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Reproductive health is important. If you're a woman, you should be paying attention to your reproductive health. I know it sucks, but that's just how it is. I think a lot of women (regardless of gender identity/sexuality or whatever) tend to underestimate the importance of overall hormonal/uterine/ovarian health, especially during their reproductive years. Regardless of whether you want to have children, these are still things you need to focus on. Doctors can be mean to women. I understand that doctors fixate on the dreaded "well, do you plan to have children?" thing, which can seem like a loaded question, and that a lot of people tend to fixate on a woman's reproductive decisions a bit *too* much, but you really, really need to prioritize your reproductive health for the sake of your overall well-being. Sometimes, certain aspects of your health may be out of your control. I have PCOS/PMOS, so I'm sympathetic to this, but you still need to put effort into maintaining a healthy lifestyle so you don't get your shit knocked in later in life. It's hard, but it's worth it if it means having a more fulfilling life later down the road. You aren't going to be young forever, and what you do in this moment counts towards the potential quality of life during your 40s, 50s, 60s, and vice versa. Take care of your reproductive organs, fellow women. Even if it means having a light workout routine or eating better. Just pay attention.

Doing research on PCOS is always such a challenge because, despite it being one of the most common hormonal issues in women, it's still poorly misunderstood. Its presentation is also highly variable, making it difficult to receive appropriate treatment. It doesn't help that health-related issues are commonly overlooked in women, especially if they already have a "complex" medical profile (like yours truly). I'd consider my case very mild. I'm not androgynous looking or obese, and I do not present with hair loss and/or excessive hair growth, BUT I do struggle with acne, high testosterone, and irregular periods (I'm on day 41 of my current cycle). I've had cysts rupture in the past, and I believe I'm currently harboring cysts in my left ovary again. I got a diagnosis of PCOS at 17 after having some health scares, and my symptoms pointed to such. It made the most sense, and I still find it an accurate diagnosis. ------------- I've always had a lot of trouble talking about my symptoms with medical professionals because I'm not taken seriously. I don't present as "severe" enough for them to care. It's extremely frustrating. I feel like I fall into the "lean woman" category for PCOS because I am in really good shape and I've never been obese nor do i carry excessive fat in my abdomen, but because I've been weight training for 1-2 years and I weigh more than what my BMI would technically "allow" for "healthy weight", they'd categorize me as overweight/obese, which would change the game for how to address the disorder, and they'd likely suggest treatments i do not need or act coldly towards me, like they have in the past. The medical system really, really hates women, and I just hate dealing with it. I'm fortunate enough to have received a diagnosis early on, but that still doesn't change the fact that getting help for it is still extremely difficult, costly, and time-consuming. I just wish there were an easier way to go about this. Paying attention to my diet and weight training has helped a LOT, and it's been the main thing that has helped stabilize my weight so I'm not yo-yo'ing the same 15 pounds all the time. It's also helped my skin tremendously. But I still worry about the fertility aspect of things.

I love you brown eyed men you will forever be in my heart