Around 1 in 10 women in Ireland may have PCOS
Emma Chamberlain has opened up about her PCOS diagnosis.
The influencer revealed she was diagnosed following a trip to the hair salon.
She explained that a woman in the salon informed her she had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome because of her acne.
She told Vogue that she was stunned to be ‘diagnosed’ in such an obscure way.
Emma explained that she had acne on her cheeks, and the woman, who was an OBGYN, knew it was a sign of the condition.
She told the publication: “I got diagnosed with PCOS at the hair salon. I was sitting in the chair getting my hair washed, and a woman was next to me and she turned to me and she said, ‘Do you have PCOS?'”
“I was like, ‘I don’t know. My mom has PCOS. She has PCOS and endometriosis, and she’s had a lot of challenges.’ And she was like, ‘I think you have PCOS.'”
She continued: “She could tell by the acne that was on my cheeks. Turns out she was an OBGYN, and she diagnosed me with PCOS. It’s really changed my life, to be honest.”
Emma said she is now on medication to help her body regulate hormones, but being diagnosed “changed her life.”
But what are the signs of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
The main symptoms of PCOS include irregular, absent, or heavy periods.
Patients may also experience weight gain, acne, hair thinning or loss, as well as excess hair growth.
However, there are some lesser known symptoms that may also be a sign of PCOS.
They include:
- Insomnia or poor sleep
- Mood changes
- High blood pressure
- Hidradenitis suppurativa
- Hyperkeratosis
- Sleep apnea
- Fatty liver
- Eating disorders
- Pelvic pain
- Ruptured cyst
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Headaches
It is believed that around 1 in 10 women in Ireland may have the condition, but it can be difficult to diagnose.
It typically takes over two years and multiple medical appointments for a woman to be diagnosed with PCOS in Ireland.
