#symptoms of pcos in females

[fidicuswomen]

Call : +917997101303 | Whatsapp : https://wa.me/917997101505 | Website : https://fidicus.com

Changes in the Body Due to PCOD PCOS | Treatment Cure Medicine Surgery | Gynaecology Women Female

Explore how PCOD/PCOS affects the body in this informative video with Dr. Bharadwaz, the chief doctor at Fidicus Homeopathy. Learn about the key physical and hormonal changes caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD), including weight fluctuations, skin issues, and hormonal imbalances. Dr. Bharadwaz explains these changes and how homeopathy can offer relief by addressing the root cause of symptoms. Don't miss this valuable insight into managing PCOD/PCOS naturally.

Dr. Bharadwaz | Gynaecology Women Female | Health & Fitness | Homeopathy, Medicine & Surgery | Clinical Research

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[pure-egotism]

I don’t think people experiencing blue state racism or whatever understand that we’re fighting a completely different battle here in the red states.

You can’t look one way without seeing a Confederate flag, a “don’t tread on me” flag, a Trump flag, etc.

I’ve taken two DNA tests and both have me as 100% European ancestry, mainly German and Irish.

I’m not white passing enough for some people here. I have dark hair, high cheekbones, and almond shaped eyes. Those features are enough for people to decide that I’m not white. I’m Asian, or Hispanic, or Native American, etc.

That’s a crime in their eyes. You overestimate them. You overestimate how much logic they have. You overestimate how many rules they have.

I’ve been called racial slurs, especially while growing up. There are people who are white passing enough that they can assimilate. There are people who are white passing enough that they will be treated better, but not fully like a person.

Obviously you can experience racism anywhere, but I truly don’t think some of you understand what it’s like in these rural areas sometimes.

[crystaivf]

Difference between PCOD and PCOS

PCOD and PCOS are two common hormonal disorders in women. PCOD stands for polycystic ovarian disorder, while PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Both conditions cause irregular periods, weight gain, and excess hair growth. PCOS is more severe than PCOD and can lead to long-term health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Treatment for both conditions includes lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, as well as medication.

Read complete post on PCOD and PCOS

[kdblossomhospital]

Things To Know About PCOS And Fertility

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is commonly known as PCOS, is a condition related to hormones where the ovaries don’t always release eggs at the end of the menstrual cycle. This is not good for women as it can create pregnancy complications in the near future. Though this is common in India, where 1 in 10 women has this issue. You must consult a doctor and be in touch with your OB/GYN regularly if you have PCOS or PCOD. If you are looking for the best PCOS and PCOD management in Ahmedabad, then call KD Blossom Hospital immediately. Furthermore, you must also have basic knowledge of PCOS symptoms, causes, and treatments so that the chances of being at higher risk can be mitigated.

Remember, having polycystic ovaries doesn’t mean that you are affected by PCOS, as PCO simply means your ovaries are slightly different, while PCOS is a disorder that is linked with hormonal imbalance.

Symptoms of PCOS

More facial hair on face and body

Acne and oily skin

Missed periods, very light periods or irregular periods

Ovaries are larger or having many cysts

Weight gain, especially around abdomen area

Infertility

Small pieces of excess skin around neck or armpits

Thick and dark skin patches

What Are The Causes Of PCOS?

The exact cause of PCOS is still not clear, and this varies from woman to woman. As such, it can be genetic, while some women have PCOS because of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means your body can’t use insulin well, and hence, insulin levels build up in your body, causing higher androgen levels. Furthermore, women who have PCOS must maintain their weight because obesity increases insulin levels, which make PCOS symptoms worse. Women with PCOS have higher androgen levels than normal women, and this prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg that causes acne and extra hair growth. Therefore; proper treatment and precaution is needed as it can create complications later in married life.

Can I Still Get Pregnant If I Have PCOS?

Yes, this is a fact: PCOS causes difficulty getting pregnant, but having PCOS doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. PCOS is one of the most common types of disorders in women, but it is treatable. You must consult your doctor about how to increase your chances of getting pregnant when you have PCOS. You can also use an ovulation calculator to know exactly which day is most likely to be fertile in your menstrual cycle. You must follow a balanced diet and a healthy routine in order to remain fit and active during pregnancy while having PCOS. You must also have a detoxification session because going through different treatments can be complicated and stressful, as well as making you anxious.

