by Olwen Anderson

Created on: January 26, 2009

My personal journey with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) began at the age of 15 when I found myself growing a beard. For an inherently anxious girl, this was the ultimate blow to my already poor self esteem. PCOS travelled with me for the next 25 years while I explored treatment options in both the orthodox and alternative medical fields. Fortunately I found the answer, and suffer virtually none of the symptoms any more - except one, which is looming as my next major health challenge for the second half of my life.

What can you do as a teenager when you look in the mirror and see hairs sprouting on your face and neck? Why is this happening? What am I doing wrong? How can I stop it so I can look 'normal'? No-one was allowed close to my face. Several other women in my extended family had also suffered from hirtsuism (that's the medical term for the hairy masculine features that some women with PCOS develop). The unspoken family policy was that it was something you just had to live with - and start saving up for electrolysis sessions because you're going to need lots. To be fair, in the late 1970s not much was known about PCOS or how to treat it. I'm not sure it even had an official syndrome 'name'.

In the meantime, I became an expert 'tweezer', individually and painfully plucking out every single hair that appeared. My tweezers and my lighted mirror became my best friends. I picked up a razor at one stage and pondered shaving, but put it down again. I just couldn't face the concept of shaving like a man when my beard already made me feel like I was all too masculine. No-one was allowed to stand close enough to me that they could spot the hairs (I hoped). I even avoided standing in strong light. At one stage I gave up completely, and still have a very disturbing photo ID from my first job where the beard is clearly visible. I've tried waxing too (ouch!) and eventually earned enough to start the long years of painful electrolysis. IPL laser hair removal has got to be the best invention yet!

My facial hair, and how to get rid of it, became the focus of my waking hours. Treatment with spironolactone (an anti-androgenic medication) didn't make a dent in the seemingly endless hair growth that even weekly electrolysis couldn't keep up with. I felt frustrated, alone, and helpeless. All of the doctors and endocrinologists I consulted with did their very best to help me within the range of their knowlege. Nothing was working. The emotional effects were devastating - I felt

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