Living with PCOS: What I’ve Learned
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects roughly 1 in 10 women, yet its complexity makes it notoriously difficult to define, diagnose and discuss. If you’ve landed here because you’re navigating PCOS too, know that you’re not alone. And you’re definitely not without options.
It’s been over a decade since I was diagnosed, and while I wouldn’t say I have it all figured out (because PCOS rarely lets you do that), I’ve learned a lot about how to manage it in a way that feels sustainable and empowering. My aim with this post isn’t to write a diary entry, it’s to offer insight, reassurance, and useful context that might help you better understand your own experience or support someone else through theirs.
Understanding PCOS: The Basics
PCOS is a hormone-related condition with a frustratingly fluid definition. Diagnosis typically requires two out of three criteria:
Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
Androgen excess (often resulting in acne, hair growth or loss)
Polycystic ovaries (multiple follicles seen on an ultrasound)
You might meet all three. You might meet two. And oddly enough, you can have polycystic ovaries without having PCOS, and vice versa. That ambiguity is part of what makes PCOS so difficult to talk about, and why so many women go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years.
Over time, PCOS has been classified as everything from a reproductive issue to a metabolic or endocrine disorder. In truth, it can be all three. What matters is understanding how it shows up for you.
Common Symptoms
PCOS manifests differently for everyone, but here are some of the more common symptoms:
Irregular or absent periods
Cysts on the ovaries
Acne or oily skin
Excess facial or body hair (hirsutism)
Scalp hair thinning or loss
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Insulin resistance
Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Fatigue or low energy
Infertility or miscarriage
You don’t need to experience all of these to be diagnosed, and the combination of symptoms can vary dramatically from person to person. Even managing just one of these can be physically and emotionally exhausting, so wherever you're at, give yourself credit.
My Diagnosis & Experience
I was diagnosed in my late teens after years of irregular periods, unexplained weight fluctuations, fatigue, anxiety, and hair loss. Like many others (including friends, family and doctors), I had brushed these symptoms off as "normal" or chalked them up to stress or bad genetics.
It wasn’t until I saw a GP with a strong background in women’s health that the pieces started to come together. She ran comprehensive blood work, identified elevated androgens, and confirmed the diagnosis. Further testing also revealed insulin resistance, which affects around 70% of people with PCOS.
Since then, I’ve explored a variety of tools to manage the condition: dietary adjustments, medication, mindset shifts, and understanding the huge role stress plays in hormone regulation. For me, Metformin has helped with insulin resistance, and SSRIs have helped manage the anxiety that often fuels the hormonal rollercoaster. But it’s an ongoing journey, as external stressors like increased work responsibilities or pandemic lockdowns disrupted my management techniques. Along with more recent diagnoses like BED and (potentially) ADHD.
The Role of Stress
Stress is a massive trigger for PCOS symptoms, particularly when it becomes chronic. High stress levels elevate cortisol, which in turn raises insulin and DHEA-S (an androgen that can worsen PCOS). It's a domino effect that impacts everything from energy levels and mood to weight and skin.
And let’s be honest, modern life doesn’t exactly lend itself to stress-free living. Between work demands, commuting, social pressures, and personal goals, many of us are living in a near-constant state of overdrive. The irony? Our attempts to "fix" our health with high-intensity workouts or rigid diets can sometimes add more pressure and do more harm than good.
I've been caught in that loop too. Trying to be the high-achieving, do-it-all person while managing a chronic condition isn't just exhausting, it's unsustainable. PCOS has forced me to get honest about what my body can handle and to redefine what productivity and success look like.
What’s Helped Me
Working with doctors who listen and specialise in women’s health
Being consistent with medication (Metformin and antidepressants)
Managing stress with realistic boundaries and downtime
Focusing on nutrition without obsessing over perfection
Moving my body in ways that support my energy, not deplete it
Letting go of shame around rest, weight, and self-care
Final Thoughts
PCOS doesn’t define me, but it has shaped me. It’s challenged me to get to know my body on a deeper level, to advocate for myself in medical spaces, and to build a lifestyle that supports - not suppresses — my health.
If you’re on a similar journey, I see you. This condition is messy, complex, and often misunderstood. But you are not alone in it. And you are not broken. You're adapting, learning, and doing the best you can—which is more than enough.
Be kind to your body. It’s doing its best to keep up with you.