PCOS, otherwise known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is the most common hormonal disorder that affects women. In fact, up to 10 per cent of women in Singapore may have PCOS. Most of the time, it can manifest with a wide variety of symptoms. Many women may not be aware of their conditions and they can go undiagnosed.
From irregular menstrual cycles, acne, increased facial and body hair, and even obesity, the symptoms of PCOS range on a spectrum. Amelia*, a 35-year-old woman, shares, “It was horrible. I was putting on weight no matter what kind of diet I tried. My legs were growing hairy. My period was all over the place and my moods swings were so bad. It was a nightmare. I felt so unattractive. The doctor even told me that my fertility could be affected. That was very hard to hear.”
Some of the more challenging parts came later on. When “My friends and family kept telling me to lose weight and to “take more care of myself”. They probably meant that I should make myself look more presentable. But that made my moods even worse. I even heard some people talking behind my back about me finding excuses for being fat and how I should just eat less.”
To understand more about PCOS, we spoke with Dr Grace Huang, the resident doctor at DTAP Clinic Robertson. And she answered some commonly asked questions about this hormonal disorder.