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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Health
Ali Francis

The invisible toll of life with polycystic ovary syndrome

An illustration of a person wearing a green shirt and jeans lying on a couch
Though estimates vary, between 8% and 13% of reproductive-age women have PCOS, and many experience adverse mental health outcomes. Illustration: Rita Liu/The Guardian

One night in February, my husband and I were bickering about our car. He said something that pissed me off and I snapped like a worn out hair tie: I hollered absurd accusations, stormed up and down the stairs and ugly-cried until I was too tired to function. Though I knew I was being wild at the time, my emotions felt terminal.

The next morning I wrote in my journal, “Something is starting to shift with my mental health.” Throughout the entry, it’s clear I was confused and distraught. I pondered the same question ad nauseam: what is wrong with me?

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