PCOS is one of the most common metabolic and endocrinal disorders that affect women in their reproductive age. Globally, 5-10% of women suffer from it. It manifests itself in each person differently. The name PCOS suggests that it primarily has to do with polycystic ovaries, yet it is not a requirement for diagnosis. In fact, it is a complex condition that goes well beyond the ovaries and affects every aspect of a woman’s life. Due to the ambiguity in its aetiology, a vast body of research has highlighted women’s dissatisfaction with the diagnostic process and also with the clinicians in providing them support, early diagnosis, and better explanation of the condition. Most women develop their own mechanisms to deal with PCOS, such as they rely on the internet for information regarding PCOS. Social media platforms come as a rescue because of the enormous and accessible information available. Many women join online support groups where they not only feel supported but also validated by the health professional. There is a clear mismatch between what women need from the public health service and what they actually get.
The paper aims to understand this move vis-à-vis women’s health. Can this transition be translated as a step towards more liberation and agency that women can have over their own bodies? Will this transition further strengthen the neoliberal idea of individualisation of health? Through this individualisation, the onus of the illness and treatment, thus, both lie on the sufferer itself. As a result, healthism detaches the illness from the larger socioeconomic and political environment that may also have its linkage with illness. By looking into the existing body of work around women’s experience of PCOS and the diagnostic process, the paper aims to understand the workings of these transitions and their impact on public health.
