Wednesday, June 13, 2012

My personal battle with PCOS


Ignorance is bliss BUT knowledge is power.

One in ten women has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common reproductive abnormality in premenopausal women, putting them at higher risk for both cardiovascular disease and diabetes. PCOS is also the most common cause of infertility. 

I was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries when I was 20 but at that point did not have the full blown syndrome. I studied PCOS in graduate school and wrote a few published papers on the topic. With that being said, PCOS is no foreign ailment to me. 

Over the past 6 months I have noticed a change in my body; pretty much when I turned 31 in January. Nothing drastic but I know I'm not the same as I was a year ago. The business I'm in it's easy & vital to know when things are not right. I recently had blood tests run at my annual exam, and I was shocked with the results of my estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels. LOW is not even the correct verb to described the extent of how low my estrogen and progesterone are and the imbalance of my hormones at the moment. I decided to start doing some of my own research to get a handle on the situation before it gets out of hand.

One website, PCOSinfo, states--- there is no cure for PCOS…yet. There are many ways to treat and control the side affects. Read more. 

Thankfully I have an amazing career, coach phenomenal clients, have the best friends & family any girl could want, and get to workout consistently so I don't lose my mind trying to figure out how to fix this problem. Over the next few months I will be chronicling natural remedies I am trying; appointments and herbs prescribed by my acupuncturist; discussions and/or appointments I have with MDs and NDs; and any other research I come across. I will not take drugs that say they can fix the problem when in reality all the drug(s) does is mask the problem.

Like I stated above, I can either wallow in the fact that my hormones are out of whack and I have multiple symptoms of PCOS, or I can equip myself with knowledge and fix this problem once and for all and help others gals along the way.

Let's do this! 




2 comments:

  1. I had a friend in college with PCOS, so I sympathize. You are fit and in tune with your body and eat well, which will make a lot of difference. Sending you good thoughts.

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  2. Thank you for the kind words. I'm learning a lot, and it's empowering to share my journey with others.

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