The Truth About PCOS

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It affects about 8%-13% of reproductive age women and that includes myself. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 17 and immediately put on birth control to help with the side effects like unsightly hair growth (produced by too much testosterone), weight gain and painful/ heavy periods. However, I didn’t stay on birth control long however, convinced it was “changing my personality” which was really my undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Once a cyst burst in my ovaries I had no choice but to go back on the birth control. My periods calmed and I was able to get a better grasp on my hormones. For those of you who are questioning whether you too have PCOS and haven’t gone to get a scan yet, here are some questions you can ask yourselves:

1. Is my period gone for long periods of time?

I would often go four months or so between periods. Sometimes I wondered if the reproductive Gods forgot about me. And then it would hit me. And I’d be in a fetal position, praying for death.

2. Are my periods terribly painful?

Every girl who has PCOS can tell you without birth control to ease the wrath of God, periods can be horrendously painful. After the first two courses of The Pill, mine eased up exponentially.

3. Do I have excess hair on my tummy, breasts and upper lip?

I’m not talking like a full on ‘stache but even a little fuzz can make a girl feel self-conscious. Oh what a joyous day it was when I discovered Nair. But birth control works even better because it prevents the body from producing the hair in the first place rather than just getting rid of it.

4. Do I have acne or oily skin?

My acne was usually under control (I think) except for some rogue pimple. But it’s not uncommon for girls to have clusters of acne or patches of oily skin they can’t get rid of.

5. Have I gained weight, especially around my belly, especially with no other explanation?

I started gaining weight around seventeen. I could blame psychotropic medication but I didn’t go on the antipsychotics until I was nineteen. It’s hard because PCOS makes you gain weight and so does birth control. Either way, you are packing on the pounds.

Many of these questions could have other explanations. The most surefire way to know if you have PCOS is to get a scan so you can see the cysts and if you do, your gynecologist will most likely suggest a course of action such as The Pill. It won’t alleviate your symptoms completely…but it will help.