Women in Work

PCOS – A Life Changing Condition

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a syndrome in which a hormone imbalance causes a whole range of problems. The most common of this, and where the syndrome gets its name from, are cysts that appear on one or both ovaries and are painful when the cyst is burst.

"PCOS affects over 7 million people. That's more than the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus combined."

-Louise Chang, MD

I was diagnosed with PCOS during my first year of university. I struggled with severe pain in my lower stomach, similar to menstrual cramps, and therefor went to see my GP. After blood tests and many scans they found cysts on my ovaries. To treat PCOS I was given the contraceptive pill and was told that if I ever went wanted to have children I would have to go back for more medication.

Leaving the doctors office that day I was still so confused as to what PCOS actually was, what it meant, what was going on? I took ‘The Pill’ and I learnt to deal with the pain, thinking that If a doctor shrugged me off I must have been over-reacting.

A few weeks later I decided to see if there was anything more I could do to help myself. Online there were chat rooms filled with women all experiencing the same things as me, a lot of women had it even worse. Side effects of PCOS included; weight gain, insomnia, unusual or heavy bleeding, depression, anxiety, IBS, unusual or rapid body hair growth. There are more than I have listed here, each women has her own experience with PCOS, like a painful snowflake.  

With all these effects of PCOS it is really easy for you to feel buried, it is so hard to keep on top of it all. Living a normal life seems 100 times harder. For me the mornings are the worst, usually tired from a sleepless night with insomnia, another problem will swiftly knock me off my feet. But I have just learnt to keep getting back up. I have also learnt that it is okay to give yourself a rest when you need it. Self-care is a pillar of my health, without it I would crumble.

Like most women living with PCOS, I really don’t want your sympathy. I do want to spread awareness for this chronic illness millions of women have to experience. I want more research going into how to help these women without relying on birth control. I want these women to be able to thrive without PCOS holding them back. Please follow the link to The PCOS Awareness Association and donate if you can.

All images used belong to The PCOS Awareness Association.

https://www.pcosaa.org 

Kerry Michelle Wilson.