Beyond Irregular Cycles: The Silent Struggles of PCOS -By Abayomi Ajayi

You may have blamed your irregular periods on stress and believed that you simply needed a well-deserved rest. Maybe you’ve battled stubborn acne, unexplained weight gain, or hair growth in places you’d rather not have hair. You wake up tired, not the kind of tired a good night’s sleep can fix, but the kind that clings to your bones, fogs your mind, and makes even the smallest tasks feel monumental.

You look in the mirror and see the acne that won’t go away, the thinning hair, and the weight that refuses to budge, no matter how many diets you try. Your period hasn’t come in months, or perhaps it comes too often, unpredictably and painfully. You wonder if this is normal, and if anyone else feels this way.

You’ve asked questions, searched online, and maybe even visited doctors, only to be told it’s “just your hormones” or “nothing serious.” But deep down, you know something isn’t right.

What you might be facing is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a hormonal disorder that affects 1 in 10 women globally and thousands more across Nigeria. Despite its prevalence, PCOS remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed conditions. It’s a silent epidemic, and you may be one of its many casualties.

PCOS isn’t just about irregular periods. It’s a complex condition that affects how your ovaries function. If you’re living with PCOS, you know it’s more than just missed periods. It’s the emotional toll of infertility fears, the frustration of slow weight loss, and the anxiety of not knowing what’s happening inside your body.

In Nigeria, the journey to a PCOS diagnosis is often long and lonely, thanks to cultural taboos surrounding menstruation and fertility. Many women suffer in silence.

You may have grown up in a home where periods were never discussed and where reproductive health was shrouded in shame. You may have been told that your worth is tied to your ability to bear children, and now, with PCOS threatening your fertility, you feel as though you’re failing at something fundamental. But you’re not failing, you’re fighting.

If you have PCOS, you can boost your chances of getting pregnant with medication or, in some cases, surgery.

In vitro fertilisation can also make pregnancy a reality for women with PCOS. While PCOS can affect fertility and pregnancy, with the right care and treatment, conception and a healthy pregnancy are completely possible.

It is essential to keep track of your periods. During a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrium is exposed to hormones such as oestrogen, which cause the lining to proliferate and thicken. When ovulation does not occur, which is typical in PCOS, the lining is not shed and is exposed to much higher amounts of oestrogen, causing the endometrium to grow much thicker than normal. This increases the risk of cancer cells developing.

The average menstrual cycle ranges between 21 and 38 days. While it’s normal to have the occasional cycle that is shorter or longer, you should let your healthcare provider know if your periods are consistently outside this range.

It can be easy to lose track of your cycle, so recording the dates of your period can provide valuable information. Keep a record of both the first and last day of each period, and note how far apart your cycles are, from the start of one period to the start of the next. Also, track the heaviness of your flow and symptoms such as acne, mood swings, cramping, breast tenderness, bloating, diarrhoea, or nausea.

When diagnosed with PCOS, adopting a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight range, is one of the steps that can improve your chances of becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby. If you’ve been diagnosed, you’ve probably been told to eat differently, exercise more, and perhaps take medication. It’s not an easy task, but it’s possible, and you’re not alone in this journey.

You may feel overwhelmed and unheard, but your story matters. Your symptoms are real, and your voice, when added to others, can help break the silence around PCOS in Nigeria. Speak up, ask questions, and demand answers, because the more you know, the more power you have to reclaim your health.

PCOS can feel overwhelming because there’s no single test to diagnose it. Doctors often rely on a combination of medical history, blood tests, and pelvic ultrasounds. Access to these services can be limited, especially if you live outside major cities or cannot afford specialist care, but there is hope.

Across Nigeria, efforts are underway to raise awareness, provide free screenings, and educate women about PCOS and reproductive health in general. Campaigns are being designed to break the silence and encourage more women to seek help.

As you manage your symptoms through lifestyle changes, eating differently, exercising more, and taking medication, don’t give up. Some days, you may feel like quitting, but every small step you take is a victory. Preparing your body to be in the best possible health before trying for a baby not only increases your chances of pregnancy but also gives your child the strongest start in life.