In Australia’s National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030, PCOS is mentioned three times, while endometriosis is mentioned 18 times. Labor pledged $573 million to women’s health ahead of the 2025 federal election, but it largely focused on menopause, endometriosis and pelvic pain, IVF and contraception.
While increased awareness of PCOS and its evolving diagnostic criteria may be a primary driver for PCOS’ amplified incidence and prevalence, this study found genetic factors may also contribute to PCOS’ escalating global burden.
Of the 204 countries and territories examined, Italy consistently exhibited the highest rates of new and existing PCOS cases, followed by Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.
Several southeast European countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia, demonstrated the lowest incidence and prevalence rates.
Zeng, Gan, Ou and Tomlinson found new PCOS cases peaked in women and girls aged 10 to 19 years old, while reproductive-aged women, from 20 to 35 years old, bear the highest caseload.
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In addition to early screening protocols and robust public health education initiatives, the authors are calling for research investment into cost-efficient interventions and real-time monitoring systems among other critical gaps.
They say coordinated government action is necessary to “develop multisectoral health policies that empower affected women and families, thereby mitigating PCOS progression, improving gynaecological health outcomes, and advancing reproductive health equity”.