“Your body might be acting up right now, but your body is amazing, and it will respond.” - Monica Reagor
Up to 1 in 5 women struggle with PCOS, and while it can start with irregular cycles or difficult periods, over time it tends to lead to other symptoms and conditions, from fatigue and insulin resistance to anxiety, fertility struggles, chronic pain, and many more. Unfortunately, many women spend a long time being dismissed by practitioners while their list of symptoms and the impact on their quality of life grows year after year.
PCOS is a chronic condition that requires constant adaptation. It’s an ongoing relationship with the body that shifts through different phases of life, from the first menstrual cycle to perimenopause and beyond. Living with PCOS, like with many other chronic conditions, requires women to constantly work to balance life with PCOS with careers, caregiving, productivity, and all the other demands. That’s one of the reasons access to community and long-term support makes such a difference.
In this episode, I’m joined by Monica Reagor, co-founder of the PCOS Awareness Association, a community, support group, and resource organization for women living with PCOS. We discuss the lived experience of PCOS, the importance of creating sustainable support systems for women navigating complex hormonal and metabolic conditions, Monica’s delayed diagnosis journey, the emotional impact of trying to keep up with life with chronic illness, the physiological and mental impact of PCOS, the overlap between PCOS and perimenopause, why healing often requires more than protocols, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!
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Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/advocating-for-better-pcos-care-pcos-resources/.
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