PCOS

When I was eleven years old, I got my first period. It was the scariest thing in the world. Through my pre-teen years, I experienced the worst cramp pains, headaches and even throwing up during that special time of the month. On August 25, 2019 I went to my gynecologist's office after having numerous blood tests and ultrasounds. Walking out I had learned something new about myself that would change my life. I have PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

PCOS is a hormonal disease that causes cysts on your ovaries. Women that have PCOS also have higher levels of androgens/testosterone (hormones usually found within men). In the long run the disease can affect a woman's heart, ability to have children, hormones, and menstrual cycle. The reasons I went to the doctors are pretty simple. I always had an uncomfortable feeling when I was on my period. Eventually the same feelings started spreading through my day to day life and made me feel worse with myself emotionally and physically. The symptoms I had consists of irregular periods, trouble with weight, and oily skin, which caused my acne to be excessive. I was also extremely tired, even when I got a large amount of sleep, and had mood swings that affected everyone around me. The most noticeable sign to me was my irregular periods.

When I was first diagnosed, I felt shock go through my body. I was 17 years old, turning 18 in less than 24 hours and had never even heard of PCOS before. I've always taken care of my body and NEVER thought that I would be in a position where I was scared about not know about what is happening within my body.

I have now been diagnosed for over 6 months and have made minor changes to how I live daily. I can remember my doctor's exact words when she told me that I might not be able to conceive children in the future. I know that I am only 18 but it has always been something that I looked forward to in my future. After talking with my doctor I learned that there is no cure for this otherwise common disease. I found this shocking because I found that almost 200,000 women in the United States are diagnosed every year. My doctor did tell me that the most common treatment is taking birth control pills, which regulates periods and helps with pain of cramps, and she also said that the most efficient form of treatment is self care. Taking baths with apple cider vinegar, getting lots of sleep, and, of course, exercise. By trying to do these simple steps (when I can) and adding in the advice I found in articles online, I have seen changes within large symptoms in my body. It has been hard to tell whether or not everything that I have tried has been working, but as of right now, I feel better than I have since I first started "becoming a woman". One of the first changes I made due advice from my mom was the decision to try a new vitamin, black cohosh. Usually women tend to take, black cohosh once they hit menopause, but my mom recommended it to me and I decided to try it. Black cohosh is beneficial for headaches, mood changes, and sleep problems. I also started using all natural pads and eliminating excess sugar and other sweet disturbances out of my diet. I strayed from using birth control pills because of other issues I did not want to cost within my body.

Now, I know that I'm not a doctor or women's health expert, but just know that if you are ever in the same position that I am in to try and stay as positive as possible. I am always available for questions and suggestions. Most importantly, if you feel as though your period is causing you too much pain and you think you need to check in with your doctor, DO IT! Don't ever second guess your intuition, especially when it comes to your health!