HealthTracka, a Nigerian led health startup focused on making lab testing easy with at home tests, has launched a first of its kind test for women battling Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that the World Health Organisation estimates affects one in ten women making it a very common disorder. It is associated with other health issues like obesity, endometrial cancer, and high blood pressure, among others.
Document Women had earlier written about some of the experiences of women who suffer PCOS which include irregular periods, prolonged menstrual bleeding, excessive hair growth, weight gain and difficulty getting pregnant.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by founder and CEO Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, the inspiration for the PCOS at-home test came from her personal experience.
She said five years ago, she “barely survived” an open surgery where she had to remove cysts from her ovaries.
Ms Dare-Johnson also commented on the lack of proper diagnosis of women suffering from PCOS saying: “PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women, yet 85% of women suffering from PCOS are undiagnosed.”
She went further to say, “Women with PCOS have hormonal imbalances and metabolism problems that affects their overall health and appearance.”
The cure for PCOS hasn’t yet been found because the prevalence, diagnosis, management, clinical practices, and prevention of the condition have remained controversial within medical circles.
PCOS affects 4 to 20 per cent of women of reproductive age worldwide. A 2021 study noted an increase in the global PCOS incidence rate at 82.44 women per 100,000 population, marking an increase of 1.45 per cent recorded between 2007 and 2017.
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