When I was diagnosed with PCOS almost two years ago, I did not have any idea what it was. I just knew that I was experiencing so many issues with my body that I could not explain, yet I remained confused about this diagnosis because I had never heard of it before. It was not until I got over the initial shock of my diagnosis and a rush of emotions later that I googled the condition to read more about it. As it turns out, PCOS is WAY more common than you might think! Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a genetic hormonal and reproductive disorder that causes a variety of lifelong issues. After reviewing various sources, experts estimate that it affects 1 in 10 women, and a lot of those cases go undiagnosed. The more I read articles and journals about what it was, the symptoms, the treatments, and the steps to take, the more answers I got. Since middle school, I asked myself why I was tired all the time, why I could not lose weight as easy as other people, why did I experience abnormal periods, why did I have so much anxiety, and why I could not seem to control my stress? I thought my body was failing me, and I just needed to deal with it. It was not until I went to a gynecologist who finally gave me the necessary tests and answers I sought for so long. For years, I heard, “Oh, it happens to other women in the family, you are fine” or “You should just bring down your stress level, and you will be fine”, and “You should eat better and exercise more, and you will be fine”. As a girl who already struggled with body image issues and major anxiety, that is NOT something you want to hear.
I do understand that the healthcare system could be a lot better, and I am lucky that I can go to any doctor and afford it, but one thing I know is that there is always a way. This whole experience taught me to listen to my body, and there was no more reason to suffer every single day. That, and of course, PCOS comes with an extensive variety of symptoms. There are many different types and presentations of this illness. I only recently found out that there is an entire month dedicated to PCOS awareness (September), and I discovered an entire crop of women who told me they are going through the same things! Being vocal about this has connected me with so many “cyst-ers” as well as resources that make me feel much better and not lonely. I have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about! I purposely did not want to explain the entire illness and sound like a medical journal; I hope that sharing my experience can affect at least one person and remind them that no matter what you are going through, there is always a way to get help and ways to help get your life on track!
