Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a very common gynaecological endocrinopathy which is associated with problems like menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, obesity, insulin resistance, acne, and in later life it is associated with problems like infertility, diabetes mellitus and uterine cancer. Awareness is necessary for early intervention and to minimize the immediate and chronic consequences of PCOS.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of clinical polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and also to increase the awareness about PCOS in young school going girls.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 high school girls aged between 14-17 years were included. This study was conducted in a government school of Sambalpur, Odisha. A carefully prepared questionnaire was given to all the girls aged 14-17years. The presence of hirsutism, severe acne, androgenic alopecia, menstrual irregularities and obesity were recorded. Clinical PCOS was diagnosed if menstrual dysfunction and clinical hyperandrogenism were detected.

Results: The prevalence of clinical PCOS in the present study was 12%, hirsutism in 12(12%), severe acne in 20(20%) and menstrual irregularities in 36(36%) of the population studied.

Conclusion: The prevalence of clinical PCOS in our study was 12%. A timely diagnosis of PCOS in symptomatic adolescent girls is important for the initiation of appropriate screening and treatment.

Keywords: Polycystic Ovaries, Hirsutism, acne, obesity, menstrual irregularities.

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