PCOS is a condition that affects one in every five women in India.
“My experience with PCOS in the initial years was not a pleasant one. I had mood swings, excessive hair growth, and weight gain. Despite visiting multiple specialists, I couldn't get accurate medical advice. I had a new question daily, but didn’t know who to ask,” says Shobhita.
It was only after a few years of research and right treatments that she started seeing a positive change.
She and her sister, Shashwata (34), spoke to other women with the same condition and realised that this was a problem faced by many.
Shobhita also faced stigma and myths surrounding PCOS, such as claims that marriage and childbirth would ‘cure’ the condition.
Having been witness to this misinformation and judgement that surround women’s health, the sisters decided to do something about it.
Towards the end of 2020, they conducted a survey with 4,000 women who had PCOS. 90 percent of the respondents said that existing treatments did not work for them. This led the sisters to take action.
In 2021, they launched Veera Health, a completely virtual platform that brings together experts to offer evidence-based treatment for PCOS.
While people with PCOS usually visit a doctor, dermatologist, dietitian and more, they found that nobody was monitoring patients regularly.
“Most treatments weren’t addressing the root cause, which is often excessive testosterone. Women were given one-point solutions. We decided to address this gap and provide a long-term solution,” says Shashwata.