I have a friend with PCOS and she can grow a whole beard. She's actually getting a surgery to have the hair follicles removed. It's been getting her misgendered a lot, which as many of us know, feels awful when it happens so frequently. I'm a trans man myself, and I find it really interesting for the two of us to have such similar problems, just in the opposite direction. When we go out together we generally get gendered the same, which means one of us ends up misgendered.
I had a similar conversation with my friend who's also a trans man and he was like, "Can we just swap our hormone profiles please?" He's now 2.5ish months on T! Good luck for your friend!
32:40 What Leena said about women who lost a lot of pregnancies who might have had undiagnosed PCOS just BLEW MY MIND ! My mother and her mother and her grandmother all had troubles with miscarriages… I had never put two and two together
thank you so much for talking about this! only 30 minutes in, so no idea if it'll be discussed later, but it's such a weird messy label for it to be then something that can be triggered or worsened by chronic stress and trauma. i have cptsd and am involved with lots of different groups of trauma survivors, and so many of these people who are afab have in the past or are currently dealing with PCOS or have related issues because chronic survival mode wreaks havoc on your body, especially hormonally. also sending so much love and gratitude to leena for sharing her experience. younger leena didn't deserve to be treated the way she was by medical professionals and i'm so glad you recognise the harm and horror in that as an adult.
looking at it from both sides, as a fat person with a history of bulimia and BED and still being in recovery but also having PCOS and insulin resistance, its very hard to find balance between mental and phisical health but if anything, the body positve community has helped me with that and I never felt any pressure from them to eat unhealthy lol only to love my body and what its doing for me everyday and stop punishing it with binging cicles and dieting
What Leena said about contraceptive pills ruining relationships is absolutely true. I was put on a different pill after giving birth. I was experiencing mood swings and depressive episodes as well as irregular periods. Even 18 months later when any post partum hormones should have settled. Asked to go back on the pill I was on before having my child and I've been back to normal. It's definitely worth being aware that there are different pills and you need to find the one that works for you. Hormones are wild
Yep, I have PCOS. Last I checked, I have one cyst on one Ovary. However, I have had other symptoms like dysmennoreah, intermittently for atleast 8 years, but I always had slightly irregular, abnormally spaced apart periods ever since I hit menarche. I dont have excess body hair, or hair loss, thankfully. I am on medication for it, but due to my mental health I wont touch birth control, I tried it when I first got diagnosed and it was a nightmare. I felt dysphoric in a way I havent since junior high, my body chemistry just felt, wrong. It was so disruptive for me that months after stopping it I still felt a bit off compared to before I started it. Every pill carries real risks. Its always a judgement call. I recommend always going home and doing research before taking any perscribed medication. Im a, slightly closeted Nonbinary person, who publically mostly lives as a woman, because thats what people assume and I dont feel safe where I live to tell the truth outside of close friends and family. I have a lot of pelvic pain, periods are awful and exhausting and cause moodswings, and I am apparently not able to get pregnant without at least a lot of medical assistance, but I have a 15 year old transman son, so I am okay with not having anymore. My partner of 12 years is Agender but like me publically identifies as what people assume they are, which others assume they are a guy. We are, if privately, very proud of our trans triad family.
I've heard some people say that PCOS is under consideration for being seen as a type of intersex condition because it has more to do with hormones than cysts. I know about 6 people with the condition, and it seems to affect people differently. I know two sisters, one with it one without, and they look totally different in terms of body shape due to the hormone differences, while I know another set of sisters where they both appear similar, so it makes sense that there are different kinds so to speak. I also relate to the family being similar so they dismiss you kind of thing. Pretty much all of my cousins have ADHD/autism, my maternal grandfather shows a lot of signs of it, my dad is dyslexic, so my struggles with numbers, letters, attention, and memory were seen as pretty normal. But after my diagnosis, my mom started to see the signs in her dad, so I think we must have gotten it from him.
as for "categories" and "is it intersex" --- i think that the argument for it being considered intersex is for activism and community. the more people we can include, the more visibility, the more we're taken seriously. if everyone knew that they know someone who's intersex and that it's actually not a big deal, we might be able to make some real change around how intersex people are treated.
Thank you for shedding more light on thus, I wish sex ed in school had focussed more on common reproductive health issues, because I learnt absolutely nothing in school about what is and isn't normal when it comes to menstruation-related symptoms. I was recently diagnosed with PMDD (maybe a topic for another episode?) at 22 after spending years thinking I was just dramatic/"weak" and needed to suck it up
I relate to the horrible ultrasound story where the doctor presses really hard on your full-to-bursting bladder. At one point, it got so painful I swore under my breath and got reprimanded by this male doctor because swearing is unladylike...... That was only one of the reasons why I strongly disliked this doctor and experience, to the point where I burst into tears as soon as I got home.
