Around 30 percent of adolescent girls, at some stage in their reproductive life, grapple with painful symptoms of the endocrine disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) --  most often, irregular periods and acne. "It is a multi-systemic disorder which means it not only affects the menstrual cycle but also affects other systems of the body. The cause is an imbalance between hormones called estrogen and progesterone," explains Dr. Anagha Chhatrapati, consultant - obstetrics and gynecology at Global Hospital. 

What brings this hormonal condition about? "It is caused due to decreased metabolism in women. Women who have PCOS have increased levels of male hormones and are insulin-resistant. This makes it more difficult for the body to utilise the hormone insulin, which ideally converts sugars from foods into energy,  leading to the build-up of insulin and sugar in the bloodstream," adds Dr. Manju Gupta, senior obstetrician and gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital.