TW: This article discusses the illness Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a condition which affects 1 in 10 women, has for years gone undiagnosed for women across the globe.
Doctor and journalist Michael Mosely, is back with a brand new BBC show, ‘The Diagnosis Detectives’. Along with 12 leading medical experts from endocrinologists, to dermatologists, the show diagnoses conditions that have ‘left doctors baffled‘.
The third episode to the four part series found Hayley, a 26 year old suffering with a number of symptoms, including, hair loss and weight gain. After spending 8 years suffering with symptoms, it was up to the team of specialists to find an answer and delve deeper.
Throughout the show, many avenues are explored and each specialist was able to use a number of tests and observations to get a step closer to a diagnosis.
After seeing an endocrinologist, each of Hayley’s symptoms pointed out that it was something hormonal. Paired with fatigue, painful periods and skin discoloration pointing to insulin resistance, the symptoms indicated Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
“many women go completely undiagnosed”
The condition also known as PCOS, is characterised by three main symptoms; Irregular periods, heightened levels of male hormones causing excess body and facial hair. Other symptoms include weight gain, oily skin and acne, hair loss and difficulty getting pregnant. The cause is still unknown however the condition is related to high levels of insulin and abnormal hormone levels.
Getting a diagnosis earlier on is important as later on in life PCOS can be associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. There’s no known cure and many women go completely undiagnosed.
Are we missing the mark when it comes to female health?
For the specialists it only took a number of tests to diagnose Hayley’s condition; a condition that had left doctors baffled and took 8 years to diagnose.
“If you’re told so many times that there’s nothing wrong you, you start to believe it”.
Those living with PCOS can spend an average of 7.5 years waiting for a diagnosis. These 7.5 years can be spent taking medication to mask symptoms, visiting a number of different healthcare professionals and feeling like you aren’t being listened to.
For Hayley it was being believed that was so important, “If you’re told so many times that there’s nothing wrong you start to believe it. And then your family starts to doubt and I think that’s what really hurts.”
Waiting for a diagnosis can have a knock-on effect on an individuals mental health, “It’s definitely given me hope. I’ve had 8 years of people telling me there was nothing wrong with me at all and it was all in my head, which did a lot of damage up here.” says Hayley at the end of the show.
Could the BBC have done more?
The show, ‘Diagnostic Detectives’ is a step in the right direction when it comes to undiagnosed conditions. As one of the medical professionals says in the title sequence, “The first things the patients wants is to be believed, is to be heard…” Most importantly the show helps people find an answer they’ve fought hard to get. However for a majority of other people this is still a daily battle, with these people being forgotten during the Covid-19 pandemic.
When it comes to PCOS, endometriosis and other period conditions there isn’t enough awareness of not only the conditions themselves but how difficult it is for women to gain some kind of answer. In the past the BBC has shone a light on period conditions with BBC Scotland becoming an endometriosis friendly employer.
In general we need to raise more awareness of period and reproductive conditions. We need to shy away from recoiling whenever the word period is said and stop believing that periods are ‘dirty’. Gone are the days of hiding a pad up your sleeve and not taking your health seriously.
September is polycystic ovary syndrome awareness month and if like Hayley you have spent years undiagnosed, know that you have to keep fighting. Keep trying for answers and talking because someone will believe you.
Neve Gordon-Farleigh
Image credit courtesy of PixaBay Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
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