That was a very interesting episode. I knew very little about PCOS before having only heard the term in passing. I now know at least a little bit more. So that's really cool :) Thank you, SciGuys & leenanorms!
I have PCO but not PCOS due to hormonal issues that lower estrogen and progesterone while testosterone is often slightly too high. So my body tries to start a cycle but isn't really able to which leads to having pms without a period over and over again. Hormones can be so frustrating.
weeeeeee thank u sm for doing an episode on this! i was literally JUST doing some research as this notification popped up so that was a weird coincidence. i was tested for pcos a couple of years ago and the results were inconclusive, but i'm still struggling with the symptoms so i'm hoping this will put me a bit at ease about looking into it again!
it's so interesting to me that while you don't have to have cysts to have PCOS, the reverse can also be true. I have many cysts on my ovaries, but my gynaecologist is hesitant to diagnose me with PCOS because I don't have the rest of the characteristics!
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 18 or 19 years old but I had been flagging this problem to my doctors from the age of 14, but the doctors just told me I was either still growing and offer the Pill or that I was overweight and give me Weight Watchers vouchers (both options very bad for my mental health). I am now in my late 20s and on Metformin which helps but doesn't resolve the overall problem. From my experience I tend to be treated as someone with diabetes (which I don't have) as I think doctors know more on that condition than PCOS.
Ugh this "treatment plan" must be universal. I was "diagnosed" at 16 but because of my age they were like, "Well, it could just be that you have more follicles because you're young, so we'll put you down as 'suspected(?)' and treat your symptoms anyway." Ignored that I literally have a first aunt with it who's related to me and that I met the 2/3 criteria anyway. I've been on the pill for almost a year and my periods still don't come until 3-4 days on the sugar pills :/ But best of luck to you and I hope some much needed research into PCOS happens soon.
Diagnosed at 15. In my adult years I’ve been diagnosed with PMDD, MDD, BPD and Anxiety. All stem from my PCOS and what it’s done to self esteem. Ruined my life completely.
I’ve got pcos and I’m a biological woman never got offered free treatment to get rid of facial hair ! On nhs :( my transgender neighbour, got free treatment for facial hair. don’t get how that’s fair 😢
Here's a fun fact: there have been studies about whether or not transmasc folk have a higher likelihood of PCOS. One says yes, another says no so it is unfortunately inconclusive due to study size and clinical diagnosis criteria, but there will likely be more studies in the future as there has been links between prenatal androgen exposure and gender identity, so hyperandrogenism in syndromes like PCOS should be studied as well.
Tbh, I got diagnosed with pcos a while after college. It made so much sense to me, because I never felt like a man or a woman. And eventually found the term non-binary. I’ve had pcos symptoms basically as soon as I hit puberty. Nobody caught it. I was just, hairy. And my mom taught me to shave and pluck and nair. So I’d love to hear and see more studies on pcos and impacts on gender, and Vice versa!
To answear your question, yes, I do have PCOS. And baaad insulin resistance, which often comes together. I have to take meds for both :I Getting a diagnosis took me many years cause gynecologists are fatphobic af, one guy even told me I have PCOS but only said I have to lose weight, I had to spent a lot of money to go to a known gyne oncologist to finally get a diagnosis and treatment and he told me a lot of my hormones are basically... f*cked and that my last "period" was a bleeding from a cervix and I have severe anemia from loosing blood :'))) Now I have regular periods because of my meds with progesterone, came out of anemia and my ovaries look way better according to my doctor. I'm still bitter about what it took to get there, not gonna lie
Yes, I have PCOS and I've been waiting for you to cover this for months! I was considering becoming a patron just so I could request this as an episode topic (I most likely will become one at some point anyways). I'll wait to listen the episode on spotify at work tomorrow, super excited for that :) I already know a fair bit about it but I'm curious to see if I'll get to learn something new with the episode.
I was tested for PCOS in June 2022, and as someone who is agender, it's been an interesting experience for me. I believe that my pcos in some way may have shaped my experience of and expression with gender. I'm currently waiting for an appointment with my Dr to talk about the more masculine/androgynous features that I miss since going on BC (birth control). But honestly BC has been a lifesaver for me. I had incredibly irregular (lasting at least 9-10 days, one time up to a month) and really heavy/varied periods, features that may suggest hyperandrogenism, and an ultrasound that found many cysts on my ovaries. Although some things you might've missed as symptoms (at least that I saw, it's really difficult to find consistent or even any helpful info on pcos) are hyperpigmentation around the neck, armpits and groin, and having a late start to puberty (age 15 for me). (CW for kinda gross stuff/side effects) When I first went on birth control, I got some rare side effects that caused me to wake up at 5am nauseous, eventually leading to me spewing from both ends (sorry you had to read that) and in turn taking gravol daily. Then, while on the same BC, I had the most painful period cramps I've had in my life and was crying and squishing a hot waterbottle into my stomach to just shift the pain. But I was put on a BC with lesser hormones soon after, which has honestly changed my life. I don't have to deal with the exhaustion of dealing with long heavy periods, and have much less period fatigue. Anyways, just wanted to share my experience but thank you guys so much for talking about this. Luckily I was diagnosed "early" (at age 18), and managed to get treated for it, but the info about it is so minimal and hard to find, and the afab people that this affects are wildly underdiagnosed. Seriously thank you a ton for speaking on this subject.
I got tested for it because I had some imbalanaced hormones, and if it weren't for the pain, I wouldn't have minded. I can't take BC because of other medical conditions, so I just manage by taking two painkillers together that my doctor prescribed. But I don't have PCOS, I don't have a diagnosis for anything that explains it at this point. I thought about taking testosterone because it would fix a few issues I have, but I don't want all of the body changes it would cause.
I've waltzed upon a similar thought about how my gender has "evolved" due to me being treated for PCOS. I'm currently on Yazmin btw. But I totally get the want to be masculine or androgynous! I can't say being on the pill has "feminised" me in any way but hormonally, but I do feel more comfortable (could be a multitude of reasons, though) and have been exploring androgyny more. I've currently got the (perhaps) stereotypical above the shoulders, combed back like a Mafioso enby hair style that I can best replicate with my frizzy hair and I really like it and what I'm working towards in my personal gender expression goals. Good luck!
@@dovestone_ I had wanted to get tested, but with the wait times here, my doctor said it wouldn't be useful. So I saw a dietitian specializing in hormones and how nutrients affect them. Not the most researched area, but I was getting full on flu symptoms every month for the first day of my period, and I could not function that way. I explained what was going on, answered a lot of questions, and we came up with a few things to try after going over the research together. I'm glad the risk paid off, as I no longer have such painful days. Although changing to period products that are either organic, or reusable, has also helped a lot, as I'm highly sensitive to a lot of chemicals used in the plastic based pads.
Oh boy, Luke, thank you for being mad about badly named diagnoses. Like, inflammatory bowel disease is an issue with mucous production bodywide. Eye damage, histamine overactivity, muscle generation issues, skin strength, and much more, oh and also the namesake too i guess.
I'd recommend to anyone wanting to know more, like myself (diagnosed at 29 y.o.), for the Directives to Diagnose and Treat PCOS (can't share the file here, but you can find it online).
I don’t know why but the transition music scares the shit out of me. I’m not new to watching this podcast (I’m a big fan!) but for some reason it always startles me! 😂
I was diagnosed with PCOS when trying to conceive - I have always been asymptomatic. My hormone levels were within normal limits, but they said the ratio of the hormones were indicative of PCOS. After stopping hormonal contraceptives it took quite a while to get a normal cycle, but having been off b.c. for 7 years I'm still asymptomatic. It's such a weird diagnosis.
This blows my mind. I am so glad it was spoken about. I was early diagnosed with pcos told I was fat and informed not to worry I am not turning into a man - cue my gender and identity issues 😅. I had beyond irregular periods that felt like I was bleeding out as well as the excessive hair, more masculine fat distribution and diabetes, alongside I believe 2 cysts on my ovaries. I was so confused and conflicted because I felt like I was being told I had to be fixed that I didn't take any medication and I struggled to lose weight which unfortunately (alongside other problems) most likely contributed to me developing cancer last year 😢 . On the issue of pcos being an intersex condition I think I prefer your term of a variation because I picture it, as you described, on a spectrum because I was told by one doctor I have an elevated testosterone level for a woman but not for a man! It is obviously a major contributor to my gender dysphoria but I don't actually know if transition would improve my general health and wellbeing or if I took the medication to treat the pcos I would then be content in my gender assigned at birth. Any thoughts and advice appreciated. Great episode btw and thank you.
Is PCOS an illness? Yes!!! I had severe cramping and terrible bleeding that lasted for weeks. The only thing that stopped it was continuous bc that kept me from having a period at all. Twenty years later, I almost died from a PE that may or not have been at least somewhat caused by the bc. After my pulmonogist vetoed all forms of hormonal bc, my gyno performed an ablation in combination with a salpingectomy. Don't even get me started on the luxurious beard I can grow if I don't shave twice a day. Any condition that causes you misery for 30 years can safely be called an illness, and you can't politically-correct your way around that. I am a woman with extremely screwed up hormones, not a gender nonconforming person who just needs to love their body the way it is.
