1 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor joy hard and Bradford, 5 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or 6 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: to find a therapist in your area, visit our website 7 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you 8 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:43,639 Speaker 1: love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with 10 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much 11 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: for joining me for session three seventy eight of the 12 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our 13 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: conversation after a word from our sponsors. 14 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: Hi. 15 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 3: I'm Sasha Atti and I'm on the Therapy for Black 16 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 3: Girls Podcast. I'm in session today unpacking how to navigate 17 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 3: a PCOS diagnosis? 18 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: Did you know that September is National PCOS Awareness Month? 19 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: According to the World Health Organization, eight to thirteen percent 20 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: of women are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome and it 21 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: is also the leading cause of infertility for women. To 22 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: explore more about this syndrome, and its specific impact on 23 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: black women. I'm joined today by Sasha Atti, a clinical 24 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: and research microbiologist and the founder and executive director of 25 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: PCOS Challenge, the National polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association. After she 26 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: was diagnosed with PCOS, Sasha founded PCOS Challenge and has 27 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: grown on the organization to over fifty five thousand members. 28 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: Her leadership focus is on advocating for research, funding, innovation, 29 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: and the development of safe and effective treatments for PCOS. 30 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 1: During our conversation today, we discuss why over seventy percent 31 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: of women go undiagnosed for PCOS, the common symptoms and 32 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: experiences of women with PCOS, and how to advocate for 33 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: yourself to your medical team when fearing that you may 34 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: have PCOS. If something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, 35 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: please share it with us on social media using the 36 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: hashtag TVG in Session or join us over in the 37 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: Sister Circle to talk more about the episode. You can 38 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: join us at community dot therapy for blackgirls dot com. 39 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: Here's our conversation. Well, thank you so much for joining 40 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: me today, Sasha, Thank you. 41 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: So much for inviting me to the show. 42 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely so, I wonder if you could get started by 43 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: sharing a little bit about your journey with PCOS. Can 44 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: you tell us when you were diagnosed and how. 45 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I was in my late twenties, twenty eight actually, 46 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 3: and I started missing some periods and for me, that 47 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: was not normal. So I went to my obgyn and said, look, 48 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 3: this is happening. She ran some tests, some blood tests, 49 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: she did an ultrasound, and then diagnosed me with polycystic 50 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 3: ovary syndrome or PCOS. 51 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: This was in my late twenties. 52 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: I wasn't even considering children. That was not on my 53 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 3: list of things to do at that time. But one 54 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 3: of the first things she did say was here's some 55 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 3: birth control pills and come back to see me when 56 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 3: you want to get pregnant. And just since then learning 57 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 3: more about PCOS and people's diagnostic journeys. That's a very 58 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 3: common phrase that people get. She also gave me a 59 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 3: pamphlet that I read within like five minutes and didn't 60 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 3: give that much information, because when you hear something like, okay, 61 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 3: you have a condition that you hadn't heard of before, 62 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 3: a little pamphlet that doesn't suffice with helping you with. 63 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 2: Understanding what that means. For you. 64 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 3: She also told me not to worry about not having 65 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 3: my periods because plenty of women would love to not 66 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 3: have their periods, and for me, that felt really dismissive. 67 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 3: That was my major concern for presenting to her, and 68 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 3: it wasn't at all helpful to me. She also then 69 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 3: referred me to see an endocrinologist, and when I went 70 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 3: to see him, he told me to come back to 71 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 3: see him in six months after I've lost weight, without 72 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 3: giving me any tools, any supports, any guidance. And so 73 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 3: I just felt like my healthcare team wasn't going to 74 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 3: be as helpful as i'd hope them to be with 75 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: this diagnosis. 76 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you mentioned that in talking with other women 77 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 1: after your diagnosis, you found that a lot of people 78 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: had that same story, right, that they were told to 79 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: take these birth control pills and come back when you 80 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 1: want to get pregnant. Is the understanding, or as you 81 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: understand it, that PCOS was something that you just had 82 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: to manage and that it wasn't going to be a 83 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: serious concern until you were trying to get pregnant. 84 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 3: That was the impression that I got when I got diagnosed. 