From what I remember, my menstrual cycles have always been irregular. My MD told me that my cycles will regulate overtime…but unfortunately, they never did. The whole “watch and wait” thing, was what I was told over and over again. And yes, it frustrated me like crazy. I started noticing excessive hair growth on my cheeks and chin. I spent so much time and money investing in ways to get rid of the hair as it was affecting my self-esteem, big time. From electrolysis to waxing to threading to tweezing – I tried it all, but nothing seemed to work. I saw my first naturopathic doctor close to the end of high school, and we realized I fit the PCOS criteria. Unfortunately, at this point in my life I didn’t take my condition very seriously. I didn’t stick to the diet changes and supplement recommendations, so by the time I got to university, my cycles and symptoms got way worse. With the stress of school, my hormones went crazy. It was like clockwork – during every exam season my period was late by about 2-3 weeks.
Every time I went back to my MD about my symptoms, I was given nothing but a “you might have PCOS, might not, take some birth control”. Personally, hormonal birth control was not the option for me. I was also quite concerned that I was given little to no information about what PCOS was before being prescribed meds. If you know me, you’ll know that I’m a planner — research and to-do lists are my jam. So, I researched all things PCOS, I read blogs on other people’s experiences, and I was grateful to have the guidance of few naturopathic doctors along the way. It was through this that I was able to work through and figure out the root cause of my symptoms. Fast forward to now, I have been supporting my body as best as I can, all of my labs have improved, my cycles are regulating, and the facial hair issue is WAY better.
Now, this doesn’t mean that things are perfect. PCOS is a life-long condition that needs to be continuously monitored and managed. It is also something that may evolve overtime.
Here are some of the symptoms I’m still experiencing:
✦ irregular cycles (especially when stress takes over)
✦ hair loss (specifically near my temples and front hairline)
✦ a couple stubborn hairs on my face
If you or someone you love is dealing with PCOS, please remember that you are not alone and you do have options. There are so many of us going through this together, each finding our path to healing. And I hope, through sharing my story and educating you, you will find your path too.