PCOS Warriors #6
Channel: Jasmine McGinley
Date: 11/09/2014

September is PCOS Awareness Month!!! 
(As well as other endocrine and reproductive cancers or diseases)

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is an endocrine disorder that affects 1 in 10 women worldwide, and most don't even know they have it. It is one of the leading causes of infertility among women. No one knows what causes is. It HAS been thought lately however, if a man has Metabolic Syndrome, he can pass it on to his daughters in the form of PCOS, as well as mothers with PCOS passing it on. It can effect your reproductive system, endocrine system, hormones, insulin levels, and so much more.

Symptoms include: ovarian cysts, absent or irregular menstrual cycles, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hair thinning, acne, oily skin, dandruff, skin tags, pelvic pain, sleep apnea, insulin resistance (which can lead to Diabetes Type II), excess hair growth in unwanted areas, acanthosis nigricans (dark patches of skin, especially around creases), weight gain (especially around mid-section), inability to lose weight, depression, anxiety, mood swings, infertility and more. PCOS effects progesterone (a bodies natural anti-depressant) levels, which is what causes the depression and mood swings. PCOS can sometime also be connected to autoimmune issues such as asthma, celiac disease, and more. 

Left untreated, you are at risk of diabetes, heart attack (4-7x more likely), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, and more. 

PCOS patients have to be treated by specialized Endocrinologists. Even then, the number of informed specialists are slim. Some women are ignored by there PCPs, and denied referrals to a specialist, because the knowledge of PCOS just ISN'T there. The doctors just don't listen, because it's not something they've informed on. Cysters (as we call each other) already have way too many medical problems to deal with on a daily basis, but not getting the treatment that we need, puts us at risk for a boat load more problems. 

No one knows what PCOS is, unless they know someone who has it. This needs to change. For medical purposes, yes. But also, because this is a cruel, cruel world we live in now. My hopes with this page, project, movement, and all the videos and stories I will be sharing, is to raise money for research, but also to spread the awareness WORLDWIDE. We suffer in silence. It's a medical condition that no one wants to talk about. It's embarrassing, and painful. And it's embarrassing because of the world we live in. People are so quick to look at a person and judge them by the way they look. And my page will show you some of the strongest, most beautiful women I know, and their journeys through PCOS.

If you comment on my page, or any of my pictures of videos, please, PLEASE be respectful of my Cysters and I. It has taken an unbelievable amount of courage for us to finally stand up and reveal our invisible (but not invisible) struggles. I want to thank each and every one of them who was or will be brave enough to e-mail me their pictures and videos.

PLEASE share this video.... Help our voices be heard.




PCOS Warrior and iSupport My Warrior shirts available @ www.CrystalGraphix.Spreadshirt.com