85 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 3: But as I've learned and have become an expert on 86 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 3: the subject. PCOS is a lot more than that. PCOS 87 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 3: does have reproductive consequences for many people. However, it's a 88 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 3: lifelong condition that impacts people, yes their reproductive health, but 89 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: also their mental health, their metabolic health, their cardiovascular health. 90 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 3: So many things that PCOS impacts that were not mentioned 91 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 3: in any of these doctors' visits. So it was a 92 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: missed opportunity. In retrospectively, it was a missed opportunity for 93 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 3: them being the doctors, to give me better guidance, give 94 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 3: me better education, and so that I would be able 95 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 3: to live a healthier life outside of just reproduction. 96 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: So can you talk a little bit more about some 97 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: of the challenges you've had since being diagnosed, both medically 98 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: and emotionally. 99 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 3: So the thing is I had to now once I 100 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 3: learned more about PCOS, I had to now think back, 101 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 3: h this was impacting me in my teens and I 102 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 3: didn't know it. I always had issues with hair loss, 103 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 3: which I was a really young person dealing with hair loss, 104 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 3: and so that always felt like there was something wrong 105 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: with me. And I went to dermatologists to see about 106 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 3: my hair loss and just hair issues. But I was 107 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 3: always so low it's because of braids or having perms. 108 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 3: So those doctors weren't really informed and they weren't asking 109 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 3: the right questions. My Dermatologists never asked about my periods. 110 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 3: My dermatologists never asked about my mental health. But one 111 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 3: of the major challenges that I came to the realization 112 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 3: that I was struggling with was anxiety. Anxiety is a 113 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 3: big one, and I didn't even know that's what I 114 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 3: was experiencing at the time in my teens and in 115 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 3: my early twenties. It was actually since the diagnosis of 116 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: PCOS and learning more and then speaking to therapists, it 117 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 3: finally clicked that this was what I was experiencing, anxiety 118 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 3: and some depression. It's really hard being the person being 119 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 3: the patient and having to connect the dots yourself. 120 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: Right, right, So for our audience who may not be familiar, 121 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: can you give us like a one oh one version 122 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: of what PCOS is. And then since you talked about 123 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: it being connected to anxiety for you, can you talk 124 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: a little bit about that connection. 125 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 126 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: So, PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is the most common 127 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 3: hormone disorder in women or people born with uterus and 128 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 3: PCOS can be diagnosed with two to three of the following. 129 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 3: So if you have irregular menstrual cycles or irregular ovulation, 130 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 3: that's one. If you have signs of high androgens, which 131 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 3: are like male hormones like testosterone, such as facial hair 132 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 3: growth or just excessive facial embody hair that's one of 133 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 3: the signs. Or severe acne or hair loss like I 134 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 3: was experiencing. Those are signs of high androgens. Or if 135 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 3: you have a blood test show that you have higher 136 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 3: levels of androgens, those are that's two, so irregular periods 137 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 3: or a regular ovulation signs or blood work showing high androgens, 138 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 3: or three ultrasound transvaginal ultrasounds showing polycystic ovaries. So these 139 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 3: are little cysts that form in around the ovaries, and 140 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: what these are are immature follicles or immature eggs. They're 141 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 3: not ovulating as they should, and so some people may 142 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 3: have enlarged ovaries or lots of these little immature follicles 143 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 3: on ultrasound. So if you have two or three of those, 144 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 3: that's how you get diagnosed with PCOS. And actually the 145 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 3: latest guideline also includes the hormone amh antimularian hormone which 146 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 3: can be used instead of ultrasound. So I had irregular cycles, 147 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 3: I had the poly cystick ovaries, so that's how I 148 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 3: got diagnosed with PCOS. Mental health conditions are really prevalent 149 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 3: in PCOS. We're talking anxiety, depression, even bipolar and eating disorders. 150 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 3: Things that a lot of our doctors are clinicians don't 151 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 3: even know or understand, are part of the picture of 152 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 3: the profile of PCOS. Because PCOS is not a disease, 153 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:31,239 Speaker 3: it's a syndrome, which is a constellation of various symptoms. 