When I was 16, I had horrible menstrual cycles: Pain, heavy flow, dizziness, irregular, just AWFUL. I went on the birth control pill and it helped, but I wasn’t diagnosed with anything specific and I went on with my life.
Fast-forward ten years. I’m now in my mid-20s and my husband Mark and I decided we wanted to start a family. I went off the pill and my cycle was WAY unpredictable. Some months it came, some months it didn’t. Some months it was heavy and some months it was barely anything at all. Finally, despite all the craziness of my cycle, I got pregnant. And had my first miscarriage.
My OB/GYN at that time didn’t seem too concerned by it – about 10 to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage – and advised us to try again. Another year went by with my cycle all over the place. I found myself in my 30s with no answers, no babies, and still no diagnosis of anything wrong. So, I went out and found myself a different OB/GYN. At my first appointment, he immediately referred me to a fertility specialist. What ensued were lots of uncomfortable and truly CRAPPY tests. But, out of that crappiness came something good – an ACTUAL diagnosis. I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Affecting 5 to 10% of women of childbearing age in the U.S., PCOS is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders in women. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or higher-than-average levels of androgen, the male hormone. The ovaries may develop numerous follicles (small collections of fluid) and fail to regularly release eggs (ovulate).
I began taking meds and became pregnant with my first amazing little lady, Sammy. Four years later, with no help from fertility meds, Ella came along. I know we are blessed to have these incredible, healthy girls and we feel that two is what we are meant to have. So many face infertility, undergo treatment for years, and have stories filled with so much more struggle than mine. I feel so lucky that our path to parenthood was fairly simple. This experience, though, taught me an invaluable lesson: I have to be my own best advocate. I know my body better than anyone else and I know when something just isn’t right with it. Doctors are busy and are bound by the strictures of insurance companies. If you know there is something off, SPEAK UP and KEEP ON speaking up until you find someone who will listen.
Though I was beyond elated to have my two wonderful girls, I was frustrated that I was having a really hard time losing the weight I had gained during pregnancy. I again went looking for answers. Turns out that in addition to impacting fertility, PCOS also impacts weight. PCOS often results from insulin resistance, a condition that makes it hard for the body to regulate blood sugar levels and causes excess insulin and glucose to enter the bloodstream. Those excesses in turn often cause women to gain weight. For those of us with this condition, sticking to a regular exercise routine and a diet aimed at combating the effects of PCOS is crucial to losing weight. A diet high in fiber has been shown to help improve weight loss in women with PCOS.
I crave high-fiber foods. When I learned of their correlation to PCOS, that craving finally made sense! I mean, who craves veggies and quinoa rather than chocolate and wine (though I am a woman and a mom, so I sometimes crave those too!)? Sometimes a few days before my cycle is scheduled to start, I get dizzy and know that I need more fiber. Let’s be clear though – high-fiber means things like veggies, fruit, beans, and quinoa, not cookies, chips, and bread! Unfortunately, all carbs are NOT created equal.
Living with PCOS isn’t fun, but it also isn’t impossible. We are lucky – PCOS symptoms and side effects can be controlled in part through diet and exercise. I have learned that when I eat clean, keeping my simple carbs and sugar intake low, and exercise consistently, I have far fewer symptoms and my cycle is far more manageable. One thing that helped me to learn what foods and activities had the greatest impact – good and bad – on my PCOS symptoms was journaling. I logged what I ate and kept notes on how I felt throughout my cycle. I tried to more consistently duplicate the choices I made on the days I felt best and, over time, learned the best things for me to eat and do. Now, that does not mean that I don’t still eat cake and chips; but, I do it knowing what the results may be and how to plan around it to mitigate the impact. I can make that choice intentionally. Knowledge is power!
