#FertilityEd – know the facts about PCOS

I was diagnosed at the age of 19 after my mum gently showed me an article entitled ‘Spotty, overweight, and miserable – is this secret syndrome ruining your life?’ It finally hit the nail on the head on how I had been feeling. I took it to my GP, pushed for a blood test – apparently, I’m rather insistent, and that’s how I got diagnosed.

PCOS does not mean infertility

I could scream at how often I hear this even from my own healthcare professionals. It can affect your fertility but it is not a full stop on it so don’t assume the worst. It may just mean extra time and testing.

Educate yourself and come armed with the facts

Showing a GP a teen magazine may not have been the best approach, but I also came armed with two years of diarised periods and a list of quite obvious symptoms (hello acne beard – yes literally a goatee shape of acne when I started university). There are a lot of apps to help with this nowadays; showing medical and symptom history really helped me get my diagnosis. We also need to be informed about what resources our health practices can access or refer us to, especially now whilst a pandemic is still going.

Take time to review

As your PCOS changes, take time to review how you manage it. It is essential you have regular reviews with your GP for any medication, including the contraceptive pill or Metformin, as PCOS is a serious health condition and needs reviewing.  Any major changes of medication or lifestyle should be done in consultation with the right professionals, this includes holistic options and supplements.

It’s more common than you realise

When I was first diagnosed I remember reading about some celebrities with acne issues, now I know that some of them have PCOS. I have also become the go-to person for many friends who have PCOS. It is only by being open about our condition and experience that we can we help raise awareness so that others don’t feel so alone.

There are always options

PCOS can sometimes feel like the end of the world but there are always options. They may not be what you want but they are there. Be open to considering everything, take the information on board and then utilise it for your own management in a way that works best for you.

PCOS can be a superpower!

Now I know I may sound like Perky Polly but believe me, I have my ups and downs. However, the way I see it is that PCOS can either control my life or I do my best to control it. For example, the extra testosterone I feel makes me a bit more competitive which is great in sports or at work. The insulin resistance has meant I have learnt so much about how food fuels your body. I am not saying every day is perfect but take power over it with a positive spin can do wonders on your outlook.