‘You’re Not Less of a Woman’: Lessons From a PCOS Warrior

Courtesy of Alexis Warren Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal condition that impacts millions of women worldwide, often leading to challenges with fertility and significant emotional and physical struggles.  The Start of the Journey For Alexis Warren, the journey first began in her teens.  “At the time, I didn’t know what was going on with my body. I believe I was around 16 or 17 when I stopped having regular cycles. Initially, I was put on birth control—Depo shots—to regulate things, but it didn’t really work for my body,” Warren tells BlackDoctor.org. Warren’s underlying condition remained misunderstood and undiagnosed for years. “We tried other types of pills with more estrogen, but the symptoms persisted. Sometimes, I would get cycles if I was stressed out, but then I would go months without having one. We never really knew what the issue was,” Warren adds.  At 20 years old, Warren finally learned what was happening with her body when a gynecologist diagnosed her with PCOS. “She said it sounded like PCOS. I had never heard of it before. She ran some bloodwork and other tests, and the results confirmed that I had PCOS,” Warren recalls.  This revelation left Warren grappling...