What is PCOS? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is the result of a hormonal imbalance in a woman. It affects the reproductive system, blood vessels, and may cause excruciating pain from tiny cyst on the ovaries, irregular periods or the ability to ovulate. Women with PCOS may have higher levels of Androgen while others may have estrogen dominance.

The symptoms of PCOS may include but are not limited to the following:

• Infertility
• Irregular periods,
• Hirsutism
• Cysts on the ovaries
• Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
• Weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the waist
• Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
• Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black
• Skin tags
• Pelvic pain
• Anxiety or depression
• Sleep apnea

My intentions behind this blog is to document my journey as I reverse my PCOS diagnosis. I hope that by sharing my struggle/experience it could help someone else in their journey. It’s taken me a while to open up because I’m not sure how much information I should disclose. This is a personal topic and I usually don’t like people all up in my business, but what the hell maybe I’ll start to feel empowered by doing so. Probably won’t talk too much about feelings because I hate explaining how I feel like just get me, you know? So bear with me…

Growing up I’ve always been extremely hairy compared to other girls and often teased for it. I’ve been told it’s normal and apart of being afro-Latina (Puerto Rican). I’ve always been comfortable in my skin but the hair didn’t really start to become bothersome until getting on and off birth control which I was told would “balance my hormones”. At first the hairs on my body were very fair in color but of course I started to shave thinking it was a big deal. Looking back I’d take what little bit of hair I had over what I have now!

When I finally got off of birth control the hairs on my body specifically my sideburns and mustache began to get thicker and darker that I stopped shaving and began waxing or plucking. I feared anyone ever knowing that I had facial hair. In reality, no one ever notices unless I point it out. If anyone look at me too long, I still get embarrassed thinking that they are looking at my facial hair. I feel like this has held me back from a lot of different things but I’m not letting this hairy situation control the rest of my life. I don’t worry about what guys might think because real men appreciate confident women.
Years later I’m officially diagnosed with PCOS & Hirsutism, everything makes sense now. When my physician told me about the PCOS diagnosis I wasn’t really shocked because I had read about it months earlier and I had most of the symptoms. My biggest concern was when she told me I would have difficulty conceiving. I always joke about not wanting kids but deep down inside I do. I completely spaced out when my doctor started talking about getting back on birth control or seeing a gynecologist to discuss IVF. I have nothing against IVF and would try it if all else fails but it seems so painful and stressful. I asked the doctor if there were natural ways to conceive when I was ready and she told me there are no other options. In that moment I knew I had to take matters into my own hands. I began researching how to naturally balance hormones and was amazed by all the positive results.

So I have slightly high cholesterol, angina, pelvic pain, cystic acne and high testosterone on top of generalized anxiety disorder. Great! Yes I make too much testosterone but sex hormones are not the only hormones our bodies have! In fact, they are secondary when compared to our other hormones. Leptin which controls hunger, Insulin which breaks down carbs for energy, Cortisol and Adrenaline which responds to stress all play a major role in our overall health and should be our main focus when balancing hormones. Only once we focus on the underlying cause of an illness/diagnosis will we be able to reverse it. So far, I’ve switched up my diet for the most part (still working on controlling my sweet tooth), started exercising – a bit, incorporated herbs that balance hormones which I will discuss in a later post, and removing stress from my life (that seems so unrealistic in today’s world – just saying).

I am NOT my diagnosis and I will NOT surrender or be defeated by it . Only what God decrees will happen so I put my trust solely in the most high. I am taking ACTION and doing what needs to be done to improve my health. To all my cysters out there, you are strong and beautiful!

Peace and ❤