PCOS, Adenomyosis and stage 2 endometriosis! fun times xD I think this is AFAB Metabolic syndrome, or Insulin resistance Metformin helps! see an endocrinologist. AFAB present insulin resistance in different ways then AMAB. Insulin resistance is also called, "pre-pre-diabetes".
Thank you for this episode. I have PCOS and I’ve really struggled with hirsutism (unwanted facial hair), and managing my weight is also difficult with PCOS, but I don’t know if I have cysts on my ovaries because I’ve never had an ultrasound. (Though I have no evidence, I personally believe it can be triggered from the hormones they put in cow milk and force children to drink in their puberty years. I REALLY wish there was more scientific studies done on the effects of feeding children growth hormones through the consumption of milk from cows fed growth hormones).
My syndrome has had a name change with in my diagnostic life time. It was once known as RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and now it's CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) neither are particularly good descriptors of what it is though CRPS is a bit closer. I described it as my brain forgot where the off switch for the pain signal is when I get a moderate injury (sprain, burn, surgery, etc). So a name change for clarification is possible.
I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was like 14 or 15. it was mainly because I had more body hair for the amount AFAB people usually have and I got my period only 3 times a year. because of another health condition, I can't take the pills they usually prescribe, so I got literal testosterone blockers. it's really funny considering that I'm transmasc and need to go through a way longer process to get HRT in the trans way.
I was diagnosed when I was 16 and have been on the pill for almost a year now, but both brands I've tried haven't helped regulate my periods and it's still taking 3-4 "sugar pill" days for them to be brought on. The issue is that I then need to be put on a higher dosage but I'm also newly exploring my closeted transmasc identity. I wouldn't say being on the pill has made me more dysphoric than the normal background amount and I don't agree with the terminology on its "feminising" traits, but now I'm having to think about the consequences of coming off of the pill and explaining why I chose to do so to family, because to them it essentially sounds like I'm choosing to be infertile and that's not something I'm ready to discuss with them as I'm still a minor where I live but being older than 16, have gained body autonomy. Anyway, we haven't received the same medical care but I get what it's like because now I've possibly caused irreversible damage to my body due to these hormones I don't want to be on and I may not even be able to go on TRT because of this and other factors. It's exhausting but I hope you get the outcomes you're hoping for. Stay strong, dude :)
very interesting, thank you:) i have endometriosis and they did, in fact, laser my insides a little (dont know if it worked yet but i got a cool bellybutton scar from it)
The only thing i disagree with is that: we shouldn't be treated but just given time off work. With my periods i physically cannot walk, i am forced to stay off as i genuinelyy cannot leave the house. The pain is so unbearable that I look like I'm in labour and throw up from the pain that i really need powerful painkillers and for the drugs to keep being developed. But other than that, thank you so much. I'm glad you've highlighted how stupid the binary of gender is.
that's never been the point of the pocast? most people they bring on who are affected by the thing they're talking about don't have science backgrounds, that's why corry does research beforehand? the point of having here there is to get the personal perspective of someone who has it, not to have someone rehash the same thing corry is saying
@@user-es7ui5mc1m I see, makes sense then. It was the first video I have seen from this UA-camr and it gave me the impression that it was supposed to be someone educated on the subject matter. It’s perfectly understandable to have someone talk about their experience. I have PCOS and I have heard way too many supposed “experts” on healing it, hence my skepticism. I did not watch more than 5 minutes of the video
Thanks for having me lads, always a pleasure!
Any time!
I have a friend with PCOS and she can grow a whole beard. She's actually getting a surgery to have the hair follicles removed. It's been getting her misgendered a lot, which as many of us know, feels awful when it happens so frequently. I'm a trans man myself, and I find it really interesting for the two of us to have such similar problems, just in the opposite direction. When we go out together we generally get gendered the same, which means one of us ends up misgendered.
I had a similar conversation with my friend who's also a trans man and he was like, "Can we just swap our hormone profiles please?" He's now 2.5ish months on T! Good luck for your friend!
What is the surgery? I thought that electrolysis was the only option?
@@chicchi19771 Yes, it's electrolysis lol. We call it "face surgery" as a joke but I forgot it isn't actually.
32:40 What Leena said about women who lost a lot of pregnancies who might have had undiagnosed PCOS just BLEW MY MIND ! My mother and her mother and her grandmother all had troubles with miscarriages… I had never put two and two together
thank you so much for talking about this!
only 30 minutes in, so no idea if it'll be discussed later, but it's such a weird messy label for it to be then something that can be triggered or worsened by chronic stress and trauma. i have cptsd and am involved with lots of different groups of trauma survivors, and so many of these people who are afab have in the past or are currently dealing with PCOS or have related issues because chronic survival mode wreaks havoc on your body, especially hormonally.
also sending so much love and gratitude to leena for sharing her experience. younger leena didn't deserve to be treated the way she was by medical professionals and i'm so glad you recognise the harm and horror in that as an adult.
