Because.... PCOS

Hello there stranger,

For a while now, I've wanted to write about PCOS (PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome). It worries me to no-end and I feel like I'm at that point in this never ending diagnosis-treatment-diagnosis cycle where I need a  real avenue to vent.

Brief Overview of PCOS:What is PCOS?

"PCOS is an endocrine (hormonal) problem. It is diagnosed by clinical or hormonal changes associated with irregular ovulation, increased androgen activity and insulin resistance, as well as an ultrasound assessment. PCOS can make it harder to fall pregnant naturally." 

Source: http://mivf.com.au/about-fertility/female-reproductive-system/pcos-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome 

PCOS and Me: A weird, messy relationship.

I got my first period when I was 15 years old. No alarm bells went off since it mum got her first period when she was 16 and grandma got hers when she was 17. My first and second cycles were normal enough. I had a 5 day period, there were no cramps, no weird hormonal reactions, nothing. It was insignificant. And then, I didn't get a period for a full year. Then next one was another year after that. I asked mum and all she said was, "Give it time, it should regularise by itself". And so, I waited. But things didn't get any better. I would have extremely painful periods once every 4-5 months or so, but that was the best I got. So, by the time I moved out of the house to start work, I decided I'd had enough of unplanned, painful, random periods. My gynaecologist told me I had PCOD. At this point, I'd never even heard these words before. She explained them to me, but unfortunately, she also added that if untreated, it could cause Ovarian Cancer. The "C" word. The dreaded "C" word. I freaked out. I walked out of the hospital, alone, having just broken up with a useless, cheating boyfriend. I walked out feeling like the whole was falling to pieces around me. I wanted to walk into traffic, to find a way to end it all. I wanted to spend hours on a beach staring into nothing, but the city I lived in didn't have a beach. I walked into a cafe, ordered a Toblerone shake and a sandwich. I sat there for 2 hours reading and re-reading the hospital reports and smoked 1 full pack of cigarettes which I'm certain weren't good for me.

Anyway, grim details aside, the gynaecologist prescribed Femilon, a common oral contraceptive available in India. I was asked to have one pill everyday for pretty much the rest of my life....

To be continued.