My Journey with Managing My PCOS Diagnosis
Disclaimer: This blog post contains the unique experiences and opinions of our guest writer, Micaela Shirley, regarding her PCOS diagnosis. For further context on what PCOS is and how to seek proper treatment, resources have been provided at the bottom of this post. The statements made in this post are not intended to clinically inform, diagnose, or treat PCOS or any other hormonal issue. If you are experiencing an imbalance or abnormal symptoms, please consult with a medical professional.
It was the summer of 2018 when I was first made privy to the existence of PCOS. I began seeing a doctor that my pediatrician recommended, who told me I might have slight PCOS. I began to worry when she gave me the rundown of what it was and the other health problems it could lead to, like type 2 diabetes.
I felt a little better when I found out this condition can be managed with diet and exercise. Still, when I went back to school in the fall, college stress prevented me from putting a diet and exercise plan into action. And instead, I would resort to unhealthy habits, like eating junk food regularly and not putting in enough effort to not do this. Because I decided to juggle five courses, be involved in extracurricular activities, and have an on-campus job during this semester, the timing of my periods was also affected. I was unable to enjoy the things that made me love college initially.
In all honesty, I did not mind not having periods because my cramps tend to be very painful when I have them. However, my lack of periods did concern the other women I shared this information with. So, I made sure to take note of my irregular periods to bring them to the attention of an endocrinologist.
After the fall semester ended, I started noticing changes in my body. One of the changes I started noticing was an uptick in acne on my face. Before, I had little to no pimples that I managed with an occasional skincare regime. However, when I started college, I experienced stress like never before. I also consumed sodas more regularly, causing acne and dark spots to appear more rapidly on my face. Another thing I noticed was the facial hair that started growing on my chin and neck. This has been difficult for me to accept because it makes me feel very unappealing and less of a woman.
It was not until March of 2020 that I found out I had PCOS. I was relieved to find this out because I suspected I had it all along. Still, I wanted a medical professional to confirm I had it to be certain. Unfortunately, this was around the same time the pandemic started. Admittedly, finishing college and dealing with post-grad life has taken a toll on my mental and emotional health. Still, I am proud of myself for starting my skincare routine again and becoming more health-conscious with my food and beverage intake.
Despite these implementations, I still struggle with fatigue, taking my medicine daily, and giving in to my cravings from time to time. Nonetheless, I am happy that my acne has improved recently, and I have been giving my body the proper nutrients it needs to thrive.
Although I am still working on getting my periods back on track and minimizing the amount of hair on my body, I am proud of the small wins I have made thus far. I have faith they will lead to bigger ones in the long run. Overall, I am not a fan of PCOS, but I am learning to accept it because I have found it’s not as bad as I have been making it out to seem. To anyone else on their PCOS journey, just know that you are not alone, and you will overcome any obstacles you face along the way. Here’s to a successful PCOS journey!
Written by Micaela Shirley
Resources provided by Micaela:
Ally with Acne ~ She provides great recommendations for skincare products, talks openly about her journey with acne/PCOS, and encourages her followers using reels and photos to embrace their natural beauty
Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls ~ A book from American Girl that teaches young girls about their bodies and the changes they can accept moving into puberty
Healthy PCOS ~ An educational IG account that educates people with or without PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) ~ An educational article from NIH on PCOS, which includes many citations from other educational resources
PCOS Nutrition Center ~Another educational IG account that educates people with or without PCOS