If you have PCOS, you might have some or all of the following signs and symptoms
* Acne which persisted into adulthood
*Irregular or absent menses
* Infertility-difficulty conceiving, or repeated miscarriages
* Obesity, especially weight around the abdomen (apple shape)/rapid weight gain or inability to lose weight
* Excessive body or facial hair (hirsutism)-upper lips, near the "side burns", knuckles, tummy, etc
* Sugar cravings, dips of energy level/dizziness a few hours after a meal with carbohydrate stuff (Insulin resistance and possibly diabetes)
* Thinning of hair, the male pattern sort
* Velvety, hyperpigmented skin folds (acanthosis nigricans) usually behind the neck or at armpits/groin areas
* Appearance of tiny skin tags around neck and arm pits
*Diabetes
To me, I can summarise the impact of these symptoms very simply. They affect
1) How I look- if you look at the list, there is nothing which makes you feel more attractive. Anything which is related to appearance contributed to me looking more manly and uglier. Thin hair, hairy face makes you feel more like HIM. Being apple shaped means any weight put on makes one look terrible in clothes. Clothes simply don't fit well if you look permanently pregnant.
2) My chance of having a baby-unassisted: While my body refuses to slim down, my chance of having a baby is getting slimmer day by day. And if I do get pregnant, I am at a higher chance of miscarriage.
3) Increased chance of metabolic and cardiovascular problems- PCOS is essentially an endocrinologic problem related to insulin resistance. This increases my risk of diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
4) People may judge me:Yes, people may judge me based on how I look (fat= poor discipline?, acne= poor hygiene??). Employers may also judge me: fat = lazy, ill disciplined. PCOS? Uhh,, will she need time off when she wants to try for a baby?
Any woman with severe enough PCOS could tell you that PCOS would have impacted her in one way or another, and the impact was perhaps severe enough to cause loss of confidence or even relationship breakdown. While I listened to a talk on radio about over prescribing, I can't help but find that unfortunately, for women with PCOS, there is nothing out there which helps to control the problems as a whole. [28/12/11: Things have improved quite a lot in the 4 years since I last posted this, but it is still not easy to get prescriptions!]. Women may have to take multiple products which all only address the symptoms on the surface. When a fat ugly woman walk into a clinic and needs help, chances are she will be told to eat less and exercise more, since weight loss is supposed to help control the condition. [I speak from first hand experience, trying to get metformin or Xenical to help me shed some pounds]
It is time that PCOS is treated as a real condition, not just a cluster of symptoms affecting fat ugly and lazy women.
* Acne which persisted into adulthood
*Irregular or absent menses
* Infertility-difficulty conceiving, or repeated miscarriages
* Obesity, especially weight around the abdomen (apple shape)/rapid weight gain or inability to lose weight
* Excessive body or facial hair (hirsutism)-upper lips, near the "side burns", knuckles, tummy, etc
* Sugar cravings, dips of energy level/dizziness a few hours after a meal with carbohydrate stuff (Insulin resistance and possibly diabetes)
* Thinning of hair, the male pattern sort
* Velvety, hyperpigmented skin folds (acanthosis nigricans) usually behind the neck or at armpits/groin areas
* Appearance of tiny skin tags around neck and arm pits
*Diabetes
To me, I can summarise the impact of these symptoms very simply. They affect
1) How I look- if you look at the list, there is nothing which makes you feel more attractive. Anything which is related to appearance contributed to me looking more manly and uglier. Thin hair, hairy face makes you feel more like HIM. Being apple shaped means any weight put on makes one look terrible in clothes. Clothes simply don't fit well if you look permanently pregnant.
2) My chance of having a baby-unassisted: While my body refuses to slim down, my chance of having a baby is getting slimmer day by day. And if I do get pregnant, I am at a higher chance of miscarriage.
3) Increased chance of metabolic and cardiovascular problems- PCOS is essentially an endocrinologic problem related to insulin resistance. This increases my risk of diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
4) People may judge me:Yes, people may judge me based on how I look (fat= poor discipline?, acne= poor hygiene??). Employers may also judge me: fat = lazy, ill disciplined. PCOS? Uhh,, will she need time off when she wants to try for a baby?
Any woman with severe enough PCOS could tell you that PCOS would have impacted her in one way or another, and the impact was perhaps severe enough to cause loss of confidence or even relationship breakdown. While I listened to a talk on radio about over prescribing, I can't help but find that unfortunately, for women with PCOS, there is nothing out there which helps to control the problems as a whole. [28/12/11: Things have improved quite a lot in the 4 years since I last posted this, but it is still not easy to get prescriptions!]. Women may have to take multiple products which all only address the symptoms on the surface. When a fat ugly woman walk into a clinic and needs help, chances are she will be told to eat less and exercise more, since weight loss is supposed to help control the condition. [I speak from first hand experience, trying to get metformin or Xenical to help me shed some pounds]
It is time that PCOS is treated as a real condition, not just a cluster of symptoms affecting fat ugly and lazy women.
