PCOS sucks. I know I started out the last one with the same thing but ya know what? It feels good! And its true, so very true. When I think of PCOS the first thing I think of is infertility but there is so much more to this lovely condition than just struggles with infertility. I remember googling like a crazy person the weekend before the results came in and I was going over the list of signs & symptoms of PCOS and mentally checking off almost all of them. This would have been a great time for a glass of wine, or a bottle? Don't judge me people, these were rough times. 

So to avoid boring you with a lecture in Anatomy & Physiology ( bringing back nursing school nightmares ) I'll try my best to sum up how PCOS affects the human body. Basically it causes an excess of androgens which are essentially male hormones. It also can cause a lack of Progesterone which is a hormone needed for women. And it can cause our bodies to be insulin resistant which is similar to someone with diabetes. 

So, what does this all mean? Well it means our bodies are not functioning the way that they should be and with that comes with a list of really sucky symptoms. 

• Weight gain

• Acne

• Mood changes ( anxiety & depression )

• Thinning hair

• Irregular periods

• Pelvic pain

• Fatigue

• Excess hair growth ( also known as hirsutism ) in unwanted places such as: face,arms, back, etc.)

• Sleep problems ( sleep apnea )

• Infertility

When I read this list for the first time, I had an Aha moment. Finally I had a reason for being a chronically fatigued, acne prone, mood swinging girl with horribly painful irregular periods who has the hardest time losing weight despite best efforts ( at times ). 

Besides just dealing with these symptoms on a daily basis, this diagnosis also comes with some serious health risks. PCOS puts a person at higher risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and endometrial cancer. I remember reading this with tears running down my face. I was scared. And I still am. 

It's scary to know that you have a condition that has serious risks and there isn't a cure. There is however things you can do to manage PCOS and decrease your risks of developing these serious health conditions. Those things though, are not easy to accomplish but they are POSSIBLE. And with that- there is HOPE. 

-xoxo, M.

"We are in this struggle, TOGETHER."

-Philippians 1:30.