Is PCOS Linked To Other Health Problems?

Yes, medical studies have clarified that PCOS is linked with various health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, unhealthy cholesterol levels, endometrial cancer, depression, anxiety, and so on. Also, it has been found in research that more than half of women with PCOS will have diabetes by the age of 40. Furthermore, women with PCOS have high chances of LDL and low chances of HDL. Women with PCOS must take care of their cholesterol level because it can raise the risk of heart disease and stroke. Depression, anxiety, and sleep apnoea are also common among women with PCOS, and it raises the risk of heart disease and endometrial cancer. If you are looking for a doctor or hospital that can treat PCOS and PCOD disorder effectively and more efficiently, then give us a call. KD Blossom has a team of experienced gynecologists and specializes in mother and child care.

How Does PCOS Affect Pregnancy?

PCOS can be dangerous for you and your baby, hence proper treatment and precaution are needed for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Women with PCOS also have higher chances of miscarriage, caesarean sections, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia than normal women. Furthermore, your baby also has a higher chance of spending more time in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a higher risk of having heavy macrosomia. You can lower the risk of problems that you might face during pregnancy while having PCOS. For instance, by maintaining a healthy weight before you get pregnant. You must also reach a healthy blood and sugar level and have a balanced diet with enough nutrients, proteins, and vitamins.

There is a myth that PCOS extends your fertile window, but this is not fact at all. Whether you have PCOS or not, your chances of conceiving are higher in your 20s, and they drop by 5% in your 30s. Visit KD Hospital for the best PCOS treatment in Ahmedabad. With our best gynecology services, we also care for young women who are concerned about irregular cycles, contraception technologies, urogynaecological disorders, and preventive gynecological care.

This information was originally posted on KD Blossom Hospital. To read more, Visit Things To Know About PCOS And Fertility

[osmiabee]

Hi. I'm a biologist of colour with PCOS. There is significant amount of error and misinformation here.

Hirsutism is NOT a diagnostic criterion for PCOS - let alone the most important one - it's one of many indicative symptoms which can include adult acne, infertility, "male pattern" excess hair growth and "male pattern" balding - There are not considered diagnostic criteria as these are secondary symptoms that occur due to excess testosterone.

The diagnostic criteria are all direct symptoms: you need 2/3 for official diagnosis: Irregular periods (self-reported), Visible cysts on ovaries (via ultrasound), and Excess "above range" Testosterone (via blood test),

When you test for what is considered a "healthy range" you have to exclude people who are unhealthy and exhibiting symptoms, as they will skew the data. Worst case scenario this can lead to people NOT getting the diagnosis and treatment they need because they are considered "normal" even while exhibiting secondary symptoms.

The 97.5th percentile is a common statistical tool that excludes the extremes of the data to set a realistic average range. When someone comes in with symptoms of a disease (in the example above, men with osteoporosis) and you test them and find their hormones are different to 95-97.5% of a healthy, asymptomatic population, you can then point at that hormone as a potential cause of disease and correct it.

I cannot describe to you how important it is to exclude people with the "makes too much testosterone" disorder, while testing a baseline population to get an idea of the "normal/healthy" levels of testosterone.

Because PCOS is so common (2-10% of the population depending on your statistical model) that bar/threshold for testosterone in women is set high. Likely because even while trying to exclude people exhibiting PCOS symptoms (including excess hair) so many people with underlying PCOS (and high androgens) are largely asymptomatic (half of cases accourding to the NHS), and either live their whole lives unaware or do not get tested until they have significant fertility or secondary health problems later down the line.

In my own case when I got my results back I was the third woman that *day* that my doctor had to call to say "sorry, your androgen results were quite high but technically within the normal range," likely because that 97.5 percentile bar they're using as a baseline is skewed by the fact that a huge proportion of women have PCOS, and even while exc they can't exclude us all from the baseline based on diagnosis, family history, and secondary symptoms obvious to doctors (like hirsutism) alone!