154 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 3: You may experience two or three and the next person 155 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 3: may experience ten or twelve things. You can line up 156 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 3: ten people with PCOS and they'll all have some different 157 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 3: combination of the syndrome. And so it can be difficult 158 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 3: as a person living with the condition to navigate because 159 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 3: the treatment options aren't the same for everyone. There's a 160 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: lot of trial and error around managing PCOS, and there 161 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 3: just is not enough information to help to navigate all 162 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 3: of what you're dealing with. 163 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: So you had the mis periods, which I think for 164 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: a lot of people is like a sign like okay, 165 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: especially if your period has been regular that you go 166 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: to your doctor, like, Okay, something's going on here, But 167 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 1: you mentioned that you had like the hair loss earlier 168 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: in your life and you wouldn't have connected it to 169 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: the miss period later. Are there other things that people 170 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: should be on the lookout for, because some of this 171 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: it sounds like if you didn't ask your doctor for 172 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: screenings of hormone levels and stuff like that, you would 173 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: never know, like what your levels were. So are there 174 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: other symptoms and signs that, like to the naked eye, 175 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: we should be paying attention to maybe alert our healthcare team. 176 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: Look, the PCOS presents most often in puberty, so if 177 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 3: and but a lot of the symptoms kind of coincide 178 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 3: with puberty in everyone, right, So irregular periods or a 179 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 3: few years or you may have acne. Right, But if 180 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 3: you survey and we have surveyed patients with PCOS, most 181 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 3: people say, I knew something was wrong before I got 182 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 3: my period or when I was a teenager. But the 183 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 3: most common thing is the irregular cycles and teenagers, what 184 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 3: that means is if you get your period less than 185 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 3: twenty five days apart or greater than forty five days apart. 186 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,719 Speaker 3: In adults, it's if you get your periods less than 187 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 3: twenty five days apart or greater than thirty five days apart. 188 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 3: So like for me, now, I could get my period 189 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 3: like twice a month, and that's that's kind of miserable 190 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 3: for a lot of people. Or you may have really 191 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 3: prolonged heavy periods for even up to three months. Some 192 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 3: people are reported having their periods for a long time, 193 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 3: and that's connected to so many things, fatigue, becoming an 194 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: et cetera. So these are some of the signs that 195 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 3: are usually dismissed as oh, that's just a bad period, 196 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 3: or oh, that's just how your periods are. So there's 197 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 3: a lot of dismissive language around the experience of menstruation. 198 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 3: That's irregular or that's abnormal, right, you know, a lot 199 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 3: of us just kind of take it because our healthcare 200 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 3: providers say that's normal or that's just something you're going 201 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 3: to have to deal with. So if your provider or 202 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 3: your doctor says that to you, and you know, because 203 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 3: the majority of us will know that something is off 204 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 3: or something is not right, get a second opinion, get 205 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 3: a third opinion. But yes, if you have facial hair, 206 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 3: excessive body hair, and it's different from other people, the 207 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 3: growth is different you're growing a beard, you're growing mustache, 208 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 3: not the fine heres, but course heres. That's always something 209 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 3: to bring to the attention of a physician. 210 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 2: And if you're. 211 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 3: Losing hair at a rate that feels alarming to you 212 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 3: or feels abnormal to you, also bring that up. And 213 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 3: we at PCO a challenge. We have resources to communicate 214 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 3: with your doctors, right Doctor Patient Communication Guide, share decision 215 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 3: making tools because sometimes it's daunting to speak to your physicians, 216 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 3: and sometimes you don't know whether or not to just 217 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 3: take their word for it. So sometimes it's good to 218 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: be prepared with questions or concerns ahead of time, so 219 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 3: you can say, I learned about this condition PCOS and 220 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 3: it sounds like this is something that could be affecting me. 221 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 3: I have your regular periods, this is what my periods 222 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 3: look like. Or I am very concerned about the rate 223 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 3: my body hair is growing or the rate my hair 224 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 3: I'm losing hair. I'm concerned about that. Can you evaluate this, 225 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 3: can you check this out? I've come to realize, just 226 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 3: based on so many stories, that many of us, and 227 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 3: many of us as black women, we don't. 228 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 2: Know what's normal. We don't know what's. 229 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 3: A normal period, and so sometimes it's just good to 230 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 3: ask ask your doctor. Well I bleed for this much? 231 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 3: Is that normal? Information is your best weapon against any 232 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 3: medical condition. 233 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: Can you mentioned that this is the most commonly diagnosed 234 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: hormone concern. Exactly how common is it? Sasha? 235 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 3: Well I said, it's the most common hormone disorder, and 236 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 3: women of fifty to seventy percent are going undiagnosed. 237 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 2: It's so prevalent. 238 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 3: It's between ten to twenty percent of women have pcos 239 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 3: and it's unfortunately going undiagnosed because of the lack of awareness, 240 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 3: which is growing. I'm here to tell you that there's hope, 241 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 3: there's positive outlook. Organizations such as Ours PCOS Challenge we 242 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 3: build this advocacy platform for patients to start using their 243 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 3: stories to advocate for better healthcare, better treatment options, and 244 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 3: just better education around pcos. So there is hope. Awareness 245 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 3: is building. However, yes, ten percent of women is nothing 246 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 3: to sneeze at. It's not a loan number. It's quite prevalent. 