New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS): One in five Indian women suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterised by hormonal imbalance, leading to difficulties in conceiving, according to a study.

The study conducted by Metropolis healthcare also stated that women in the age group of 15-30 years were at high risk.

For the study, some 27,411 samples were tested over a period of 18 months.

"The increasing trend of PCOS is predominantly seen in the age group 15 to 30 years. Out of 27,411 samples, around 4,824, (17.60 percent) of the females face hormonal associated risk with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome," said the report.

PCOS is a problem in which a woman's hormones are out of balance due to which several cysts are formed in the ovary. It can interfere with women's menstrual cycle and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way women look.

The study said that among the samples tested, east India showed alarming levels of 25.88 percent women affected by PCOS, followed by 18.62 percent in north India, which can be largely attributed to lack of awareness among young women.

"Undiagnosed PCOS can lead to infertility and in long term can cause several health complications; which can be attributed to other factors as well. Early diagnosis and treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent health related problems," said Sonali Kolte, general manager, Medico Marketing, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.