These are all tools made to inform individualised medicine: despite my "normal range" androgens I am currently taking Spironolactone (a testosterone reducing drug - commonly used in HRT) to combat the effects of PCOS because my "in range" hormones were still clearly too much for my individual body, and caused symptoms that made me unhealthy (anaemic and in severe pain due to periods + painful acne) and put me at risk of things like diabetes and heart disease later down the line.

This isn't about just arbitrarily excluding women with "too much" hair. But about setting a useful baseline for XX-female high-androgen disorders.

BECAUSE BEING ABLE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE PCOS IS A GOOD THING.

The linked study above that was immediately dismissed as weird and racist, looked at the symptoms of a diverse group of american women with PCOS, and found preliminary data that the areas of skin that respond to high androgen levels (due to PCOS) differ depending on race. (for example - African Americans commonly developed facial hirsutism under their chins, while hispanic individuals were more likely to develop it on their arms and legs).

STUDIES LIKE THIS ARE GOOD, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE IF WE ONLY HAVE DATA FOR WHITE PEOPLE, POC WILL BE UNDERDIAGNOSED.

These kinds of studies are important, because it tells dermatologists where to look for secondary symptoms of PCOS in their patients, which is important because 92% of people with PCOS have symptoms affecting their skin, and 1 in 4 undiagnosed people are referred for PCOS diagnosis by a dermatologist.

IN CONCLUSION: This isn't about defining "woman" or "normal female" or setting "arbitrary" "spider eating" statistical rules for what is an acceptable testosterone range. It's about creating an accurate model for disease, which despite potentially affecting 1/10 people with uteruses, is massively underresearched and underdiagnosed. Because of medical misogyny. And racism to boot.

It's true that huge swathes of medical practice are rooted in misogyny and racism, and uphold a gender and sex binary that is, in reality, far more flexible and complicated than historic tests would allow for, but this post is inaccurate and relies on borderline deliberate misinterpretation of the medical data to make that point.

I forget why, but I was on the Wikipedia page for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and I started researching hirsutism in women, and I learned the following things in this order:

there's a diagnostic criteria used to evaluate how hairy a woman is

This is important because being too hairy is a diagnostic criteria of most disorders that cause hyperandrogenism

Disorders that cause hyperandrogenism can be diagnosed by...measuring how hairy you are (this is the main and most important diagnostic criterion for PCOS)

Disorders that cause hyperandrogenism are important because they are correlated with obesity, infertility, and...being too hairy?

I think to myself, wait, what is a normal range for testosterone in women? I find this article...which set reference ranges for "normal" testosterone levels in women...EXCLUDING WOMEN WITH PCOS?

Quote: "Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another notable condition in genetic (XX) females, which is characterized by excessive ovarian production of androgens. This condition is included for comparison with DSD, as the affected females with PCOS are genetic and phenotypic females. The elevated levels of testosterone in these females can lead to hyperandrogenism, a clinical disorder characterized variably by hirsutism, acne, male-pattern balding, metabolic disturbances, impaired ovulation and infertility. PCOS is a common condition, affecting 7%-10% of premenopausal women."

So: the study claims to demonstrate a clear distinction between the normal range of hormone levels in "Healthy" men and "healthy" women...with "healthy" being defined in the study as...having hormones within the "normal" range.......................

So I researched what the clinically established "normal" range for testosterone in women is

THERE ISN'T ONE????

Quote from the above article: "Several different approaches have been used to define endocrine disorders. The statistical approach establishes the lower and the upper limits of hormone concentrations solely on the basis of the statistical distribution of hormone levels in a healthy reference population. As an illustration, hypo- and hypercalcemia have been defined on the basis of the statistical distribution of serum calcium concentrations. Using this approach, androgen deficiency could be defined as the occurrence of serum testosterone levels that are below the 97.5th percentile of testosterone levels in healthy population of young men. A second approach is to use a threshold hormone concentration below or above which there is high risk of developing adverse health outcomes. This approach has been used to define osteoporosis and hypercholesterolemia. However, we do not know with certainty the thresholds of testosterone levels which are associated with adverse health outcomes."

What the fuck?

What the fuck?

It's batshit crazy to make a diagnostic criteria for medical disorders by placing arbitrary cutoffs within 2-5% of either end of a statistical distribution. What the actual fuck?

