"It's Normal. I Was Like That Too."

I'm sure many of the women out there dealing with PCOS, thought that maybe, that's just how it is. I know I did, for a long time. Genetics can play a role in PCOS, if you haven't already, ask some of your female relatives if they've ever experienced or still experience some of these symptoms: 1. Few or no menstrual periods 2. Heavy periods 3. Hair loss or thinning 4. Irregular hair growth on face, chest, back, stomach, thumbs or toes (bet you thought that was icky) 5. Acne or oily skin 6. Mood swings, depression If they say yes, then chances are they had/have it also, but that doesn't make it normal. It was a week after my 15th birthday that I got my first period, and it wasn't until 3 months before my 16th birthday that I saw it again. According to my mother, that was normal for the women in our family, and at such a young age, I didn't know any better. For years I considered myself lucky, not having to deal with what all the other girls complained about, swimming and wearing white was always an option. At 17, I had a horrible encounter with acne, which after a quick visit to our family physician was attributed to the stress of being a high school senior and mild depression. I was prescribed some Elavil and sent on my way. Ten years later, PCOS keeps rearing its ugly head.

#pcos