I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) when I was 24.
I came off the contraceptive pill which had suppressed my menstrual cycle for 8 years, and did not have a period for months after which was not normal.
My gynaecologist asked if I had ever struggled with acne and weight gain, and when I said I had she recommended I get blood tests to check my hormone levels, and an ultrasound to check my ovaries for cysts.
PCOS is a condition to do with hormone balance. It starts during reproductive years but many women do not get a diagnosis until later in their adult life. The condition is diagnosed using three criteria, irregular or missed periods, high levels of androgen and cysts on the ovaries. To be diagnosed with the condition you must meet at least two of these criteria.
My results came back with high androgen levels, and my ultrasound showed that there were cysts on my ovaries. I was then diagnosed with the condition, and placed back on the contraceptive pill to manage my symptoms of weight gain and acne.
After months of being back on the pill and having a simulated ‘bleed’ each month which mimicked a period, I decided I no longer wanted to mask the problem with synthetic hormones, and instead wanted to manage the condition naturally.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, and as it is a syndrome it is, by definition, incurable. This can be an incredibly scary diagnosis to receive, especially its association with fertility.
Whilst the condition never goes away, it is possible for PCOS symptoms to be reversed and the syndrome to lie ‘dormant’ or in ‘remission’ with the right lifestyle changes and treatment options.
One of the main ways to manage PCOS symptoms is to maintain a healthy weight through regular exercise and healthy diet.
When I was diagnosed, I switched to a mostly wholefood diet, meaning my meals centre around whole, unrefined, unprocessed foods. I still enjoy eating processed foods, sugar and refined carbs but I cut down hugely on how much I ate before.
It’s an overwhelming diagnosis to receive, as so much of the treatment is diet and lifestyle changes. Whilst it feels great to start making healthier choices for your body, sometimes the pressure to live the perfectly healthy lifestyle all the time to do what is best for your body can feel overwhelming. Sometimes I feel guilty for indulging in unhealthy foods as I know there is a very real consequence in my body. I’ve learned over time to not create issues or stress about not always choosing the ‘healthiest’ food.
As for the exercise part, experts are divided on the type of exercise that is best, some say low intensity workouts, others promote weight lifting. I opt for exercises that I enjoy and therefore keep consistent with. These include yoga, walking and more recently swimming and jogging. Staying active in any way is the goal, this could even be doing household chores, organising the kitchen cupboards, gardening, laundry, anything that avoids being sat down all day.
It is definitely an adjustment to your lifestyle, you start thinking about how what you eat impacts different bodily functions, and you have to tune in a little more to how you feel in your body.
But that all doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It could be something that gives you the chance to reconnect to your body again.
It can be a scary thing to lose your period, or not have a period for months at a time. As a woman this can be very disconcerting, and make you feel like there is something wrong with you. But sadly PCOS is very common, and affects around 1 in 10 women in the UK. Despite that incredibly high statistic, lots of women either don’t know what it really is or don’t know that they have it. It’s important to raise awareness for this misunderstood condition, and highlight how achievable and accessible the treatments are.
Bringing direct purpose to healthy habits makes you want to instil them. It’s a way to show your body love, and seeing the impact it has on your wellbeing but also specifically on your body when you have check ups. It is so empowering to know that you are able to positively influence a condition like PCOS through your own lifestyle choices. You are literally able to start healing yourself. And whilst it doesn’t happen overnight, every single step you take makes a difference.
Whilst I have reversed the cysts on my ovaries, I still have not had a period since I stopped my pill in June 2023. I have faith that one day I will settle back into my natural hormone cycle and am taking all the right steps to get my body there.
It’s okay if you don’t have the ‘perfect’ PCOS diet or exercise regime. If your PCOS plan is something that fills you with fear and dread of making the wrong decision, then it simply won’t work. It has to be a realistic way of life that brings positivity and light to the way you live and doesn’t have to be absolute- every little helps.
For anyone who struggles with PCOS or wants to share their experience of the condition, please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or email, I’m always available to chat <3
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