Stories: What’s it really like living with a reproductive health condition?
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Anastasia’s PCOS story
Anastasia had always suspected that something wasn’t right but spent most of her youth trying to hide from her symptoms. Even after getting a PCOS diagnosis, she struggled to get support to manage her symptoms from doctors.
Lisa’s PCOS story
Lisa never suspected she had PCOS. Not until when at age 34 her cycle became irregular and she struggled to conceive again, after having no issues falling pregnant with her first child. Lisa began fertility treatment, but no one mentioned to her that her test-results had suggested she had PCOS.
Trini’s PCOS story
Trini always had incredibly painful and heavy periods, but it wasn’t until her early twenties that she was finally diagnosed with PCOS. In the meantime, the PCOS hadn’t just left her in physical pain, but also wreaked havoc on her body image and confidence.
Danielle’s PCOS story
Danielle was first diagnosed with PCOS when she was at university. She was promptly put on the pill and told to lose weight, with no more information or guidance. Years later, an unrelated health-scare prompted Danielle to do her own research and take back control over her PCOS symptoms.
Kathryn’s PCOS and PMDD story
Kathryn was 11 when her period started and right from the start they were heavy, painful and very irregular. But it wasn’t until almost a decade later that Kathryn finally got diagnosed with PCOS. Whilst grappling with how to manage her symptoms, she started to notice that something else didn’t seem quite right. Armed with her trusted journal she approached her GP, who agreed that it appeared that Kathryn also suffers from PMDD.
Carol-Anne’s PCOS Story
It took a move to a new city, and a new GP, for Carol-Anne to finally have her reproductive health taken seriously. Investigations showed that the reason for her debilitating pain, heavy flow and extreme fatigue was PCOS.
Hayley’s Infertility Story
Hayley who is diagnosed with PCOS, is undergoing IVF in the hopes of a successful pregnancy. But IVF is not a straightforward road as Hayley and her husband, sadly, discovered when she suffered a missed miscarriage after her first round of treatment.
Victoria’s Infertility Story
In her mid twenties Victoria was diagnosed with PCOS, after she and her partner struggled to conceive. With her new diagnosis she felt her life-long dream of becoming a mum slipping away. Fast forward, Victoria, now in her 40s is still fighting to become a parent - but now she's going at it solo. Using IVF and a donor-sperm.
Serena's PCOS Story
When Serena was 21 she was told that she appeared to have polycystic ovaries. Years later, spurred on by the global pandemic, she decided to start taking better care of her health, and try and fully understand how PCOS was affecting her.
Ria's PCOS Story
Like so many other women, Ria has had a bumpy ride with her menstrual cycle. She first got her period when she was 13 and unlike what was expected, her period didn’t show up as a trusted friend every month. For years it was irregular, sometimes going months without appearing.
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We are building the UK’s biggest library of reproductive health stories, because the more we share, the louder we get, the harder we are to ignore. Do you want to be part of changing the way society talks, thinks, and feels about reproductive health conditions?