"The results came back, you have Statistical Outlier Disease." "What treatments are available?" "Well, first, we recommend dietary change. You should probably stop eating so many spiders."

Another article which attempted to do this

Quote: "Subjects with signs of hirsutism or with a personal history of diabetes or hypertension, or a family history of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were excluded."

"We're going to figure out the typical range of testosterone levels that occur in women! First, we're going to exclude all the women that are too hairy from the study. I am very good at science."

Anyway I got off topic but there are apparently race-specific diagnostic tools for "hirsutism." That's kinda weird on its own but when I looked more into this in relation to race I found this article that straight-up uses the term "mongoloid"

[butch-reidentified]

tide is turning: tracking hope for women in real time

New York Times piece (this link is to a tumblr post containing the article contents to avoid paywall) challenging the blind-affirmation model of medical transition, platforming detransitioners and desisters, as well as medical professionals who have distanced themselves from the blind-affirmation model after working in transition medicine (link to NYT article here in case anything happens to previous link)

The Guardian questions the vanity inherent to "body positivity"

Female facial hair pride and educational PCOS content from famed Daily Mail tabloid (I'll take it, though)

BBC article on child-free women (& touches on female separatism some) in South Korea. While this article certainly has its flaws (plummeting birthrates are not a "crisis" to be "solved," they're a symptom of mass patriarchal failure - though the article doesn't focus much on the "crisis" aspect), it overall is some really solid content and brings to more public light a lot of what we on radblr frequently discuss re: South Korean sex-based oppression and feminism. Just seeing this in a mainstream media article is huge to me.

Women are outperforming men in all kinds of shit!

TBD

will be adding to this gradually, and please send me more as well! I think we need this 🩶

[textk4kira]

pcos as an intersex condition

I believe the reason why many people are resistant to the idea of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) as an intersex condition is because they would have to accept that many people who are AFAB (especially cis women) are in fact, intersex.

I was assigned female at birth and diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 19. It took me some time to come to understand my intersex condition, which includes elevated testosterone levels and irregular periods. I was prescribed birth control to manage my symptoms and received an ultrasound to check for cysts on my ovaries (it was during this ultrasound appointment that I first experienced an instance of medical malpractice.)

I'm also a nonbinary person who struggles with mental health issues.

Overall, I'm proud of being intersex And trans. I stand in solidarity with my trans and intersex friends and family 💗

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

do you know much about PCOS? every doctor and gyno i’ve seen hasn’t given me any answers other than the fact that i have it.

well. I have no idea if I have the information you're looking for, because I don't know what that is, but I hope the Cleveland Clinic here has some useful information.

[vamptastic]

science is crazy. what if my dad is turbobald because he has man PCOS. wild world out here.

DHEA-S is also associated with hair loss so i do need everybody to pray for me and my hairline btw

[mindblowingscience]

For a condition that affects at least one in ten women of reproductive age and is a leading cause of female infertility worldwide, we understand surprisingly little about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). At present, treatment for the condition focuses largely on managing specific symptoms. Now a pilot clinical study led by Fudan University in China has found a pharmaceutical used to treat malaria shows promise as a PCOS treatment, shrinking oversized follicles and returning regularity to some participants' periods.

Continue Reading.

[squishmallowo]

EDIT: TME/TMA ARE NOT INTERSEXIST TERMS PLS STOP INTERACTING WITH ME IF YOU BELIEVE THIS THANK YOU - sincerely, an intersex person who actually listens to transfems (including intersex transfems) (no not tme people with pcos/ncah/whatever, you know what i mean)

anyways.. here's the original post:

i regularly see people talk about whether pcos should be considered an intersex condition or not.. and tbh, regardless of what you think, pcos (specifically the symptoms they call virilisation) is treated like an intersex condition in practice anyway

even if they don't actually use the word intersex, so many of the symptoms are completely harmless and instead they're defined by the fact that they're "male" characteristics on a "female", if that isn't intersex then idk what is! having the "wrong" sex characteristics according to society is how intersex is (or at least should be) defined

like hell even the term hirsutism on its own literally only exists because of intersexism, the literal definition of it is "male pattern hair growth"... that's literally just it, the only thing that makes it a "symptom" is being the wrong person to have this kind of hair growth

