Background

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PSCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders that affects adolescent girls and women, however, it is underdiagnosed, especially among underserved communities in India. 

PCOS has a variety of symptoms that are often construed as the primary ailment or issue. For example, women with PCOS might find it difficult to lose weight and they are often chastised for being “unfit”. The misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of PCOS largely has to do with stigma around menstrual and gynecological health discussions in India. This in turn, leads to misinformation. Many young women and girls are genuinely unable to identify when they have symptoms or know when to seek medical help.

Awareness around PCOS has increased in urban India amongst the upper-middle class and elite, yet this awareness is lacking amongst underserved communities. Preventative action, healthcare education and screening opportunities remain limited. Without true accessible information to understand early indicators, health issues persist and mostly go unnoticed during adolescence. However, this is the most crucial time to screen as early intervention is the most effective. Addressing such challenges requires one to be medically aware through community dialogue.

To address this need, Open Cycles was created as a youth-led initiative that aims to improve all-around awareness, enabling early identification of symptoms, and normalising discourse around menstrual health. Through educational resources, dialogue sessions with experts, community screenings, and post-screening support, the initiative aims to create an accessible and supportive system for young women and girls who are trying to navigate PCOS and other related hormonal health diseases.