Wow I didn’t know this and I have both CPTSD and PCOS and honestly the way you explained it makes so much sense. Thank you!
@@unionunicorn6776 so glad it resonates with you!
looking at it from both sides, as a fat person with a history of bulimia and BED and still being in recovery but also having PCOS and insulin resistance, its very hard to find balance between mental and phisical health but if anything, the body positve community has helped me with that and I never felt any pressure from them to eat unhealthy lol only to love my body and what its doing for me everyday and stop punishing it with binging cicles and dieting
What Leena said about contraceptive pills ruining relationships is absolutely true. I was put on a different pill after giving birth. I was experiencing mood swings and depressive episodes as well as irregular periods. Even 18 months later when any post partum hormones should have settled. Asked to go back on the pill I was on before having my child and I've been back to normal. It's definitely worth being aware that there are different pills and you need to find the one that works for you. Hormones are wild
Yep, I have PCOS. Last I checked, I have one cyst on one Ovary. However, I have had other symptoms like dysmennoreah, intermittently for atleast 8 years, but I always had slightly irregular, abnormally spaced apart periods ever since I hit menarche. I dont have excess body hair, or hair loss, thankfully. I am on medication for it, but due to my mental health I wont touch birth control, I tried it when I first got diagnosed and it was a nightmare. I felt dysphoric in a way I havent since junior high, my body chemistry just felt, wrong. It was so disruptive for me that months after stopping it I still felt a bit off compared to before I started it. Every pill carries real risks. Its always a judgement call. I recommend always going home and doing research before taking any perscribed medication.
Im a, slightly closeted Nonbinary person, who publically mostly lives as a woman, because thats what people assume and I dont feel safe where I live to tell the truth outside of close friends and family. I have a lot of pelvic pain, periods are awful and exhausting and cause moodswings, and I am apparently not able to get pregnant without at least a lot of medical assistance, but I have a 15 year old transman son, so I am okay with not having anymore. My partner of 12 years is Agender but like me publically identifies as what people assume they are, which others assume they are a guy. We are, if privately, very proud of our trans triad family.
I'm so happy about this episode! I have pcos and have wanted to see you guys talk about it since the first podcast I've seen from you all
I've heard some people say that PCOS is under consideration for being seen as a type of intersex condition because it has more to do with hormones than cysts. I know about 6 people with the condition, and it seems to affect people differently. I know two sisters, one with it one without, and they look totally different in terms of body shape due to the hormone differences, while I know another set of sisters where they both appear similar, so it makes sense that there are different kinds so to speak.
I also relate to the family being similar so they dismiss you kind of thing. Pretty much all of my cousins have ADHD/autism, my maternal grandfather shows a lot of signs of it, my dad is dyslexic, so my struggles with numbers, letters, attention, and memory were seen as pretty normal. But after my diagnosis, my mom started to see the signs in her dad, so I think we must have gotten it from him.
as for "categories" and "is it intersex" --- i think that the argument for it being considered intersex is for activism and community. the more people we can include, the more visibility, the more we're taken seriously. if everyone knew that they know someone who's intersex and that it's actually not a big deal, we might be able to make some real change around how intersex people are treated.
I have ADHD and I love the way you guys talk about it!!! Thank you ❤️
Thank you for shedding more light on thus, I wish sex ed in school had focussed more on common reproductive health issues, because I learnt absolutely nothing in school about what is and isn't normal when it comes to menstruation-related symptoms. I was recently diagnosed with PMDD (maybe a topic for another episode?) at 22 after spending years thinking I was just dramatic/"weak" and needed to suck it up
I relate to the horrible ultrasound story where the doctor presses really hard on your full-to-bursting bladder. At one point, it got so painful I swore under my breath and got reprimanded by this male doctor because swearing is unladylike...... That was only one of the reasons why I strongly disliked this doctor and experience, to the point where I burst into tears as soon as I got home.
That was a very interesting episode. I knew very little about PCOS before having only heard the term in passing. I now know at least a little bit more. So that's really cool :) Thank you, SciGuys & leenanorms!
I have PCO but not PCOS due to hormonal issues that lower estrogen and progesterone while testosterone is often slightly too high. So my body tries to start a cycle but isn't really able to which leads to having pms without a period over and over again. Hormones can be so frustrating.
Wow leena is HILARIOUS her sense of humor yesss
weeeeeee thank u sm for doing an episode on this! i was literally JUST doing some research as this notification popped up so that was a weird coincidence. i was tested for pcos a couple of years ago and the results were inconclusive, but i'm still struggling with the symptoms so i'm hoping this will put me a bit at ease about looking into it again!
it's so interesting to me that while you don't have to have cysts to have PCOS, the reverse can also be true. I have many cysts on my ovaries, but my gynaecologist is hesitant to diagnose me with PCOS because I don't have the rest of the characteristics!
