Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a syndrome in which there is hormonal imbalance in the body. Due to the excessive amount of hormones in the body, there can be overproduction of eggs, which turn into cysts which latch onto the ovaries permanently.
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This condition can lead to a variety of issues, from acne and weight gain, to menstrual cramps and infertility. So, not many people talk about having this syndrome, and people tend to brush it under the carpet instead of sharing awareness. However, this PCOS month, we plan to change that and start a conversation about PCOS. We can lift the veil of stigma from this condition by taking a cue from the celebrities who opened up about having PCOS, and in doing so, busted some common misconceptions people have about how it works.
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Himanshi Khurana revealed how she was body shamed after weight gain due to PCOS
Image credits: Himanshi Khurana via Instagram
PCOS can make a lot of changes in the body, including weight gain. Bigg Boss contestant Himanshi Khurana opened up to Times Of India about being shamed for her weight, and revealed how those bullying her had no idea that she has PCOS, a condition which causes weight gain: “I have been trolled a lot on social media. Before and after Bigg Boss 13. I have been body shamed a lot. I have PCOS, whoever doesn’t understand it, please go and surf on the internet. Most of the girls go through it. People who know about it will relate to me. During PCOS, your body weight keeps fluctuating. Sometimes you lose so much weight and sometimes you gain a lot of weight.” Bullies body-shame people without realising how difficult it is to lose weight when your hormones are working against you.
Image credits: Himanshi Khurana via Instagram
Many are also unaware of the weakness that happens due to PCOS, and Himanshi got real about the severity of the situation: “My blood pressure also fluctuates a lot. My BP levels sometimes drop so much that I have to take oxygen for three hours. My manager panics when I don’t respond or get up.”
Sonam Kapoor revealed she broke up with a boy who didn’t like the way she looked when she got PCOS
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Many know that Sonam Kapoor lost a lot of weight before her movie debut. But not many knew that she was diagnosed with PCOS in her teens, and that this hormonal imbalance led to an unforeseen number of changes in her appearance, not just in her ovaries.
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Opening up on it during an episode of Feet Up With The Stars with Anaita Shroff Adajaina, she said, “I gained around 35 kg in a span of 5-6 months. Hair started growing in all the weird places and I had acne too. During that time, I just didn’t feel good about myself.” Proving how insensitive the world can be, Sonam also said she broke up with her boyfriend at the time because he had a problem with the way she looked.
Shruti Haasan spoke about battling the stigma of gaining weight and having excess hair and acne
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Shruti Haasan has spoken about having PCOS several times since her diagnosis when she was 26. She got candid on the issues that come with the syndrome with Mumbai Mirror: “It makes every menstrual cycle really painful for me. We can’t talk about it, because of the stigma attached to it and lack of awareness. There are many women like me, grappling with mood swings, weight gain, excess hair, hair loss, pimples and a lot more, that come with the territory. Every month is a battle.”
Writing about her experience with PCOS for Elle, she said that the domino effect of hormonal fluctuations changes everything, from one’s mood to one’s skin and weight : “Besides the fact that one in four women in the world suffer from PCOS, no one talks about the subsequent weight gain, unequal weight distribution, excessive hair growth, mood swings, and stomach ailments you’re liable to suffer from as well. I was 10kgs heavier than I’ve ever been, and no amount of eating right or exercising seemed to help. My immunity had taken a hit.”
More than anything else, when it comes to PCOS, it’s important to not make judgements about what makes for a “normal” woman’s body. Everyone is going through a tough time and dealing with a lot of syndromes, conditions, and disorders. Ridiculing someone’s appearance is bad enough on its own, but when they could have a host of underlying issues leading to changes in their appearance, it is cruel. So, our lack of understanding and knowledge about PCOS is actually deeply harmful. It’s our job to find ways to be kinder, be it by educating oneself, or by hearing other people out when they speak about their experiences.
Lead image credits: Himanshi Khurana via Instagram, World Wide Media
