It has been found that one in five (yes, 1-in-5) women are living with PCOS, many have no idea. If you follow me here or on Instagram, you know my mom is the reason I knew I had PCOS before a doctor would diagnose me. This is led to my current predicament of infertility, and it is something I felt should be shared with the public, especially since my most beloved media outlets don’t talk about PCOS or other infertility causing disorders. So here it is - my journey and my recommendations for getting a PCOS diagnosis.

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Identify The Signs (You’ll either have all, 50%, or sometimes none)

Irregular or absent periods
Hirsutism (Excessive, unwanted facial hair)
Acne (Usually Cystic)
Hair Loss/Thinning
Insulin Resistance
Obesity or Unintentional Weight Gain
Ovarian Cysts
Infertility
Anxiety
Depression

Who to See (and the order I recommend seeing them)

INTERNAL MEDICINE (they should be your PCP for referrals and baseline lab work)
ENDOCRINOLOGISTS
- Most hospital websites allow you to search by disorder or disease, so type PCOS in their search bar.
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST (If you’re trying to conceive)
OBGYN
- I would see one after an Endo. You’ll get more accomplished seeing Endo first, especially since Obs send you that way for a diagnosis (errr...it’s an endocrine disorder, not a reproductive disorder).
- Once bloodwork is reviewed and a diagnosis is confirmed, ask your OB for a vaginal ultrasound to check for cysts and to check your endometrial lining.
DERMATOLOGIST
PSYCHOLOGIST

For me, my original PCP touched on everything, but I realized I needed someone who would fully listen to me, which is how I met Dr. Rodriguez, an endocrinologist specializing in PCOS. Unfortunately, after she diagnosed me (formally) in 2017, she moved to a different practice. Luckily, the NYU team is fantastic and the scheduler placed me with Dr. A. and I’ve been happy ever since.

So...What does a diagnosis look like?

Blood work - and a lot of it.

I have an extensive health history, so I have 10-15 tubes drawn regularly - this is just the icing on the cake.

Every six months at my endo visit, I fast and am checked for my A1C, and monitor my glucose levels (I have insulin resistance), in addition to hormonal tests that monitor androgens, especially my testosterone. I also have my thyroid checked once a year, along with Cortisol levels. This may all seem invasive and a lot on someone’s plate, but it’s a great way to monitor your progress and to see what medications or lifestyle changes are working for you.

Now, my doctor’s majority of patients are women with PCOS or insulin-resistant, so on a daily basis, she prescribes Vitamin-D (common), Metformin (super common), Victoza or Trulicity. There are a few others, one of which did nothing for me, that work for most women’s unwanted facial hair. The cocktail has helped with my weight, alongside a low-carb diet and weight training, but didn’t always work. Our bodies get used to regimens, so talk to your doctor if you don’t see any improvement after three months.

You see, the end result comes to management (you cannot ‘cure’ PCOS). If you are concerned about fertility or just want to have your body back to normal, follow my recommendations above. Everyone’s journey is different, and there is a support team there for you. For me, it took a long time to find support, especially since WOC (women of color) are often neglected when it comes to obtaining a medical diagnosis and mental illness - which is also why I’m writing this series.

Without you, my readers, my advocacy for women’s health and PCOS awareness would be even harder. I appreciate all of you and feel free to share my story with someone you think may be struggling with a diagnosis. I’m here to help in any way that I can and won’t stop being an advocate because PCOS is for life.

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