247 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 3: It's more common than diabetes, and it also can lead 248 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 3: to diabetes and pre diabetes, which we can talk about 249 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 3: a little bit more later. 250 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, but first, a 251 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: snippet of our special bonus episode coming out this Friday, 252 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: with Natasha Rothwell of Hulu's How to Die Alone. 253 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 4: I started working on this project about seven and a 254 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 4: half years ago. I was on Insecure and I got 255 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 4: a development deal for a pilot and it was basically 256 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 4: like having the proverbial legacy of paper passed to me 257 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 4: the meeting, and I was terrified, just truly terrified of like, 258 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 4: I don't know what it is I want to say 259 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 4: or what I want to do. 260 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 2: And I come out of. 261 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 5: The world of improv and one of the biggest tenants 262 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 5: is follow the fear, and at the time, dying alone 263 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 5: and wrestling with that idea and the difference between being 264 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 5: alone and lonely was a huge part of what I 265 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 5: was going through, and so I decided to write about that. 266 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: So you mentioned that because the consolation of symptoms can 267 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: be different for different patients, that the treatment plans look 268 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: very different sometimes. Can you give us an idea of 269 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: what some of the maybe more common treatment plans you've 270 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: seen for patients diagnosed with PCO is. 271 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 3: So PCOS and obesity goes hand in hand for a 272 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:03,719 Speaker 3: lot of people, It's not really well understood or as 273 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 3: understood as it should be why fat behaves differently in 274 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 3: someone with PCOS and someone without PCOS. So if your 275 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 3: doctor just tells you to lose weight and come back 276 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 3: to see them in six months, like minded, ask your doctor, 277 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 3: what would you tell a person who wasn't overweight or 278 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 3: wasn't in a bigger body, right, how would you treat 279 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:32,360 Speaker 3: that person? And the answer is probably the same way. Right, 280 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 3: the toolbox is so limited. I'll tell you the treatment 281 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 3: plan for PCOS is number one is lifestyle. 282 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 2: Number two. 283 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 3: The first line of treatment therapy for PCOS is birth 284 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 3: control fills and also next is met foreman or intul 285 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 3: insensitizers or diabetes drugs that are used off label for PCOS. 286 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 3: And then everything else is treating the symptoms. So where 287 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 3: if you are a person who's struggling with excessive hair growth, 288 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 3: you may also be prescribed medications such as sperrinalactone or 289 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 3: any anti androgen medications which can help to lower the 290 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 3: male hormones so to speak. If you're a person who 291 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 3: has facial hair, you may also use electrolysis or laser 292 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 3: hair removal. So it's based on your symptoms and the toolbox. 293 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 3: There are zero zero i FD approved medications for PCOS. 294 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 3: Everything that's used in PCOS is off label use, and 295 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 3: sometimes it's helpful, sometimes it's not. So when I mentioned earlier, 296 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 3: it's trial and error. Most people will get put on 297 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 3: birth control. It may affect you in one way, it 298 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 3: may affect you negatively. For example, I'll tell my personal 299 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 3: experience was one of the first medications that I was 300 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 3: prescribed was outside of oral contraceptives, was Justin privera to 301 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 3: help to bring on a bleed. And what that did 302 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 3: to me was I experienced severe depressive symptoms for those 303 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 3: seven plus days that I was on it. And this 304 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 3: is a commonly reported problem. Some people do not do 305 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 3: well on especially for Justin only birth control. Others do 306 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 3: just fine. It does require an individualized approach, but it 307 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 3: also requires a multidisciplinary approach. The best way to manage 308 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 3: PCOS is to have a team who's helping you. A 309 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 3: psychologist if you're experiencing mental health challenges. A dietitian or 310 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 3: nutritionist to help you figure out an eating plan that 311 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 3: works for you and that can even change over time. 312 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 3: Someone to help you with the best form of movement 313 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 3: or exercise, an obgyn, sometimes an endocrinologist and some of 314 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 3: the others I've met earlier. So it's complex depending on 315 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 3: which symptoms you have in that constellation. And also it's 316 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 3: complex in terms of there's no one size fits all treatment. 317 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:17,880 Speaker 2: But when you do. 318 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 3: Find what works for you, it's freeing, it's liberating, and 319 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 3: you can get back to health. 