By: Kayla Lowe
Close your eyes & let’s take a trip back to middle school. How are you feeling? What are your initial thoughts?
Middle school is a time of uncertainty, of finding your friends, and trying to fit in. Hormones are running wild and there is a nervousness about beginning sex ed classes and hearing horror stories about high school. I was shy and soft spoken. On top of all of this I had some horrible acne and my body was starting to change. After starting my period, hair started growing under my chin and I noticed the skin under my arms and around my legs was darkening. I played basketball and was self-conscious about what my teammates would think of me because my armpits were discolored. I would wear long sleeve shirts under my jersey to hide it. I would spend hours trying to scrub off the discoloration with several different products, but nothing seemed to work. I remember thinking, is this normal for a middle schooler? What is wrong with me?
I showed my mom the discoloration under my armpits and she suggested I go to the gynecologist to see what was going on. We called that day and made an appointment. As time was getting closer to my visit, I started googling my symptoms and only making my nerves worse. When we arrived at the doctor, the nurse called my name and my stomach instantly dropped. The doctor began by introducing herself and asking me the reason for my visit. I explained to her that I was experiencing painful, heavy periods, excess hair growth and skin darkening and discoloration under my arms and around my legs. She did a physical assessment to check for the symptoms I described. Then, the nurse took my blood. That was it. She told me we would get a call in a few days regarding the results of my blood test.
A few days later my mom got a call back that I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). My mom was instructed to go to the pharmacy and pick up the medicine I was prescribed to treat my PCOS. My mom came home and told me I had been prescribed birth control pills. My first thought instantly went back to my sex ed course where we were told birth control pills were used to prevent pregnancy. I immediately thought to myself, “I am not sexually active, why am I being prescribed birth control? What are my friends going to think? Is this normal?” No one explained to me what PCOS is, or why I was being prescribed birth control to help treat it. I was left to research for myself.
What I found is, PCOS is actually very common. It is a hormonal imbalance that can cause painful periods, excess hair growth, acne and darkening under the arms and around the inner thighs. The severity and symptoms of PCOS can be different for each individual. PCOS is also one of the most common causes of female infertility, affecting between 6-12% of US women of reproductive age (CDC, 2020). The good news is that there are several medications that can help manage some of the symptoms of PCOS, including birth control.
A common misconception is that birth control pills are only used to prevent pregnancy. However, hormonal birth control methods have many other benefits. In addition to preventing pregnancy, birth control pills can be used for regulating periods, easing painful cramps, controlling acne, and treating medical conditions such as PCOS (Bedsider, 2020).
If I could go back in time and talk to my middle school self, I would tell myself to breathe. It will be okay. I wish my doctor would have taken the time to fully explain to me what PCOS is, and how birth control can treat it. I felt like I was alone and had nobody to talk to. I was embarrassed to discuss my condition with my friends and family. Since middle school, I have learned that reproductive and sexual health are a natural part of life and should not be shamed or stigmatized. I am now a Health Promotion Specialist at the Kentucky River District Health Department and an ambassador for All Access EKY. I am passionate about educating young people across Eastern Kentucky on how they can find access and the resources they need for contraceptives. I want all young people to know that it is your right to know about your body. Do not be afraid to ask questions and find a healthcare provider that you trust and are comfortable with.
References
Bedsider (n.d.). 5 reasons people use (and love) birth control. Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://www.bedsider.org/features/1180-5-reasons-people-use-and-love-birth-control
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Diabetes. (2020, March 24). Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/pcos.html