Being told you are PCOS-positive is not an easy thing – the disorder’s name alone is enough to scare many women. I still remember how I felt when the endocrinologist told me I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I had never heard of it before; although I had been coping with some weight and skin conditions for much of my life, no one had ever tossed that disorder out as the source of these issues. The idea of it though, the thought that I had a syndrome, terrified me. All I could think was, I have cysts? I have cysts on my ovaries? What is happening to me? I nearly cried right there in the examination room.
Now, many years after the fact, I’m not as frightened of the concept. It took me a while to understand that the lax lifestyle I once led would lead to complications which might kill me if I didn’t change something. The knowledge that I would have to change the way I lived – permanently – was scary. But now I’m learning to do what I can to keep balance in my body and prevent this disease from owning me.
It’s not easy. The medications I’m on do not react well with alcohol; I’m a college student who can never have more than a drink, perhaps two, at a party. I may not be able to have children later in life, and while this is not a major concern for me now I’m sure it will be a huge obstacle within the next few years. I sometimes wonder if it will affect my personal life. What if the man I love won’t marry me because I can’t bear his kids? I know any marriage of mine will have to be strong to overcome these complications.
In recent years, PCOS has come into the spotlight more and more. Researchers have begun working dedicatedly to determine the root of the disease, and the medical center at the University of Chicago has a center dedicated to diagnose and treat women according to their individual symptoms. However, most powerful is the fact that knowledge of this disorder is spreading, and people are learning how to recognize it.
Article comments
1 - Sheri
I wish I had someone tell me about PCOS when I was younger. I was admitted into the hospital with stomach pains, told I had cysts that were 'no big deal' and put on the pill at 17 years old. Now, another 17 years later, I am struggling with one miscarriage and infertility. Very well written article. Thanks.
2 - Lisa Solod Warren
I was diagnosed with this more than 30 years ago, told I would never have kids, suffered a lot...but lo and behold, I had two kids, both wanted, and only one with the "help" of clomid. Now that I am menopausal the disease seems to be causing some problems, but, it is manageable. Good luck with it! I had to tell my then husband about the possible no children thing, but it worked out in the end. Treatment is possible. If it gets too bad, the cysts can be "popped" (sounds awful, I know, but is minimally invasive and I had worse things than that done. Good for you for writing the piece.
3 - katie
This article was really helpful for me. I am in college too and just got diagnosed last semester. I'm IR but my doctor wants me to try controlling it with diet for now but I get so frustrated because I'm eating 1200 calories a day and working out an hour everyday and nothing seems to change. I've tried going to PCOS support websites but most of them focus on infertility/pregnancy. It sounds shallow but I just want to be pretty. My sister weighs like 120 lbs and is three inches taller than me. I feel like the ugly troll sister. Sometimes I leave the gym crying because while I know what I'm doing makes me healthier, I'm still really overweight!