320 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: I am not surprised that you then ended up finding 321 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: and founding an organization like PCOS Challenged, because it sounds 322 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: like for this kind of concern and many others where 323 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: there's not a lot of information, people are discovering it 324 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: for themselves in conjunction with their healthcare professionals. I'm sure 325 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 1: that community is really really important. Can you talk about 326 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: founding your organization, PCOS Challenge and the role that community 327 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: has helped has played for you in navigating your diagnosis. 328 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 3: So immediately the same day when I went home and 329 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 3: after my die diagnosis, I said, this is not right. 330 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,239 Speaker 3: Something has to be done. There's too little information. And 331 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 3: then me finding out that there's so many people who 332 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 3: are impacted by this, I immediately said I needed to 333 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 3: do something. To form a nonprofit with the original goal 334 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 3: or initial goal of just educating people bringing evidence based 335 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 3: information to the PCOS community. So our mission is still 336 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 3: the same to raise awareness and help people with PCOS 337 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 3: to prevent some of the comorbid conditions that can stem 338 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 3: from PCOS. But we quickly realized that the lack of 339 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 3: awareness was leading to so many downstream issues like the 340 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 3: lack of funding for research, which is why we don't 341 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 3: have enough information or enough options for patients. So we 342 00:22:56,160 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 3: had to build the legislative advocacy platform for pcos. There 343 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 3: were no bills that mentioned pcos and how research is 344 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 3: funded is the largest funder of biomedical research is the NIH. 345 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 3: And if the NIH or our government doesn't know that 346 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:19,440 Speaker 3: this problem exists, then it won't be solved, it won't 347 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 3: be fixed. So we worked and literally knocked on every 348 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 3: door in Congress in Washington, DC and wrote resolutions writing 349 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 3: other language to raise a profile of pcos but also 350 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 3: for funding PCOS research, for improving treatment options for PCOS. 351 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 3: And we're doing this using patients stories. Every year, patients 352 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 3: meet with their legislators about PCOS and share their stories 353 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 3: and share how it's impacted them, their families, their communities, 354 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 3: and so the power in your story is real, right, 355 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 3: it can lead to change, which it has, So we 356 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 3: officially got September designated as PCOS Awareness Months and continuing 357 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 3: to work with government agencies on multiple issues around PCOS. 358 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 3: PCOS is connected to so many things that we care 359 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 3: about public health, so our vision is that PCOS is 360 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 3: treated as a public health priority. PCOS is also connected 361 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 3: to infertilities, the most common cause of infertility caused by 362 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 3: lack of ovulation in women. It's also connected to diabetes. 363 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 3: Fifty percent of PCOS patients will become diabetic or pre 364 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 3: diabetic before age forty so in your teens, twenties, thirties, 365 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 3: and other conditions that impact health non alcoholic fatty liver 366 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 3: disease and domeutrial cancer. And as we spoke about earlier, 367 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 3: is mental health issues, mental health disorders, mental health conditions. 368 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 3: So PCOS impacts our entire quality of life, and our 369 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:17,959 Speaker 3: organization is working diligently with the patient community, working together 370 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 3: with the research and clinician communities to not only raise 371 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 3: the profile, but just improve outcomes and improve the future 372 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 3: for everyone impacted by PCOS. 373 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: I wonder, Sasha, if you could talk a little bit 374 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,199 Speaker 1: about the connection between PCOS and diabetes and some of 375 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: these other comorbid conditions that you mentioned. 376 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 3: Some of the underlying issues in PCOS include insulin resistance 377 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 3: and inflammation, and that's connected to so many things. A 378 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,479 Speaker 3: woman with PCOS may become diabetic or pre diabetic before 379 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 3: age forty, at a young age if there's no intervention, right, 380 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 3: if she doesn't know that she has PCOS, and she 381 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 3: does doesn't have the tools or the support to prevent 382 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 3: some of these conditions. But PCOS is also connected to infertility. 383 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,439 Speaker 3: As I mentioned, it's the most common cause of infertility 384 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 3: in women and caused by irregular ovulation. The good news 385 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 3: there is that PCOS women have the same amount of 386 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 3: children as those without PCOS. However, it may take you longer. 