PCOS explained simply….
Hiya lovelies
I’ve had this drafted a while to try and get my head and others around the wonderful life having PCOS and how it has been proven to impact every area of life.
This is by no means medical advice etc I am simply stating facts and MY experience with PCOS!
This is intended to provide an understanding to those who want to know more about PCOS or people with PCOS wanting to develop their understanding!
Ps if you are concerned about having PCOS or another endocrine condition please see your GP or a gynaecologist!
TW –food, medication, and side effects
Now we have covered that lets get to the good stuff: )
If you follow me on insta – check it out here! You may know I have ‘unofficially’ been diagnosed with PCOS. It can’t be official until your 21 years old as the body is still growing etc, but that doesn’t mean you cannot be diagnosed officially before 21 years! (that what I’ve been told by gynaecologists)
So PCOS is short for Polycystic ovary syndrome which is essentially undeveloped/undergrown follicles (eggs) in one or both ovaries, these undeveloped eggs do not release or release infrequently leading to no/little ovulation and/or period. BUT you could have PCOS and never know!
Just a massive one from me – PCOS is not just common in ‘fat’ people, and weight loss is not the only answer!
Most common symptoms of PCOS according to the NHS
- Irregular periods or no period at all
- Excessive hair growth on face, chest or back
- Easy weight gain
- Thinning hair on your head
- Acne or oily skin
It is important to note that medication, stress and anxiety, lifestyle (to name a few) can impact your period massively so again if you get no period or constantly irregular periods go to your doctor to get checked out.
‘common’ causes of PCOS?
There is no ‘official’ cause, but it runs in families so if someone related to you (ie mother) has it there is a chance you could too!
Hormone levels are said to cause PCOS – i.e., stress hormones, imbalance in mele/female hormones and a resistance to insulin (controls body sugar levels) to know if you have any imbalances etc you’d need blood tests
Treating PCOS
So, there’s no cure but there are medications and lifestyle changes which can help!
There’s a duck load of Instagram’s and websites claiming to help you get rid of PCOS, but it will not just disappear because you eat spinach and strawberries 24/7.
Doctors and gynaecologists also like to just spit the pill and weight loss for PCOS, but they aren’t the solution for everyone. I don’t take the pill – never have and never will so I can’t comment on that how it might or might not help. There’s a load of benefits and negatives to the ‘pill’ different types and so on so do your research and talk to medical professionals.
I did get prescribed Provera which was a compromise between me and the gyno I see. I’ve taken Provera for 10 days X3 a day every three months or more depending on uni. with me I become soooo emotional, depressed sometimes after the round of tablets I would sometimes feel not suicidal, but I wouldn’t want to be hear I really cannot describe it - but it would leave me inconsolable for at least 2-3, constantly hungry, and tired. I still take Provera and I’ve found since I am now mentally I a better place I cope with the feels, process them, and move on.
I also struggle with weight loss (and it’s not because I eat processed foods and all that stereotypical image of those not a size 10.) I gym/walk at least 3 times a week, cardio, or weights I don’t mind I like them both. I eat veg and fruit all day every day and get all the vitamins my body needs and more. I have struggled to lose weight and deal with it since a teen. Getting to know the scientific reasoning has actually helped me process it. I saw a hormone specialist last week and she put how I’ve felt for a while perfectly, she said I could workout, eat a balanced diet like I do and no see results for a while but someone else could do the exact same things are me and lose X weight.
Fertility
This was a big ish one for me. I don’t really want kids any time soon (soon being the next year or so) but I wanted all the facts, so I’d be prepared for it in case I decide next year I want to try for a bambino/a.
Again, if you go on NHS website it will say weigh loss for ‘fat people’ but there is no real reasoning for it. As long as you have a balanced diet and do some kind of exercise daily will benefit in ways even if you don’t notice the results for weeks or months.
There are fertility medications, IVF etc which can help.
Not going to lie I don’t know too much as I’m not where near ready for any of it I’m just slowly going to where I need to be for when the time comes.
It can be really bad for someone with PCOS to hear about family, friends or even strangers banging on about getting pregnant, I know from personal experience the kind of things people say to/about you and it’s just not nice stuff to be made to feel like your body is a failure or that it means you don’t deserve to have kids.
I feel like adoption or fostering isn’t mentioned enough – there are lots of children out there needing a loving home!
Having PCOS or another endocrine condition is bad enough to deal without sarcastic comments regardless of the intention behind them : )
Some facts I found interesting when initially told I have PCOS
- PCOS affects around 1 in 10 women.
- There is no “cure” for PCOS, but lifestyle changes can limit symptoms etc
- Common symptoms are caused by PCOS so putting on weight didn’t lead to a person having PCOS
- People any shape can have PCOS
- You can be born with it or it can develop
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