Another incredibly interesting episode with a great guest!
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 18 or 19 years old but I had been flagging this problem to my doctors from the age of 14, but the doctors just told me I was either still growing and offer the Pill or that I was overweight and give me Weight Watchers vouchers (both options very bad for my mental health). I am now in my late 20s and on Metformin which helps but doesn't resolve the overall problem. From my experience I tend to be treated as someone with diabetes (which I don't have) as I think doctors know more on that condition than PCOS.
Ugh this "treatment plan" must be universal. I was "diagnosed" at 16 but because of my age they were like, "Well, it could just be that you have more follicles because you're young, so we'll put you down as 'suspected(?)' and treat your symptoms anyway." Ignored that I literally have a first aunt with it who's related to me and that I met the 2/3 criteria anyway. I've been on the pill for almost a year and my periods still don't come until 3-4 days on the sugar pills :/ But best of luck to you and I hope some much needed research into PCOS happens soon.
It’s way too common and way too excepted to throw around “the pill” handing it out to young women like it’s skittles.
Love Lena so much and the subject is fascinating. Really good episode :)
Diagnosed at 15. In my adult years I’ve been diagnosed with PMDD, MDD, BPD and Anxiety. All stem from my PCOS and what it’s done to self esteem. Ruined my life completely.
I’ve got pcos and I’m a biological woman never got offered free treatment to get rid of facial hair ! On nhs :( my transgender neighbour, got free treatment for facial hair. don’t get how that’s fair 😢
I always wished the insurance would cover that for us.
Here's a fun fact: there have been studies about whether or not transmasc folk have a higher likelihood of PCOS. One says yes, another says no so it is unfortunately inconclusive due to study size and clinical diagnosis criteria, but there will likely be more studies in the future as there has been links between prenatal androgen exposure and gender identity, so hyperandrogenism in syndromes like PCOS should be studied as well.
Tbh, I got diagnosed with pcos a while after college. It made so much sense to me, because I never felt like a man or a woman. And eventually found the term non-binary. I’ve had pcos symptoms basically as soon as I hit puberty. Nobody caught it. I was just, hairy. And my mom taught me to shave and pluck and nair. So I’d love to hear and see more studies on pcos and impacts on gender, and Vice versa!
To answear your question, yes, I do have PCOS. And baaad insulin resistance, which often comes together. I have to take meds for both :I Getting a diagnosis took me many years cause gynecologists are fatphobic af, one guy even told me I have PCOS but only said I have to lose weight, I had to spent a lot of money to go to a known gyne oncologist to finally get a diagnosis and treatment and he told me a lot of my hormones are basically... f*cked and that my last "period" was a bleeding from a cervix and I have severe anemia from loosing blood :'))) Now I have regular periods because of my meds with progesterone, came out of anemia and my ovaries look way better according to my doctor. I'm still bitter about what it took to get there, not gonna lie
at least PCOS gave me a silly little happy trail
Yes, I have PCOS and I've been waiting for you to cover this for months! I was considering becoming a patron just so I could request this as an episode topic (I most likely will become one at some point anyways). I'll wait to listen the episode on spotify at work tomorrow, super excited for that :)
I already know a fair bit about it but I'm curious to see if I'll get to learn something new with the episode.
I was tested for PCOS in June 2022, and as someone who is agender, it's been an interesting experience for me. I believe that my pcos in some way may have shaped my experience of and expression with gender. I'm currently waiting for an appointment with my Dr to talk about the more masculine/androgynous features that I miss since going on BC (birth control). But honestly BC has been a lifesaver for me. I had incredibly irregular (lasting at least 9-10 days, one time up to a month) and really heavy/varied periods, features that may suggest hyperandrogenism, and an ultrasound that found many cysts on my ovaries. Although some things you might've missed as symptoms (at least that I saw, it's really difficult to find consistent or even any helpful info on pcos) are hyperpigmentation around the neck, armpits and groin, and having a late start to puberty (age 15 for me).
(CW for kinda gross stuff/side effects)
When I first went on birth control, I got some rare side effects that caused me to wake up at 5am nauseous, eventually leading to me spewing from both ends (sorry you had to read that) and in turn taking gravol daily. Then, while on the same BC, I had the most painful period cramps I've had in my life and was crying and squishing a hot waterbottle into my stomach to just shift the pain. But I was put on a BC with lesser hormones soon after, which has honestly changed my life. I don't have to deal with the exhaustion of dealing with long heavy periods, and have much less period fatigue.
