Missed a few periods in 10th grade so mom got worried.
15 year old me? Relieved. No uncomfortable 3-4 days in a month. (Felt blessed!)
(Hating periods is a fundamental right of every woman in the world.)
Appointments, checkups, this-that;
"Congratulations, you have PCOS."
Ultrasounds, medicines, switching to a healthier diet, exercising daily?
UGH!
15 year old me couldn’t understand why I had to work so hard to get my periods when I didn’t even want them in the first place. Maybe I would’ve been better equipped and motivated on my ‘get healthier’ journey, if somebody had taught me about this condition, that's otherwise very common, beforehand.
Fellow readers, listen up! Take it from somebody who’s essentially struggling with PCOS, you need to read and educate yourselves about facts and myths around it.
One of the most common hormonal disorders in women, the name explains exactly what it is. It influences women’s hormonal levels; fundamentally producing higher than normal male hormones. It affects almost 10-21% of the entire female population (with a recent study showing that 70% of the women haven’t even been diagnosed). Diving a little into our science lesson for the day - the ovaries inside a female’s body produces an egg that is released each month as a part of the healthy menstrual cycle. With ongoing hormonal changes, the egg may not develop as it should or might not be released during ovulation, causing delayed/irregular periods. This can sometimes be linked to infertility and the development of cysts in the ovaries.
Talking about the symptoms pointing to PCOS, delayed periods (less than 8 a year), or periods every 21 days or more often seem to be on the top of everybody’s list. Some women stop having periods altogether. Other symptoms include weight gain/loss and difficulty in losing and gaining weight, thinning of hair(male-pattern baldness), acne on the face (even upper back and chest), darkening of skin particularly along neck creases, and a condition called ‘Hirsutism’ that results in excessive growth of hair in a male-like pattern (affects 70% of the total population suffering from PCOS).
An estimated 1 in every 5 women in India suffers from PCOS, i.e. its more common than you think! Women between the age of 15-30 years are the most impacted. It can either be diagnosed through an ultrasound or through hormone profile tests that look at follicle-stimulating hormones, estrogen levels, etc.
The exact causes of PCOS are unknown; most experts think that a variety of factors including abnormal hormonal levels and genetics play a role. High levels of Androgens (male hormones) can prevent ovaries from releasing eggs during the menstrual cycle and can cause acne as well as excessive hair growth. High levels of insulin cause the ovaries to produce testosterone in excess, which interferes with the development of the follicles (the sacs in the ovaries where eggs develop) and prevents normal ovulation. Insulin resistance can also lead to weight gain, causing PCOS symptoms to worsen gradually. Studies have shown that PCOS can be linked to other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, anxiety and depression, and even endometrial cancer in some cases.
Although PCOS cannot be fully cured (yet), a variety of medicines and permanent lifestyle changes can be accommodated to reduce its symptoms over time. Hormonal control pills (including birth control and IUDs) help in regulating the menstrual cycle, help improve acne and reduce the growth of facial hair. Meta-Morphin reduces insulin levels (often used to treat type-2 diabetes) and can also help in weight loss. Anti-androgens block the effect of androgens and can be taken to reduce facial and body hair growth along with preventing acne although it shouldn’t be taken by women planning to be pregnant as it causes complications and even birth defects.
The natural route towards lowering PCOS symptoms essentially plays a very important role. Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and regular exercise (the most basic natural remedies ever) can help to regulate hormonal levels. Maintaining a healthy weight can substantially reduce the risk of diabetes and heart diseases. Eliminating simple carbs from our diet (white bread, white rice, etc) helps in lowering insulin levels and stabilize blood sugar levels in the body (basically eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and complex carbs). Sometimes nutritional supplements are also recommended by doctors.
Although it isn’t a very rare condition, it’s better if healthy habits are incorporated earlier in our lifestyle with or without PCOS. It is better to consult a doctor before taking any medicine as to be aware of the side-effects. A very important thing to remember is that having PCOS or not isn’t in your hands, but working on yourself to become a healthy version of yourself is.
I’ll also be linking further readings below if you’re interested in reading and learning more about this condition.
Personally speaking, it hasn’t been that difficult to live with PCOS. It is just a list of do’s and don’t that take time to get used to and trust me, it takes a lot of time but it's acceptable. On a positive note, having been diagnosed with PCOS pushed me in a direction to adopt a healthier lifestyle and not neglect my body like I used to do. I know everybody mustn’t have an experience similar to mine, but I assure you it’s nothing to be worried about because you can deal with it with the determination to do so. Consult a good doctor, follow a good diet, exercise daily and listen to your body!
References and Further Readings-
Debunking myths about PCOS
Information booklet- PCOS (NIH)
Why is PCOS on a rise among Indian women?
Piece By-
Aarohi Chauhan
aarohichauhan2@gmail.com
Aarohi Chauhan is a student of Mathematics at the University of Delhi. She's surviving on her unhealthy amount of addiction to fiction and she thinks she overthinks a lot. Her areas of expertise include making bad jokes and she's often the only one laughing at them. She has a serious condition called -'has to pet every dog and cat I see'. A feminist by birth, she thinks she's finally found the perfect platform to reach out to her kind. Reach out if you're a dog/cat parent.
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