I’m like a poster child for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I have pretty much every outward and inward symptom you could think of for PCOS. I also know that in the beginning, when I knew something was wrong, I didn’t know to piece all the little things together to make one big problem. How was I supposed to know that my missed periods and my thinning hair were somehow connected?!
In the picture above, you can find many things that all add up to what PCOS looks like for me. (Think of it as a handy PCOS symptom chart!) If you have any of these issues, please do yourself a favor and find a doctor to consult with. I made a little checklist (below) that will be able to help you decide if you should get checked out for PCOS as well.
- Do you carry excess weight around your waist?
- Do you have a hard time losing weight when you’re really trying?
- Do you have sparse to no periods?
- Have you been trying to conceive with no luck?
- Do you have excess hair growth on your chin, neck, back, stomach, breasts, upper lip, etc?
- Do you have thinning hair?
- Do you suffer from hormonal acne or acne in general?
- Do you have skin tags?
- Do you have spots of darkened/discolored skin?
- Have you ever had ovarian cysts?
It’s worth it to get diagnosed if you think you may have PCOS. I feel like I say this all the time, but PLEASE consult with a doctor so you can begin to treat yourself!
If you already have been diagnosed, you may want to check out my post, So You Were Diagnosed with PCOS… I think it will be just the pep talk you need!
Thanks so much for sharing this information. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there about these symptoms that can be somewhat embarrassing but who knows how many people it will help. I have yet to be officially diagnosed with PCOS but the more I read about it the more certain I am that this series of unfortunate characteristics I have that have caused me so much self loathing, are interconnected and more importantly treatable. I feel hopeful for the first time in a long while.
It did take an awful lot to put myself out there! My big suggestion, is to get the testing done- knowledge is power! I’m glad I could help, even in such a small way. Keep your chin up!
i admire you! I also have PCOS and my husband and I are trying to become pregnant! So hard! So many emotions!
Thanks so much for the quick note! We have just begun trying as well. It’s exciting and terrifying at the same time. Best of luck to you two in your journey together!!
Brittney- you are the bomb! I realize this post was quite a while ago but it was refreshing to read. I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early 20’s and have since continued to increase my collection of lovely PCOS symptoms. Gotta lovvvvve plucking my lady beard. It is so easy to get discouraged about weight, and hair and everything else. I recently started taking Metformin and I am hoping it will help minimize some of the symptoms- I suppose we will see! I enjoyed reading a bunch of your PCOS blogs entries and I can say, I feeeeeeeel yooouuuu gurl- on it all. Here’s to baby steps in the right direction and not letting societies idea of what a beautiful body looks like get us down! <3
Thanks, babe! I am so happy you have enjoyed the posts. I need to get on posting some more soon. It’s like the fun never ends. ;)
I don’t know who you are, but you look just like me! We are the same. My eyes are browns but everything else is the same. I struggle with PCOS since I’m 20 and I’m 32 now. It’s really hard. I don’t respond really well to treatment so I slowly always get worse. Anyways, I never related so much to a picture! Good luck with everything :)
I feel like the poster child as well. I found out about PCOS in the last few years or so but my symptoms started when I was in highschool.
I have been heavy my whole life and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, depression, and endometriosis around 16. I had my first ovarian cyst pop when I was 17. The doctor said it was the size of a grapefruit. I missed my period for 3 months in a row when I was 16 (which the doctors assumed I was pregnant even after I told them I wasn’t because I was still a virgin).
I was put on birth control to regulate my periods and lost some weight. I was put on meds for my depression and thyroid and lost more weight and got excited! Then, my mom took me off everything. She said she didn’t want to give me a reason to have sex (her reason for the birth control), and there is nothing wrong with my thyroid, and that I’m not depressed, I just wanted attention. Now, back to square one.
I am now 305lbs (my heaviest) and the weight just keeps coming. I was just diagnosed with PCOS last week. My hopes are to be able to beat infertility, loose weight, hopefully have my acne go away, and the embarrassing facial hair (and body hair).
Thank you for the tips! You are an inspiration!
Seriously, go back to your Doctors and TAKE your meds. Endometriosis is serious and you need to be under your pills if you tolerate them. I have hypothyroidism as well. It’s not something to take likely. They are your hormones, they control everything. Your mom should not think like that. Taking the pills in your case is not for birth control but for your present and future well being and health. You are old enough to go to the doctor and ask for your treatment, bring your mom with you, the Doctor will explain it to her. Good luck! take care
My comment was not ment to be harsh, I was juts mad that your mother could do that to you when you were doing great with your medications.
Jess- thanks for the comment. I can see your concern here! You’re right, it’s super important to be educated and allow your doctor to make medication decisions. Thanks for looking out for our community of ladies!
Hey April! Thanks for reading! My biggest tip is to listen to your doctor. I am no doctor, and your mom is not a docotor. They know best! They are smart and have knowledge on the human body that us regular old Joes don’t. So consider going back and talking with your doctor about your medication.
Beyond that, you can do a lot to help yourself as I have done. It’s tough to feel like a poster child, I know! But eating right and in smaller portions will help to control some of your symptoms. Remember- losing weight is HARDER with PCOS, but not impossible! You got this!!
Thank you for sharing! This post has made me not feel as alone anymore. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 13 and I’m about to be 20 soon. I just remember being told as a little girl I might be able to have babies and even then I knew I wanted kids and it tore me apart and made me scared as a little girl to hear that. Even as I get older and some symptoms get worse and other calm down and doctors find more ways to help, I’m still secretly that scared little girl. I’m on all the usual medications including metformin but it’ll pay off eventually. I mean it’s definitely hard combating a beard that would probably show up my brothers on a daily. But you’ve become a inspiration to me to love myself even more because of PCOS. We are all unique. So thank you.
I meant not be able to have babies… sorry bout that
Hi! I know this post is a little old but i have been concerned that i have PCOS for a while now. I saw my pediatrician (im 18) and a dietician, and they both suggested that i might have it, but neither directed me how to get diagnosed! What kind of doc do i see for that? Can you get diagnosed at a regular walk-in clinic or is there a specialist? Im so lost and i really just want to settle this situation already. Thank you!! Very helpful resource!