Symptoms

Participant 1:
I experienced very painful dysmenorrhea and prolonged menstruation period.
Participant 3:
Getting fatter and being irritable are the topmost symptoms that I felt
Participant 5:
The symptoms that I experienced are:
 Irregular periods
 Heavy Bleeding
 Excessive hair growth
 Acne
 Weight gain
 Darkening of the skin
 Headaches
 Sleep apnea/ Insomnia
 Very poor eyesight/ Blurred vision
 Depression

Irregular Menstruation Period

Participant 1:
Instead of the usual 3-4 days, my period lasts for 14 days max.
Participant 2:
I experienced profuse bleeding and irregular menstruation
Participant 4:
I experienced delayed periods
Participant 6:
Irregular menstruation. My menstruation stop last Semptember 2018 upto December.
Then I consult my OB about my irregular menstruation, then she gave me a medicine
that I will take for 5 days, which is 3x a day. Then after 5 days we will wait for me to
have a menstruation. Then after I have menstruation again it happen twice in a month
last January. Then I ask again my OB about it then she gave me a request for
ultrasound after on my last day period. After I get the result of my ultrasound my OB
told me that I have PCOS both left and right ovary. She gave me again a medicine
which is pills that I will take for 30 days. Then from then my menstruation back on
regular
Participant 7:
I experienced severe abdominal pain, too much blood release during menstruation

Distress
Participant 1:
I also vomit everytime I have my period and mostly felt sick.
Participant 7:
I experienced severe abdominal pain
Participant 1:
Yes. It affected my teaching profession because of frequent absences due to severe
dysmenorrhea and vomitting.
Physical Disturbance
Participant 4:
I experienced delayed periods and difficulty in losing weight
Participant 7:
I experienced severe abdominal pain, too much blood release during menstruation
and muscle cramp.
Abdication
Participant 1:
I really couldn’t go to work because of PCOS. And because of this, I always resorted
in resigning from my job because of my health condition.
Disappointment
Participant 2:
Sometimes I need to take a leave of absence just to recuperate that is why my lessons
are delayed
Participant 4:
Since there is a need to go for checkups, I had to be absent in my classes.
Exasperation
Participant 6:
Before I knew that I have PCOS, I feel irritated and I feel stress about it because I
over think about my irregular period. Especially during class when all your student
are very loud, it irritates me a lot. I thought it’s because I’m stress that’s why it
happen but when it last for 4 months I already decide to consult my OB.
gut-wrenching
Participant 7:
Yes, it feels really painful that even when I discuss, It’ affects me a lot.
Seeking Medical Attention
Participant 1:
I handled it first by seeking the help of an OB-Gyne.
Participant 2:
I have to maintain a healthy lifestyle and see my doctor regularly.
Participant 3:
I also follow the preventive measures.
Participant 4:
But then I'm working on the instructions my OB-Gyne
Participant 6:
…then I follow my OB about my medication.
Participant 7:
I also consulted my OB and I am really trying my best to take the meds (medicines)
and do her suggestions

Taking necessary medication

Participant 1:
When I was diagnosed with PCOS, I took pills prescribed by my OB.
Participant 4:
…take the necessary meds.
Participant 5:
The doctor asked me to have Transvaginal Sonography. And I was diagnosed with
retroverted uterus with thin endometrium bilateral polycystic ovaries. I have 12 cysts
in my right ovary and 2 cysts in my left ovary. I have all the symptoms of PCOS since
last year, it started being active last year. If a person was born with PCOS, it doesn't
mean that you'll be experiencing all the symptoms right after your very first menstrual
period during your elementary or high school days, you'll experience it later than
expected, or if there's something that triggered your PCOS to be active, even doctors
can't specifically identify what could possibly activate PCOS and what could be the
main cause of PCOS. A temporary help of birth control pills can help bring back
normal menstrual cycle. I took Diane, Althea, Trust and Lady pill’s before to bring
back my normal menstrual cycle but it didn't help and it has side effects on me
though. It gives me headache and nausea. So better ask your OB-Gyne for alternative
birth control pills. My OB-Gyne prescribed YAZ pills (has 20% estrogen) for the
meantime and let's see if this could help. I'll visit my OB-Gyne on the 24th day of
taking the pills because she wants to check if it has any side effects on me, then I'll
finish the last 4 pills and see if I'll be having my period back. For people who was
born with PCOS, surgery isn't an option. But just be careful and make sure to see
your OB-Gyne regularly to avoid further complications such as endometrial cancer,
heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. PCOS can't be prevented and
isn't curable, you can't ask the doctors to remove your cysts through surgery, the only
thing doctors could do is to give you birth control pills to correct your menstrual
cycle and hoping that it would also cure our PCOS eventually. PCOS isn't dangerous.

Taking Pain Reliever

Participant 1:
I also took different pain relievers to ease the abdominal pain everytime I had my
period.
Frustration
Participant 1:
Napakaraming gamot and treatment plan na pinagdaanan ko pero wala talaga eh.
Ang tindi ng bleeding ko for 6 years.
Participant 4:
At first it is frustrating especially upon knowing that it might affect my life if I am
already married since PCOS patients find it difficult to get pregnant.

Genetic Factor
Participant 1:
About sa history ng PCOS, High Blood and Diabetes, Yes we have history of those
conditions.
Participant 4:
In the family, we have a history of High Blood. Both sides of my parents have it.

Emotional Exhaustion
Participant 2:
I am so sick and tired of its mess.

Depression
Participant 2:
It gets exhausting how it would entirely mess up my routines and plans. How it would
screw my brain and get to me on my saddest days. Those times when I just want to
sink into darkness and be jaded. Lamenting my sorry state. And weep hysterically.

Misconception
Participant 2:
Some people won’t be able to understand and dismiss it as lame or kaartehan but you
really need to be in my position before judging.

Enduring the illness

Participant 2:
My sickness is not at all new to me. I endured it for how many years already. It may
not be as severe as the big C or a life/death situation but we all have our struggles.

Effects
Participant 2:
PCOS due to hormonal imbalance makes you unstable. It messed you up mentally,
emotionally, physically. And that is why I have to maintain a healthy lifestyle and see
my doctor regularly.

Finding comfort
Participant 2:
I've read a lot of people who also have this illness and are feeling the same way as I
do. And somehow it made me feel that I am not alone. I thought ako lang pero hindi
pala.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Participant 2:
I have to maintain a healthy lifestyle
Participant 4:
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Participant 5:
But please, ladies, be careful, avoid drinking cold drinks before and during your
monthly period, avoid eating junk food and other salty food, avoid eating food with
high sugar and cholesterol content, eat lots of vegetables, have exercise, live a
healthy lifestyle.
Participant 6:
Eat healthy food and exercise

Environmental Factor
Participant 2:
We have no history of PCOS, Diabetes and High blood
Participant 3:
Our family has no history of highblood and diabetes.I think, I got PCOS through
lifestyle and effect of contraceptive pills (I stopped taking these without any
consultation from medical expert.
Positive Thinking
Participant 3:
I handle PCOS in a positive way. Though I am getting fatter, I always make sure that
I am still looking good and confident in front of my students and colleagues.
Participant 6:
I just think positive, don’t over think about it

Taking rest
I just take a rest for a while. Then sleep if I have the time