Anyways, just wanted to share my experience but thank you guys so much for talking about this. Luckily I was diagnosed "early" (at age 18), and managed to get treated for it, but the info about it is so minimal and hard to find, and the afab people that this affects are wildly underdiagnosed. Seriously thank you a ton for speaking on this subject.
I got tested for it because I had some imbalanaced hormones, and if it weren't for the pain, I wouldn't have minded. I can't take BC because of other medical conditions, so I just manage by taking two painkillers together that my doctor prescribed. But I don't have PCOS, I don't have a diagnosis for anything that explains it at this point. I thought about taking testosterone because it would fix a few issues I have, but I don't want all of the body changes it would cause.
I've waltzed upon a similar thought about how my gender has "evolved" due to me being treated for PCOS. I'm currently on Yazmin btw. But I totally get the want to be masculine or androgynous! I can't say being on the pill has "feminised" me in any way but hormonally, but I do feel more comfortable (could be a multitude of reasons, though) and have been exploring androgyny more. I've currently got the (perhaps) stereotypical above the shoulders, combed back like a Mafioso enby hair style that I can best replicate with my frizzy hair and I really like it and what I'm working towards in my personal gender expression goals. Good luck!
@@joylox how did you find out you have Imbalanced hormones? I’ve always thought my hormones are probably out of whack
@@dovestone_ I had wanted to get tested, but with the wait times here, my doctor said it wouldn't be useful. So I saw a dietitian specializing in hormones and how nutrients affect them. Not the most researched area, but I was getting full on flu symptoms every month for the first day of my period, and I could not function that way. I explained what was going on, answered a lot of questions, and we came up with a few things to try after going over the research together. I'm glad the risk paid off, as I no longer have such painful days. Although changing to period products that are either organic, or reusable, has also helped a lot, as I'm highly sensitive to a lot of chemicals used in the plastic based pads.
great episode!! touched on so many different topics, and love leena!
I have PCOS and that is why I have been suggesting and voting for this episode got weeks!!! So glad its here ♡
Watching this a few months after i have been told i have pcos looking forward to Learning more about it
Oh boy, Luke, thank you for being mad about badly named diagnoses. Like, inflammatory bowel disease is an issue with mucous production bodywide. Eye damage, histamine overactivity, muscle generation issues, skin strength, and much more, oh and also the namesake too i guess.
Oh my god WHAT a discussion. Amazing. And a great guest :)
I'd recommend to anyone wanting to know more, like myself (diagnosed at 29 y.o.), for the Directives to Diagnose and Treat PCOS (can't share the file here, but you can find it online).
I don’t know why but the transition music scares the shit out of me. I’m not new to watching this podcast (I’m a big fan!) but for some reason it always startles me! 😂
PCOS .. yes it is an illness ……. You feel physically unwell and functioning is difficult.
I was diagnosed with PCOS when trying to conceive - I have always been asymptomatic. My hormone levels were within normal limits, but they said the ratio of the hormones were indicative of PCOS. After stopping hormonal contraceptives it took quite a while to get a normal cycle, but having been off b.c. for 7 years I'm still asymptomatic. It's such a weird diagnosis.
This blows my mind. I am so glad it was spoken about. I was early diagnosed with pcos told I was fat and informed not to worry I am not turning into a man - cue my gender and identity issues 😅. I had beyond irregular periods that felt like I was bleeding out as well as the excessive hair, more masculine fat distribution and diabetes, alongside I believe 2 cysts on my ovaries. I was so confused and conflicted because I felt like I was being told I had to be fixed that I didn't take any medication and I struggled to lose weight which unfortunately (alongside other problems) most likely contributed to me developing cancer last year 😢 .
On the issue of pcos being an intersex condition I think I prefer your term of a variation because I picture it, as you described, on a spectrum because I was told by one doctor I have an elevated testosterone level for a woman but not for a man! It is obviously a major contributor to my gender dysphoria but I don't actually know if transition would improve my general health and wellbeing or if I took the medication to treat the pcos I would then be content in my gender assigned at birth. Any thoughts and advice appreciated. Great episode btw and thank you.
Hell Yeah! I love Leena!
I loved this episode. Thank you
I have pcos, I have majority of the symptoms
OMG my favorite youtuber on one of my favorite podcasts! 🤩
I just wanted to say: thank you for always including gender diverse people, I feel seen and safe with you ♥
Is PCOS an illness? Yes!!! I had severe cramping and terrible bleeding that lasted for weeks. The only thing that stopped it was continuous bc that kept me from having a period at all. Twenty years later, I almost died from a PE that may or not have been at least somewhat caused by the bc. After my pulmonogist vetoed all forms of hormonal bc, my gyno performed an ablation in combination with a salpingectomy. Don't even get me started on the luxurious beard I can grow if I don't shave twice a day. Any condition that causes you misery for 30 years can safely be called an illness, and you can't politically-correct your way around that. I am a woman with extremely screwed up hormones, not a gender nonconforming person who just needs to love their body the way it is.
