Monsoon And PCOS: Why Symptoms Worsen During The Rainy Season? Know Here

Monsoon can worsen PCOS symptoms like irregular periods, weight gain, and acne due to hormonal fluctuations, humidity, and lifestyle changes. Learn causes, tips, and precautions to manage PCOS during the rainy season.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that newly impacts quite a large number of reproductive women who are between fifteen and forty or even forty-five. There is also a menstrual cycle disorder where women do not menstruate or only menstruate once every few months. This results from an imbalance in insulin and male hormones that causes the ovaries to release numerous immature cysts.

These women also suffer from secondary male pattern hair loss, hirsutism, acne, and darkening of the skin in the neck area, which might also lead to embarrassing feelings and, in some instances, infertility. The long-term effects of PCOS raise risks for women developing heart disease, type two diabetes, sleep apnoea, depression, and even endometrial cancer.

Monsoon and PCOS Symptoms

According to Dr Smita B Kalappa, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Apollo Clinic, J P Nagar, Bengaluru, “The monsoon and PCOS symptoms, particularly, have been found to worsen with the changing seasons, but for a select few. One’s best educated assumption is that it has something to do with the weather and its ability to control the balance of hormones. The reason behind that could be due to the activity pattern changes of women during monsoons, which also affect eating and sleep.”

Role of Environmental Conditions: Environmental conditions that are most common during monsoons have a direct impact on the secretion of hormones in our body. Secretion of serotonin is reduced during monsoons, which causes mood fluctuation and depression, fatigue and irritability.
Impact of Darkness and Melatonin: Increased darkness causes hypersecretion of melatonin. This interferes with the natural rhythm of the body and causes enhanced drowsiness and mood fluctuation.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Infections: PCOS women are also predisposed to such symptoms, and the influence of low levels of Vitamin D during monsoons seems to contribute to the PCOS woman’s burden of hormonal imbalance. Secondly, excessive sweating and weight gain in PCOS women during monsoons put them at risk for infection of genital organs.

Lifestyle Factors During Monsoon

Monsoon has an association with rain and humidity. One has reduced activity levels, less sun exposure and more fried and sweet foods.

Effect on Insulin and Hormones

All these adversely affect PCOS women who need an active regimen, a good diet and good sleeping habits to keep their symptoms in check. Reduced physical activity and a diet with monsoon consumption of carbohydrate- and fat-rich food result in heightened insulin resistance and heightened cortisol release. These further cause weight gain, irregular menstruation, worsening of acne and alopecia, heightened stress and heightened fat deposition, predominantly in the mid-abdomen.

PCOS and Inflammation

PCOS is proved to be a state of long-term, low-grade inflammation. This is the same for other long-term diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, etc., that are comorbid with PCOS. Monsoon lifestyle and environmental factors are most likely to be risk factors in developing other disease states, which are also very likely to be even more in a chronic state of inflammation and immunocompromised state in PCOS women.

Increased Vulnerability During Monsoon

Increased vulnerability to infections of the respiratory tract, fungal and dermatophyte infections and gastrointestinal upset is the rule during the monsoons and especially so among patients with chronic, long-standing diseases like PCOS. The healthy way of life and behavioural change that form the cornerstone of treatment in PCOS should therefore be followed all the more conscientiously during the monsoons.

FAQs

How to control acne in PCOS during monsoon?

Maintain skincare hygiene, avoid oily foods, and drink plenty of water.

Does monsoon increase risk of weight gain in PCOS?

Yes, reduced activity and cravings can lead to weight gain.

Can diet help manage PCOS during monsoon?

Yes, a balanced diet with seasonal fruits and light meals can ease symptoms.

Why does monsoon worsen PCOS symptoms?

Because humidity, infections, and lifestyle changes affect hormones and metabolism.

news.nvihan.com