Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): a patient's perspective

Offering a patient's perspective, Julia Clough tells how she was finally diagnosed with PCOS in December 2001, aged 31. The diagnosis was a result of numerous visits to her GP regarding sleeplessness, anxiety and depression which she suffered for up to five days, every month or every other month. Julia had also put on approximately four stone in the previous four years with no apparent explanation. The scan confirmed Julia's GP's suspicions and PCOS was diagnosed. Julia followed her doctor's advice (based at the Endocrinology department at St Mary's Hospital) and managed to lose three stone, unfortunately some of that weight has crept back on but she is back losing weight again and exercises regularly. Julia's symptoms have improved through healthy eating, exercise and stress management. Julia has also found that sleeping tablets prescribed by the GP help with her insomnia which she now suffers very irregularly.