidence, emotional wellbeing and future fertility.<\/p>\n

Know the Opponent<\/h3>\n

While often used interchangeably, PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) are distinct conditions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • PCOD involves the release of immature or partially mature eggs from the ovaries, which can turn into cysts. It\u2019s more common and often manageable with lifestyle changes.<\/li>\n
  • PCOS is a more severe hormonal disorder where multiple cysts form due to hormonal imbalance. It\u2019s linked with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, infertility and increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Scientific Insights:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • PCOS affects 9.13% of adolescent girls in India. (Joshi et al., 2014)<\/li>\n
    • Up to 80% of teens with PCOS show insulin resistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Emotional, Physical & Social Turmoil<\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Emotional and Mental Health<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        • Girls report feeling isolated, anxious or depressed.<\/li>\n
        • Mood swings and body dysmorphia often go unrecognized.<\/li>\n
        • Increased risk of eating disorders, self-harm and social withdrawal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          1. Physical Symptoms<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            • Persistent acne resistant to regular treatment.<\/li>\n
            • Male-pattern hair growth (face, chest) or hair thinning.<\/li>\n
            • Unpredictable, painful periods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                \n
              1. Social Stigma and Bullying<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                • Being called \u201chairy,\u201d \u201cchubby\u201d or \u201clazy.\u201d<\/li>\n
                • Teased for having visible facial hair or weight changes.<\/li>\n
                • Missing classes or social events due to low energy or painful cramps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Mental Health Stat:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Girls with PCOS are 3x more likely to develop anxiety and 2.5x more likely to experience depression (Rasgon et al., 2003)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    The Biology<\/h3>\n

                    PCOS and PCOD begin with hormonal chaos:<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • Androgens or male hormones, are overproduced.<\/li>\n
                    • This prevents ovulation and causes multiple cysts in the ovaries.<\/li>\n
                    • Disrupted ovulation \u2192 irregular or absent periods.<\/li>\n
                    • Insulin resistance is common, leading to weight gain and further hormone imbalance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      This creates a vicious cycle that many girls unknowingly live with for years.<\/p>\n

                      Source: Mayo Clinic & NIH Reports on PCOS.<\/p>\n

                      What Happens When You Ignore the Signs?<\/h2>\n

                      Short-Term Effects:<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • Period irregularity, bloating, weight changes.<\/li>\n
                      • Poor focus, low confidence, exhaustion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Long-Term Effects:<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Infertility, Type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer.<\/li>\n
                        • Chronic fatigue, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Story Time<\/u>:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

                          \u201cPriya, 16, was gaining weight and suffering from horrible acne. Everyone thought it was just teenage blues. But when she was diagnosed with PCOS at 18, she had already developed insulin resistance and anxiety. Early diagnosis could have saved her two years of mental turmoil.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          Stat:<\/strong> 50 to 70% of PCOS cases in India remain undiagnosed until complications occur. (Fernandes et al., 2021)<\/p>\n

                          How Parents & Schools Can Help<\/h3>\n
                            \n
                          • Integrate reproductive and hormonal health in school health curriculum.<\/li>\n
                          • Conduct annual check-ups that include hormonal panels.<\/li>\n
                          • Create safe spaces where girls can talk about menstrual issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            For Parents:<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Don\u2019t dismiss the signs as \u201cjust teenage issues.\u201d<\/li>\n
                            • Consult doctors early.<\/li>\n
                            • Normalize therapy and emotional support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              For Schools:<\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • Train teachers to be sensitive to hormonal and mental health concerns.<\/li>\n
                              • Include gynecological camps or tie-ups with local hospitals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                What You <\/u><\/em>Can Do?<\/h3>\n

                                Medical Support:<\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • Early consultation with gynecologists or endocrinologists.<\/li>\n
                                • Get a proper diagnosis: hormone levels, insulin test, pelvic ultrasound.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Lifestyle Changes:<\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • Diet: Low-glycemic foods, avoid processed sugars, high-fiber intake.<\/li>\n
                                  • Exercise: Yoga, strength training, daily movement.<\/li>\n
                                  • Mental Health: Therapy, journaling, support groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    Apps That Help:<\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • Flo, My Calendar, Clue to track periods and symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      Why Address This Now?<\/h3>\n

                                      Each passing year without a diagnosis increases risks. Early teenage years are the perfect window for awareness, prevention and habit formation.<\/p>\n

                                      Delaying attention means watching young girls struggle with preventable complications.<\/p>\n

                                      If you notice signs, act. Don\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n

                                      It\u2019s Time to Talk<\/h3>\n

                                      PCOD and PCOS are not just about missing periods. They are about missed opportunities, to empower, to educate and to prevent years of suffering.<\/p>\n

                                      Talking about it, educating schools and being sensitive at home can transform a young girl\u2019s life. Together, let\u2019s create a society where these symptoms are not ignored, but understood and addressed.<\/p>\n

                                      Led by a Renowned Obstetric Specialist<\/h2>\n

                                      At Mulberry Women\u2019s Hospital, your care is led by a dedicated obstetric team committed to safe and personalized maternity care:<\/p>\n

                                      Dr. Swathi Thaduri<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                      • MBBS, DNB, MRCOG (UK), Infertility & Laparoscopic Specialist<\/li>\n
                                      • Over a decade of experience with high-risk pregnancies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                        \u201cWhy Am I Always Tired?\u201d   Living in a Body That Feels Foreign You wake up dreading the mirror. The reflection stares back with tired eyes, skin riddled with stubborn…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[258,259,1],"tags":[175,174,260,261],"class_list":["post-880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-teen-hormonal-issues","category-teen-menstrual-problems","category-uncategorized","tag-pcod-treatment-in-hyderabad","tag-pcos-treatment-in-hyderabad","tag-teen-hormonal-issues","tag-teen-menstrual-problems"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=880"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":898,"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880\/revisions\/898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mulberrydentalandwomensclinic.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}