Some participants of the seminar with the health officers and Xoese staff
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) with focus on women’s health, girls’ education, and child protection, Xoese Ghana, has held a day’s seminar on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) for women in Accra.
The seminar, themed, “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Enlightening Toward an Infertility Stigma-free Society”, formed part of activities to mark the 2023 PCOS Awareness month and Xoese Ghana’s flagship programme to end infertility stigma against women and childless couples.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder which causes enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. In order to help create awareness about the disorder, September has been set aside as the PCOS Awareness Month to highlight the value of patient empowerment in fighting PCOS.
Dr. Samuel Gyedu Owusu of the LEKMA Hospital took participants through the basics of PCOS indicating that it affects women in their reproductive age.
He revealed that symptoms of the disorder include menstrual irregularity, (break in menstrual cycle or painful menstruation), excess hair growth on the face, uncontrolled acne or oily skin and weight gain around the belly.
Dr. Gyadu Owusu said PCOS is a leading cause of infertility among women adding that it also affects their physical and emotional wellbeing.
He noted that treatments include birth control pills to regularise periods, hormone medication to increase fertility and procedures to remove excess hair.
Medical Director of Tema Women’s Hospital, Dr. Yaa Owusu Baah, explained that treatment options for women with PCOS differ.
She indicated that for some women, a hormonal treatment is able to correct their menstrual cycle and they are able to conceive naturally and have their children while for others, they may have to go through fertility procedures like Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Dr Baah advised the participants to know their menstrual cycle so they can notice any change that occurs and also urged them to have at least a reproductive health check once a year.
Director of Xoese Ghana, Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, speaking with the media after the seminar said although PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in women, there is little awareness on the disorder and thus expressed delight at the level of awareness created through the engagement with the health officers.
She was optimistic that the knowledge shared would help empower the participants to make informed decision about their reproductive health.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri