'When I was 21, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Here's everything that has changed since then.'

Hi, my name is Diane. I’m 24 years old and it’s been three years since I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. 

Most women with this disorder develop cysts on their ovaries, while some may not.

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Women with PCOS can experience a number of symptoms, including irregular menstrual periods, excess hair, acne, pelvic pain, and difficulty getting pregnant.

Three years on from my diagnosis, this is what I want you to know about life with PCOS.

My life before PCOS.

Back in high school, I was well known for being strong and independent. I was the kind of person who would never ask for help, as I thought of it as a sign of weakness. 

At the time, I didn’t even know how to talk about my thoughts and feelings. I just tried to keep it all to myself. And to be completely honest, I wasn’t even that educated on the importance of mental and emotional health back then. My feelings were just categorised into two words: happy or sad. 

After I later got my first period in my teenage years, my cycle became irregular. But as I wasn't used to opening up, I didn’t tell my mum about what was happening.

As I approached my adulting years, things got worse. From having irregular cycles to not having a cycle for up to six months or a year to experiencing excess hair growth on some areas of my body, I knew something wasn't quite right - especially because I was the only one experiencing it among the girls in my friend group.

So, finally, I opened up to my mum, and she organised an appointment with her gynecologist.

After a lot of tests and checking of symptoms, I was diagnosed with PCOS. The gynecologist informed me that I would have to take birth control pills in order to have a regular cycle. 

In that appointment, only half of myself was paying attention to the information being told to me. It all felt really overwhelming, and I didn’t know what to do.

All I know is that ever since I went home from that appointment, some things have changed for me physically, emotionally, and even mentally. 

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First of all, going on the pill for the first time affected me a lot - especially when it came to my mental health.

The anxiety and panic attacks led me to having sleepless nights. I didn’t know how I could stop the negative thoughts that I was constantly having. 

After learning that my excessive body hair and thinning hair were symptoms of PCOS, I started to look at it in a negative way. I was so insecure of my body that it made me push people away. 

To add to my misery, I still wasn't asking for help. I wasn’t used to it. I was keeping everything to myself and trying to figure out how to manage it alone.

My life with PCOS.

After all the overthinking, I finally got tired of treating my disorder as something dreadful. I realised that it made me not believe in myself and what I am capable of - that I am more than what's happening inside my body.

So, I decided to own up my situation. I connected again with my family and friends by expressing my situation and how they could actually help me. I’ve spent more time learning about the pill and how it's affecting me. I became more aware of my syndrome and how to handle it.

It encouraged me to be more careful about how I treat my mind and body. I started to engage with yoga and meditation. I also joined online community groups to read stories on how others are managing PCOS. And from that, I felt validated and inspired to share my story as well. 

So, in 2019, I tweeted about my condition. My goal was to share awareness to my followers about PCOS and to encourage them to check in with their family and friends who might be struggling with it. 

Minutes after my tweet, people messaged me that they are dealing with PCOS too and that they felt seen and heard with what I shared.

I’d also like to point out that asking for help is so important. I know it feels uncomfortable to ask, especially if you are like me, who aims to be strong and independent all the time. Although there are pros to practising independence, there are also cons to it. And asking for help is what makes us human.

Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.