During my early teenage years, I struggled with many unexplained symptoms that my friends didn’t have to deal with: Unexplained weight gain. Acne, even though I had a consistent skincare regimen. Irregular periods that came whenever they wanted to, sometimes even twice or three times in the same month. It wasn’t until a few years later that I finally discovered that something truly wasn’t right.
At the age of 18, I was diagnosed with PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. PCOS is a common endocrine disorder in menstruating women that has no known cause and is completely incurable. It can result in significant complications later in life, such as infertility, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and even mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
The condition is prevalent. 1 in 10 women in America has PCOS, and up to 70% of these women don’t even know they have it. It’s become one of the most silent yet drastic epidemics for women in the country, and the cases seem to be rising.
what’s causing the rising numbers
The causes of PCOS are not well understood yet. Lack of investment in PCOS research is the main culprit to blame. But to add to that, the condition is incredibly difficult to treat due to the wide variation of symptoms. PCOS affects every part of your body, from your head to your toes, which means that not a single medication is capable of helping all PCOS patients.
With such a wide array of symptoms, it has broadened the diagnostic criteria, essentially expanding the number of women who are diagnosed with the condition. Rising obesity rates in America and environmental problems can also be blamed for the higher number of cases.
The lack of knowledge about PCOS may make you hesitant to get a diagnosis. However, if you believe you may have PCOS, you don’t need to feel defeated.
what to do if you are diagnosed
For me personally, being diagnosed with PCOS was heartbreaking. Lots of questions were running through my head: Would I ever be able to have kids one day? Will I ever be able to get this weight off? How will I navigate my life living with such a misunderstood condition, one that can’t even be cured?
It’s normal to have thoughts like that after getting such devastating news. But the important thing to remember is that your life is not over. PCOS is common, and although it may be misunderstood and under-researched at the moment, the rising numbers are causing more health professionals to look into the condition more.
So, if you suspect you may have PCOS: take a deep breath, get diagnosed, and remember you are not alone. Remember that you are navigating a difficult condition, and although there may be some speed bumps along the way, your road to healing is closer than you think.