Women go through many challenging things in their life, from puberty to motherhood and juggling responsibilities at home and at work.
Additionally, many women also suffer from certain medical conditions that can be great hurdles in their productivity and overall quality of life.
One of these is polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, which many of us are slowly becoming aware of.
You may have recently heard of a friend, co-worker or family member being diagnosed with PCOS. But what is it really?
PCOS is a condition where a woman has high levels of male hormones, which prevents the ovaries from producing hormones and creating eggs normally.
The lack of ovulation or monthly release of an egg from the ovary then causes infertility in women with PCOS.
According to 'Pinoy MD' resident OB-GYN, Dr. Raul M. Quillamor, the three telltale signs that a woman has PCOS: irregular periods, polycystic ovaries, and excess androgen.
If you have at least two of these, you probably may have PCOS.
Moreover, Dr. Quillamor said that abnormal uterine bleeding could also be another sign that you may have PCOS.
It can either be that you have heavy or light bleeding, or it can alternate between the two.
The high levels of androgens--specifically estrogen--and low levels of progesterone is the culprit for heavy bleeding.
This leads to the thickening of the uterus lining called endometrium and can potentially up the chances of the women to have a miscarriage, since it can make the implantation of the embryo difficult.
And even when women with PCOS get pregnant, there could still be challenges ahead, because they are at an increased risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and other complications.
It is truly difficult to through PCOS, especially for women who wish to have children.
But the good news is, it's not an insurmountable mountain.
If you or someone you know are going through this challenging journey, you can take inspiration from Filipino celebrities who were also diagnosed with PCOS in the gallery below.
'Eat Bulaga' Dabarkads Pauleen Luna-Sotto is one of the celebrities who opened up about her PCOS diagnosis.
In an Instagram post, Pauleen Luna said that although her progress in her fitness journey may be a slow one because of her battle with PCOS, she believes in celebrating small wins.
Actress Nadine Samonte has also been open about her pregnancy struggles due to PCOS.
Nadine Samonte is now pregnant with her third child and reveals that she “still have PCOS and mostly APAS.” Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APAS) is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly makes antibodies that up the chances of having blood clots in the veins and arteries. Hence, daily medication is needed.
'Unang Hirit' host Luane Dy reveals having several complications during her pregnancy due to PCOS.
Luane Dy considers her first pregnancy a miracle because she battled a slew of PCOS complications such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, and hemorrhages.
Former actress and TV host Cindy Kurleto reveals that she had to make an extreme lifestyle change after being diagnosed with PCOS.
During the peak of her showbiz career, Cindy Kurleto was diagnosed with PCOS and was advised to slow down by her doctor. She narrated during her 'Just In' interview, “I was maxed out. Then, the doctor told me, 'Your hormones are going crazy. You need to rest if you want to have a chance at family life, at motherhood. You need to give your body some relaxing energy.'"
Bossa nova singer Sitti Navarro is currently pregnant with her second child and considers it a miracle because, just like Nadine Samonte, she has both PCOS and APAS.
In April, Sitti Navarro revealed in an Instagram post that she went through an open surgery during her 13th week of pregnancy to remove a huge ovarian cyst.
Host of Eat Bulaga's Bida Voice: Shy Singing Competition, Inka Magnaye, admitted that she has been battling PCOS since she was 18 years old.
On May 23, 2020, KC Concepcion revealed in Tim Yap's online show that she was diagnosed with PCOS and it was causing her to gain weight.
In April 2022, actress Cai Cortez opened up about her struggle with PCOS. She revealed that the condition triggered her acne breakout.