‘The system is failing women’: How weight-shaming impacts our experience with PCOS

It’s no surprise that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) feel confused and overwhelmed. 

Even though about one in 10 women (or those assigned female at birth) suffer from PCOS, they often aren’t familiar with the symptoms, including excessive hair growth (or loss), and heavy, irregular periods.

This also means that doctors and other health professionals — who are usually only given one hour of medical education on the condition — can be unaware of the symptoms, and instead dismiss women as simply overweight.

But weight gain also happens to be the number one concern for…