while intersexness does centre around physical traits, imo it's the way society treats us and reacts to our bodies that actually makes us intersex (as an identity and community), if i wasn't treated this way growing up (and still treated this way today!!), i would probably not have identified as intersex, i think it's important to keep this in mind when looking at how people decide what an intersex condition even is

so with that logic, it makes perfect sense for hyperandrogenic pcos to be considered intersex, the only reason why it isn't is because society benefits from having a large group of women to put below other women while still telling them they have a chance to be "normal" like other women, as long as they put the effort into it.. (by making them spend thousands on stuff like hair removal, weight loss, fertility treatments, anti-androgens, surgery, etc!)

them identifying as intersex in any way completely breaks the illusion, it separates the "male" features from the actually bad symptoms, people would start to question why they have to put themselves through so much effort rejecting their bodies just to be seen as normal, and ofc society does not want that, especially because it makes a lot of money to keep things this way

even the way pcos is diagnosed reeks of this, you could easily be diagnosed with it even if your only problem is high androgens and nothing else (i've been told to get checked for pcos for the crime of: simply having more testosterone than average)

if you tell someone their perfectly harmless features are actually part of this scary disorder that needs treatment then it suddenly becomes a lot easier to manipulate them into finding a "cure" for these harmless features, the pathologisation of intersex features is a huge part of what makes intersex an identity in the first place..

not only that, but ncah (a condition that's more commonly accepted as intersex) is almost always misdiagnosed as pcos, if pcos can look almost exactly like an intersex condition, it is probably intersex. i most likely have ncah, not pcos, and it's treated as almost the same especially before it's actually diagnosed as ncah

and if nothing else, if the intersex "symptoms" of pcos could somehow be found out at birth, and could be "fixed" by a surgery, they absolutely would do it (something that so many intersex children have to suffer through), the only reason why they don't is because they can't, if that isn't enough proof on its own that pcos can be intersex then idk what is!!

the experience of being pathologised for having the "wrong" sex characteristics (both primary and secondary) is what makes intersex a community and grouping these "symptoms" in with actually bad symptoms under one syndrome is not by accident!

[intersex-support]

hi! Im uhm kinda questioning if I might be intersex? I have hyperandrogenism and clitoromegaly as diagnosed conditions, but my doctors say they come from a genetic complication from my diabetes. I have a rare genetic mutation, which means I don't have type 1 or 2 type diabetes, but rather type A insulin resistant diabetes. Im not sure if that would mean I can't be intersex because I've only seen things about PCOS so far, but the term intersex comes up when ever i search up my conditions. I was assigned afab and seemed totally normal until puberty and started growing facial hair. It's not a lot but its noticeable. I just wanted to see if the term intersex may applie to me? Sorry if this seems like a dumb question.

Hi anon! It's not a dumb question.

So, I wasn't familiar with Type A insulin resistance before this question, but I did some research to become more familiar with it. And based on everything I learned, I do think that this is a diagnosis that could be considered an intersex variation. Like you shared, it causes hyperandrogenism and clitoromegaly, which are often intersex traits.

I like InterACT's definition of intersex: "a variation that:

shows up in a person’s chromosomes, genitals, gonads or other internal reproductive organs, or how their body produces or responds to hormones;

Differs from what society or medicine considers to be “typical” or “standard” for the development, appearance, or function of female bodies or male bodies; and

Is present from birth or develops spontaneously later in life."

I think that insulin resistance A would meet all those criteria: it's a variation in how your body produces or responds to hormones that differs from what society considers "standard" sex traits for those assigned female at birth, in a way that might bring stigma or discrimination, and it is a lifelong variation, not something temporarily caused by medication or something like a tumor. Insulin resistance A isn't usually listed on intersex variation lists, but I honestly think that's because it's rare enough that orgs just aren't aware of it, and hadn't thought to research it because diabetes in general isn't an intersex variation.

