”It is difficult to feel like a woman when you have facial hair, acne, overweight and infertility. It makes you feel less feminine and can have very negative effects on a woman’s confidence”.
Lisette was diagnosed with PCOS very early. Read her story below
I have had PCOS for many years. It started with left out menstruation cycles when I was a teenager. I sought help from nurses at the ’youth clinic’ who told me it was normal as many things happen to the body during the teen years. I was however later examined by a gynaecologist who diagnosed me with PCOS and informed me that many young girls are not diagnosed because they are not examined properly. At this stage I did not know that PCOS could get worse and have other side effects apart from left out menstruation. It can for instance cause infertility due to ovulation issues, increased tendency for acne in adult age, increased hair growth of masculine type known medically as ’Hirsutism’. Increased long term risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Overweight can also be a common side effect.
I was taking contraceptive pills for several years and when I stopped taking them my symptoms got worse. I gained a lot of weight, my menstruation stopped completely and I got thick hair growth in my face and on my neck. I saw a gynaecologist again who recommended I take a medicine called Jasmine. It is a type of contraceptive pill which can be combined with permanent hair removal treatment as it stabilises the testosterone causing hair growth.
Leila has years of experience treating women with PCOS and she is very professional. I have received treatment for a couple of years now. In the beginning I was being treated several times a week, after some time I only needed treatment once a week, and now I only go once every two weeks. Eventually I will only need to go once a month. My hairs have become less and some are thinner and barely show. It is very satisfying.
My treatment is financed by the city council as I have PCOS. My wish is that more information becomes available for women with PCOS so that young girls can be diagnosed early and get the help they need. It is difficult to feel like a woman when you have facial hair, acne, overweight and infertility. It makes you feel less feminine and can have very negative effects on a woman’s confidence.