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Abstract Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine illness in women of reproductive age, prevailing globally. It is a major reproductive health issue and due to its association with chronic health problems, it is considered a significant health problem. This study’s purpose is to determine and interpret the medical students' knowledge and perception related to polycystic ovarian syndrome, who are studying in Lahore, Pakistan. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan, recruiting 406 participants for this study. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data via an online platform, and the data was statistically analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The results showed that the participants had adequate knowledge about PCOS, with the majority (30.8%) getting their information from family and friends. The majority of the participants correlated negative perceptions such as depression (93.1%) and increased risk for cancer (67.7%) with PCOS. In addition, when asked about the symptoms of PCOS, 91.6% responded with irregularity or absence of menstrual cycle. Furthermore, it was observed that student’s perception regarding PCOS was that, it could lead to miscarriage (74.6%). However, most of the students (79.3%) believed that a healthy lifestyle could control it. The current study revealed that educational level significantly affected participants’ knowledge about PCOS, as this study only includes participants with a medical background having adequate knowledge. There is still a need to evaluate and enhance knowledge and perception of PCOS among the general population.
Masood et al. (Mon,) studied this question.