Ultimately, I think it's up to you--if you don't feel comfortable identifying as intersex you don't have to, but in my opinion, you're welcome to identify as intersex, and I think you'd find a lot of shared community with other intersex people who might experience similar symptoms or life experiences. If you wanted to start exploring intersex community spaces, I think you'd find a lot of people who would accept you. Your journey is your own journey and there's no timeline or pressure to do anything, but you absolutely would count as intersex from my perspective.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions, and wishing you the best of luck, anon!

[dykesynthezoid]

Can’t believe I have to say this but birth control cannot give you PCOS. PCOS has genetic and environmental factors that have nothing to do w BC. Researchers can predict the later development of PCOS from biomarkers present when you’re a baby. If you went on birth control as a teenager and then just recently went off it as an adult and started having PCOS symptoms it’s bc birth control is often used to treat PCOS. It was just masking the PCOS that whole time, and you were relatively young when you first started taking it, so your symptoms hadn’t become obvious yet.

Not that hormones can’t have a huge impact on health, but you should be wary when any woman starts talking about how birth control “ruined her body” bc even if she’s telling the truth there’s a good chance that she actually has a serious underlying health condition that became more apparent by either stopping or starting birth control. It does not mean birth control itself is evil. The problem is the lack of research into health conditions that affect women and how they affect women. It’s not that your woman-body is so wild and unpredictable that there’s no telling what some mysterious female hormones could do to you.

Also not all hormonal birth control is going to affect your body the same anyway. People tend to have very different reactions to high estrogen and low estrogen pills respectively, for example (including myself). It’s completely understandable to be wary of how stopping/starting the pill could affect your body, but keep in mind that most of the changes actually triggered by that would be a. temporary and b. could be managed by switching to another form of birth control or adding a separate medication or treatment to manage symptoms if you really need to be on that specific form of it.

[yrfemmehusband]

Female reproductive health terms you should know!

(terfs not welcome)

Dysmenorrhea: Period pain that isn't normal, i.e. any pain more than Mild cramping.

Dyspareunia: painful intercourse

Oligomenorrhea: lighter, shorter menstrual flow.

Menorrhagia: heavier, longer menstrual flow.

Ovarian cysts: a mass on or in one's ovary, can be resolved on its own, or can remain and cause complications such as a rupture.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: a chronic condition causing cysts to reoccur on the ovaries and enlarging them. Symptoms include:

Irregular periods

hormonal imbalance

facial hair

weight gain

painful periods/ ovulation

infertility

People with PCOS are at higher risk for endometrial cancer, type II diabetes heart problems and high blood pressure.

Endometriosis: A chronic condition in which a tissue similar to, but different than, the endometrial lining grows outside of the uterus instead of inside. During menstruation this tissue sheds and has nowhere to go, thus irritating surrounding organs.

Symptoms include:

Irregular periods

Dysmenorrhea

Widespread pain

Painful ovulation

Vomiting, fainting, chills, sweating, fever and brain fog during menstruation

Infertility

Severe bloating

This also puts people at a higher risk for endometrial and ovarian cancer. There are four stages to Endo as it is a progressive disease, with 3/4 being more severe. The average time it takes to be diagnosed is 7 years.

Adenomyosis: A chronic disease similar and comorbid to endometriosis in which a tissue similar to the endometrial lining grows inside of the uterine wall. Symptoms are nearly identical to endometriosis but more difficult to detect.

Many people are diagnosed post menopause, by fault of the medical system, but it can and does develop much before then.

Ovarian cancer: cancer of the ovary(ies).

Endometrial cancer: cancer of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus.

Endometrial cyst, or chocolate cyst: cystic lesions from endometriosis.

Tilted uterus: the uterus is positioned pointing towards the back or severely to the front of the pelvis instead of a slight tilt towards at the cervix. Can cause painful sex and periods.

Pelvic floor dysfunction: inability to control your pelvic muscles. Comorbid with many things and is highly comorbid with endometriosis. Can cause pain and incontinence.

Vulvodynia: chronic and unexplained pain at the opening of the vagina.

Interstitial cystitis: a chronic condition where cysts form on the inside of the bladder and urinary tract and cause symptoms similar to that of a UTI.

Pre-eclampsia: a condition occurring in pregnancy where the blood supply between the fetus and the pregnant person is affected and can cause irregular blood pressure, swelling, and in more severe cases headache, nausea and vomiting, a burning sensation behind the sternum, shortness of breath and potentially death if untreated.

