‘After five years of pushing, I was finally diagnosed with PCOS’

Dearbhla Lovett was 17 when she first started to notice her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms.

“I was very in tune with my body and my health from a young age,” she recalls. “I had some of the most significant indicator symptoms. Irregular and absent periods, excessive hair growth, especially on the face, and I struggled to shift weight.” 

She visited doctors to share her concerns; however, she felt she was dismissed because of her age. “They said I was too young,” she explains. “And because I wasn’t overweight, it couldn’t be PCOS.”

Nevertheless, Dearbhla persisted, and after five years of pushing for medical confirmation, she was officially diagnosed with PCOS. “I finally got it after three different doctors and a scan,” she says. “When it was made official, I was more overwhelmed than I expected to be. I think it was the certainty. My fears about PCOS were realised. I became worried about starting a family and any issues that come with that, but all I have right now is a diagnosis. So, it’s one step at a time.”

PCOS is an endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age and is characterised by a combination of reproductive, metabolic and hormonal disturbances. The official diagnostic criteria require the presence of at least two out of three specific signs: an irregular menstrual cycle, clinical or laboratory evidence of high androgen levels (such as excess hair growth or acne), and an ultrasound that shows small follicles on the ovaries. 

 Although Dearbhla had these signals, she felt unsupported by the medical system. “Maybe I have been unlucky,” she notes. “But almost after every experience with a medical professional, I left feeling unheard, deflated and frustrated. I also spent a fortune going to doctors and never felt I got anything useful in return.”

Throughout the years, Dearbhla struggled greatly with the effects of managing PCOS day to day. “I can get seriously bloated and puffy,” she says. “This leaves me feeling sluggish and lethargic at times, and I have poor digestive issues. Emotionally, I can struggle with my body image because of the weight changes. In a job that requires a lot of networking, it’s hard sometimes to feel good in my body.” 

In many ways, Dearbhla is only at the beginning of her journey. Her diagnosis is recent, meaning she will learn more about the condition and how to treat it in the coming months and years. However, she has grasped how to manage the condition through her own lifestyle. “I was lucky in the sense that I didn’t have to make any major lifestyle changes,” she explains. 

“I was already implementing choices that supported my health. I had been vegan long before the diagnosis, so avoiding dairy and red meat is natural to me, and that certainly helps with symptoms. I’m also incredibly active. I love resistance training and pilates, and I think these activities certainly help keep it under control.”