Bolton tops the UK for access to care for a hormonal condition that is a leading cause of infertility, according to a new study. About one in ten women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to the NHS. And a study by Fertility Family, a PCOS supplement provider, found that Bolton is first in the country for easy access to healthcare for the condition – rating a soaring 89.
5 out of 100. PCOS is an incurable syndrome that can cause painful and irregular periods, ovarian cysts, male pattern baldness and excess body hair. And the World Health Organization said it is a leading cause of infertility.
The study found that Bolton has four fertility clinics per every 100,000 women within an easy quarter mile radius of the city centre. There are almost 40 GP surgeries available within two miles of it. And eight registered endocrinologists ten miles outside of it.
Warrington ranked second in accessibility followed by Wigan, London, and Leicester. London had the highest PCOS healthcare access but few fertility clinics per person – with only 0.84 clinics for every 100,000 residents.
This suggests that people with PCOS might have difficulty finding a fertility clinic because of the limited number compared to the overall population. PCOS is a hormone condition where a person produces excess male hormones or androgens and has enlarged ovaries with many fluid-filled sacs around the eggs, according to the NHS . It often goes undiagnosed – and can cause health problems like type.