PCOS the sad reality...

I have had PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Sydrome) my entire life, although I was only diagnosed officially 3 years ago. It's a common condition among women, with 1 in 10 suffering from it in some degree and despite this and its devastating sides effects no real erodes have been made into researching it. 75 years ago in 1935 it was first described as an entity by two doctors ( Drs. Stein and Leventhal) and in that time the Syndrome still remains incurable and many of its embarrassing symptoms are not satisfactorily treatable without invasive procedures.

Only a woman suffering from PCOS knows of the devastation it can wreak on a life. While it occurs in both thin and overweight women for those with weight issues it can make loosing weight near on impossible. The onset of excess hair that can cover the entire body or the opposite, male patterned baldness and skin tags can make women ashamed of their appearance. Most with PCOS may suffer some form of fertility issues, be they irregular or no periods, the inability to conceive naturally or not at all. High blood pressure, depression, sleep apneoa and type 2 diabetes are all other common symptoms faced by PCOS suffers. To sumerise PCOS is the total pits for any woman who has it.

Shortly after I was diagnoised myself I set up a little form for women (and their families and friends) to join, so that they could discuss their experiences and get some advice or information PCOS Ireland , we've a small, but growing community of women from all over the world. I was conscientious when writing up articles for the various information pages of using positive language where possible and the one term that constantly got to me was 'PCOS suffer' - I hate the term. It's negative and uninspiring. I'm still searching for something more positive, but the sad fact it that women with PCOS do suffer - daily.

Imagine getting up every morning and looking in the mirror, seeing yourself trapped inside a fat suite that you can't take off. Imagine going into the bathroom and squeezing shaving foam into your hands to shave your face. Imagine opening the medicine cabinet and a loan tampon staring back at you, a meager hope that this month might be the month; that either you'll have a period and show your ovulating or perhaps miracles of miracles you wont and you are pregnant. Imagine wearing a wig or a hat every time you leave the house because the crown of your head is bare. Imagine being caught somewhere between feeling like a men and looking like a woman because of all the male hormones rushing around your body. For women with PCOS they don't have to imagine, for women with PCOS this is all a sad reality.