My mum has pcos and I probably do, not been to doctors properly yet
PCOS, Adenomyosis and stage 2 endometriosis! fun times xD I think this is AFAB Metabolic syndrome, or Insulin resistance Metformin helps! see an endocrinologist. AFAB present insulin resistance in different ways then AMAB. Insulin resistance is also called, "pre-pre-diabetes".
Thank you for this episode. I have PCOS and I’ve really struggled with hirsutism (unwanted facial hair), and managing my weight is also difficult with PCOS, but I don’t know if I have cysts on my ovaries because I’ve never had an ultrasound. (Though I have no evidence, I personally believe it can be triggered from the hormones they put in cow milk and force children to drink in their puberty years. I REALLY wish there was more scientific studies done on the effects of feeding children growth hormones through the consumption of milk from cows fed growth hormones).
My syndrome has had a name change with in my diagnostic life time. It was once known as RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and now it's CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) neither are particularly good descriptors of what it is though CRPS is a bit closer. I described it as my brain forgot where the off switch for the pain signal is when I get a moderate injury (sprain, burn, surgery, etc). So a name change for clarification is possible.
I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was like 14 or 15. it was mainly because I had more body hair for the amount AFAB people usually have and I got my period only 3 times a year.
because of another health condition, I can't take the pills they usually prescribe, so I got literal testosterone blockers. it's really funny considering that I'm transmasc and need to go through a way longer process to get HRT in the trans way.
I was diagnosed when I was 16 and have been on the pill for almost a year now, but both brands I've tried haven't helped regulate my periods and it's still taking 3-4 "sugar pill" days for them to be brought on. The issue is that I then need to be put on a higher dosage but I'm also newly exploring my closeted transmasc identity. I wouldn't say being on the pill has made me more dysphoric than the normal background amount and I don't agree with the terminology on its "feminising" traits, but now I'm having to think about the consequences of coming off of the pill and explaining why I chose to do so to family, because to them it essentially sounds like I'm choosing to be infertile and that's not something I'm ready to discuss with them as I'm still a minor where I live but being older than 16, have gained body autonomy. Anyway, we haven't received the same medical care but I get what it's like because now I've possibly caused irreversible damage to my body due to these hormones I don't want to be on and I may not even be able to go on TRT because of this and other factors. It's exhausting but I hope you get the outcomes you're hoping for. Stay strong, dude :)
very interesting, thank you:) i have endometriosis and they did, in fact, laser my insides a little (dont know if it worked yet but i got a cool bellybutton scar from it)
The only thing i disagree with is that: we shouldn't be treated but just given time off work. With my periods i physically cannot walk, i am forced to stay off as i genuinelyy cannot leave the house. The pain is so unbearable that I look like I'm in labour and throw up from the pain that i really need powerful painkillers and for the drugs to keep being developed. But other than that, thank you so much. I'm glad you've highlighted how stupid the binary of gender is.
yes I do have PCOS
Just starting the ep and I'm hoping to see them talk about the correlation between trans men and pcos
Oo I love Leena Norms 😁
leena!
Omg love her
I have it! Fortunately hrt has fixed most of the problems I had with it
Cory, I love your shirt!! One of my favorite songs 💜
What the fuck!?!!!?? Leena was on scipod and I didn’t know till now !?!???? Omg what a crossover
Hairy ovaries would be ones with teraromas
Omg just at 4:44 and that is exactly how i pronounce pcos 😂
I don't but my partner does
Electrolysis is free in the NHS? Wow! Jealous American here!
the thumbnail image is terrible lol but great topic!
trans people share hormones a lot
deciding they youre going to pronounce pcos differently than every medical provider made this really hard to listen to. pee cee oh ess. not picos
Sorry, we’re a phonetic PCOS podcast
I stopped watching because I don’t think Leena Norm has a medical/science background and I’m not going to listen
that's never been the point of the pocast? most people they bring on who are affected by the thing they're talking about don't have science backgrounds, that's why corry does research beforehand? the point of having here there is to get the personal perspective of someone who has it, not to have someone rehash the same thing corry is saying
@@user-es7ui5mc1m I see, makes sense then. It was the first video I have seen from this UA-camr and it gave me the impression that it was supposed to be someone educated on the subject matter. It’s perfectly understandable to have someone talk about their experience. I have PCOS and I have heard way too many supposed “experts” on healing it, hence my skepticism. I did not watch more than 5 minutes of the video
@@joleengomez4126 you should really watch something before you leave smartass comments bro 🤦♂️