To all the girls that are going through PCOS or the polycystic ovary syndrome, a reminder that you did not cause this to your body. It can be confusing and frustrating living with this condition but what’s better than to raise awareness and learn more about it so we can be at ease with our own body.
Here’s our PCOS 101 take on this matter!
*Disclaimer: Please consult a doctor/gynaecologist to get a clearer picture of the condition.
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder where a woman’s ovaries are enlarged and inflamed and cysts form on them. This happens when a woman has higher levels of androgens (male hormones).
When it comes to the diagnosis, it can be tricky. Even a clinical test can’t really confirm whether or not you have it. It requires a physical examination, a trip to your gynaecologist, blood tests, personal and family medical history, and sometimes an ultrasound to actually discover if a woman experiences PCOS.
It’s a very significant condition to pay attention to as it can affect a woman’s fertility and chances to conceive a child.
Symptoms of PCOS
Try to look out for the obvious symptoms of PCOS.. Such as abnormal hair growth on your chin, irregular or missed periods, constant hormonal acne, infertility, weight gain, etc. Other than that, do consider other environmental factors aswell or even the food that you eat.
However, some unconventional factors range from sleep apnea, depression and anxiety, diabetes, skin discoloration or even brain fog. More on the symptoms here.
*Disclaimer: Symptoms for PCOS may vary for each individual.
What They See vs. What They Don’t Know
When it comes to the woman’s body, there are so many things others may not be able to understand. And just like PCOS, it’s really something that will affect someone personally.. So unless you’ve experienced it, you’ll never really know how it feels to go through it.
Having PCOS does not only affect your long-term health, it also affects your quality of life and even your relationships with people. Experiencing PCOS can slowly destroy your self-esteem and make you more conscious about your appearance, resulting in insecurity. Judging someone from their appearance without knowing what they’re actually struggling with happens a lot within the society and it’s not fair..
“Why does she have hair on her chin?” “She works out, why can’t she lose weight?” “She missed her period? Is she pregnant?”, and all these questions are easily brought up not thinking about what’s really going on.
Having PCOS makes it difficult for women to perceive themselves positively. Learn how to enhance your self-esteem, nurture yourself despite your diagnosis, and overcome emotions of inadequacy and worthlessness.
Raising Awareness in Women Health Issues
As a result of all these judgments, women are embarrassed to talk about their condition, because it is considered a shameful taboo to talk about the female body and its condition. But in reality, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We need to realize that all these things happening to their body is a normal, human process.
Another barrier to raising awareness is the numerous stigmas connected with PCOS. Many women and girls are scared and embarrassed to talk about their thoughts and experiences. We cannot expect people to understand until these stigmas are eliminated.
This is why we need to normalise talking about what goes on with the woman body. Women should not be shamed for how they look, be it after giving birth or just simply going through various hormonal changes.
Combating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
First off, if you notice you’re experiencing few of the abovementioned symptoms, don’t just brush it off until something goes south. Going to a gynaecologist will help you ease your mind as they let you know what you are going through. Early diagnosis goes a loooong way..
Making lifestyle changes, especially dieatry wise, is important when it comes to your physical health. Reduce your sugar and carbohydrate intake, cut down on caffeine, exercise more,take proper supplements, eat more greens; and this is all to control your blood sugar levels.
It is critical that you feel at ease with your healthcare professional. Ask questions if you don’t understand anything regarding your health. Also, if you want an alternative treatment method, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.
Hey, Don’t Give Up!
Treating and controlling PCOS may be a challenging process, but small efforts can make a big impact, so the progress you see motivates you at every stage of your journey. Suffering from any disease is terrible, but suffering from one with no solution is even more difficult. However, adopting proactive actions in your life may make your PCOS journey considerably simpler and nearly non-existent. This may be a long and difficult path, but don’t give up; you can accomplish it!