AZHAR HUSSAIN
SRINAGAR, Nov 1: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Friday hosted its first “Research Dissemination Meet,” where Director SKIMS and EOSG head, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, unveiled the findings of the country’s largest-ever study on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), conducted under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Task Force.
Prof. Ganie, who serves as the National Chief Coordinator and Principal Investigator of the study, described PCOS as “a silent but growing public health concern” affecting millions of Indian women, particularly in northern states including Jammu and Kashmir. He revealed that nearly 44 million women across the country are estimated to suffer from the condition, which, if neglected, can lead to infertility, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological distress.
The national study, with an expenditure of ₹37 crore, aims to standardize the understanding of PCOS by examining its prevalence, clinical patterns, and associated metabolic and reproductive disorders across six regions of India. Prof. Ganie said the study provides the most comprehensive evidence yet on the disorder, enabling policymakers and health authorities to frame effective national strategies and clinical guidelines. The findings, he noted, will soon be shared with central health bodies and medical councils to help strengthen women’s healthcare systems.
Highlighting the region’s specific burden, Prof. Ganie said northern India, including Jammu and Kashmir, appears to record a higher prevalence of PCOS, likely linked to lifestyle and dietary transitions. He cautioned against over-diagnosis, clarifying that not every ovarian cyst in young women indicates PCOS, and stressed the importance of specialist consultation and accurate diagnostic criteria.
Prof. Ganie underscored the importance of lifestyle changes in both prevention and management of the condition. “Minimizing junk food, increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing stress are key steps every woman should take,” he said, adding that early lifestyle modification can help avert long-term complications.
He also highlighted a new model of care being implemented at SKIMS through its dedicated “PCOS Station” — a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary unit where endocrinologists, gynecologists, radiologists, and allied specialists jointly evaluate and treat patients. Similar integrated care units, he said, are being set up across major tertiary care hospitals in India to ensure standardized, comprehensive management for PCOS patients.
The dissemination meet, attended by researchers, clinicians, and media representatives, marks a significant step towards bringing PCOS out of medical obscurity and into public discourse. Prof. Ganie stressed that the disorder is not merely a cosmetic concern but a serious hormonal imbalance with profound health implications. “We must educate our young girls and women that irregular periods, excessive hair growth, or weight gain are not issues to be ignored. Early intervention is the key,” he said.
Medical experts at the meet echoed his concerns, observing that increasing urbanization, poor dietary habits, and sedentary lifestyles have contributed to a surge in PCOS cases, particularly among adolescents. The SKIMS-led study, they noted, provides an evidence-based foundation to guide early diagnosis and preventive health strategies across the country.
As the discussion concluded, Prof. Ganie expressed hope that the findings would inspire a collective response — from policymakers, educators, and families — to tackle one of India’s most pressing women’s health challenges. “PCOS is not just a medical disorder; it’s a social and lifestyle concern that deserves national attention,” he asserted.
With the SKIMS initiative placing Kashmir at the center of national women’s health research, experts believe the region is poised to lead by example in building awareness, improving diagnosis, and ensuring timely treatment for millions of women affected by PCOS.