Endometritis: an infection or irritation of the uterine lining. Is not the same as endometriosis and is treatable but can cause pain, bleeding, swelling, general discomfort and fever, and more.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: an infection of the reproductive organs

Ectopic pregnancy: a pregnancy that is attached to the outside of the uterus. Can be fatal if left untreated.

There are many more I could probably add but if you see something missing, please add it!

[lordmushroomkat]

《The strong association of PCOS with cis womanhood, the defining of it as a disorder or syndrome, and its framing as a “women’s health issue” obscures the fact that PCOS is a natural hormonal variation, an endocrine difference that is illustrated through secondary sex characteristics. 

During my initial search for resources and community, I also learned that PCOS, given its characterization as a hormonal variance, falls under the intersex umbrella. This intersex umbrella covers a wide range of “individuals born with a hormonal, chromosomal, gonadal or genital variation which is considered outside of the male and female norms,” and PCOS meets that definition. 

This is not an attempt to sway every person who has PCOS to identify themselves as intersex—though it is an acknowledgment that we have the option and the right to do so if it rings true to us. Rather, this is to say that shifting my perspective on PCOS and viewing it through an intersex lens allowed me to better understand it as a natural human variation rather than an affliction causing my body to do the “wrong” thing. 

“I believe that someone with PCOS has every right to use the term intersex for themselves if they want, but I also understand it if they don’t,” said writer and intersex advocate Amanda Saenz.

“As an advocate and an intersex person, I opt to use a definition of intersex that is open ended and expansive,” Saenz explains. “The experiences that a term like ‘intersex’ hopes to define include differences in hormonal production and hormone reception, and the phenotypic effects these differences have on the body. To me, this is inclusive of things like PCOS.”

Discussing PCOS in this way is often met with indignation and resistance. Our society has a hard time separating gender from sex. This has resulted in a widespread misunderstanding of intersex identity as equivalent to transgender identity. Many who vehemently resist the idea of PCOS being under the intersex umbrella do so because they categorically link “female” with “woman,” and therefore misinterpret any acceptance of intersex identity as a denial of womanhood. Moreover, the stigma around and marginalization of intersex communities prevents many people from feeling comfortable with embracing it. 

“You can be intersex and cisgender, transgender, or nonbinary. The ‘opposite’ of intersex is endosex, not cisgender,” explained Eshe Kiama Zuri, founder of U.K. Mutual Aid. As a nonbinary intersex person, Zuri approaches these ideas with a clear understanding of how the bodies of intersex individuals as well as many people with PCOS interrupt binary thinking about both sex and gender. 

“The resistance to PCOS falling under the intersex umbrella is due to a white supremacist society’s desperation to cling to binary genders, which we know [have been] used as a colonial tool of control,” they offer. 

The same medical and surgical interventions that legislators seek to ban trans and nonbinary people from accessing—which would be gender-affirming, life-saving care for them—are often forced on intersex infants and children who are unable to consent. This is done in efforts to align intersex bodies with social expectations of female and male, man and woman; the same logic undergirds the societal and medical pressure to “feminize” the female-assigned bodies of PCOS patients. 

PCOS is “shockingly common [and] the most frequently occurring hormone-related disorder.” However, according to Medical News Today, “up to 75% of [people] with PCOS do not receive a diagnosis for their condition.” If we were to understand and accept something like PCOS as intersex, considering how “shockingly common” it is, the dominant idea of binary sex, with intersex being thought of as nothing more than a fringe occurrence, would be shattered. 

“PCOS is only one of many conditions that could fall under the intersex umbrella, and care for people with PCOS would be considerably better if it wasn’t for the forced gendering and resistance to providing actual support for people with PCOS, even if it challenges society’s ideas of gender,” says Zuri. 

Combating myths built around the gender and sex binaries would create more space to understand PCOS traits as part of normal human variation, rather than inherent problems to be fixed, symptoms to be eradicated. As Zuri so beautifully put it, “When we start to accept that this is not a body behaving ‘wrong’ and it is just a body, we stop blaming and punishing people for how their bodies work and start challenging societal expectations.”》

I was fucking right!