387 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 3: But imagine if you don't understand or you don't know 388 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 3: that you have this, So that information that you have 389 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 3: PCOS could give you kind of a leg up. Right, 390 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 3: you can have the opportunity to incorporate prevention efforts like 391 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 3: helping to prevent some of these issues if you understand 392 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 3: what PCOS is and if you understand how it impacts 393 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 3: your health. So a lot of women struggle to get pregnant, 394 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:58,919 Speaker 3: but when you do get pregnant, PCOS also puts youohigh 395 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:05,360 Speaker 3: risk for matern no health complications like perclimcia, gestational diabetes, 396 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 3: c section, and even miscarriage. One of the reasons we 397 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 3: advocate so diligently for earlier intervention is that if we 398 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 3: understand that we have PCOS, we can potentially prevent and 399 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 3: understand our risk for some of these conditions and save 400 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:29,640 Speaker 3: lives right. PCOS is a metabolic condition that can lead 401 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 3: to non alcoholic fatty liver disease and even stroke. So 402 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:39,639 Speaker 3: it's a really serious condition that more doctors, every doctor 403 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 3: who sees women should know about. 404 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, Sasha, can you 405 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: share any self care strategies or things that have been 406 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: helpful to you for other community members who may be struggling, 407 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 1: Like what kinds of things help you to manage your 408 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,120 Speaker 1: PCOS on a day to day basis? 409 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 3: Number one for me is mental health. I know if 410 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 3: I am not feeling my best, if I'm struggling with 411 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:16,479 Speaker 3: anxiety or depression, that does not serve me, does not 412 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 3: serve my family, and I can't show up as my 413 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:25,880 Speaker 3: best self. So I see a therapist and I continue therapy, 414 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 3: but then I also implement certain things yoga, walking. I 415 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 3: do know that when I don't do these things, I 416 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 3: don't feel my best and I don't feel worse, and 417 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 3: I mean I. 418 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 2: Do feel worse. So it's just. 419 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 3: Being intentional about managing my mental health also helps me 420 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 3: to do some of the other lifestyle things that I'm 421 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 3: supposed to do right, adhere to things that my doctor 422 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 3: tells me to do, even taking medications. So my personal 423 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 3: opinion is that your mental health should come first. That 424 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 3: should be your priority in order to fully manage your 425 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 3: PCOS and anything for that matter. But I think for 426 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 3: most of us, finding what form of exercise works for 427 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 3: us and what that means to you is what that 428 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 3: means to you, right, what are your goals? Are you 429 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 3: doing this to feel better mentally? Are you doing this 430 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 3: to feel more alert or to battle fatigue? Are you 431 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 3: doing this for weight loss? So find the exercise and 432 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 3: the eating habits that work for you, that make you 433 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 3: feel good, that make you feel happy. One of the 434 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 3: first things that we'll get told is don't do this 435 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 3: or eat less of this. Find someone who can work 436 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 3: with you, who can guide you to adding things to 437 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 3: your life that make you feel good. Right, Adding foods 438 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 3: to your life, adding practices, adding exercise, adding hobbies to 439 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 3: your life that make you feel good, because when you 440 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 3: do feel good, you do feel more accomplished and ready 441 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 3: to take on whatever challenges you are And let's be real, 442 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 3: PCOS is a challenge, and that's why it was we 443 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 3: named the organization PCOS Challenge because it is a challenge 444 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 3: to have this diagnosis. But then once you do find 445 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 3: the strength, once you do become empowered, you can challenge 446 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 3: this condition to live your best life. So find what 447 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 3: makes you happy. 448 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 2: That's number one. Two. 449 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 3: Find a healthcare team that also wants to work in 450 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 3: partnership with you, and that's what it is. It's supposed 451 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 3: to be working in partnership with you to achieve your goals. 452 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 2: What are your healthcare goals? 453 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:49,239 Speaker 3: Not the goals that your doctor sets for you, but 454 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 3: what you want to set for your life. And these 455 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,719 Speaker 3: are things that I had to learn and many people 456 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 3: had to learn as a part of the formula for 457 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 3: living a healthier life, not just with PCOS, but with anything, 458 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:07,479 Speaker 3: just living a healthier life. Find the healthcare team and 459 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 3: find a support team, whether that's your friends, your family. 460 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 3: Share what you're comfortable sharing and what you're not comfortable 461 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 3: sharing with your family and friends, share it with your therapists, 462 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 3: right because people are going to say things. People are 463 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 3: going to say things that can bring you down. I 464 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 3: was just at a conference, an infertility conference, where people 465 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 3: would share what their family members would say to them, 466 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 3: why aren't you giving him them babies? You know, things 467 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 3: that can feel like daggers to your heart and soul. 468 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 3: And people sometimes aren't doing this maliciously, but they just 469 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 3: don't know or sometimes I think we need to tell them. 470 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 3: But share what you're comfortable with. So yeah, that's the formula. 471 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 3: Find your people, whether it's in the medical field and 472 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 3: or your personal space, your personal community, and find the 473 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 3: things that make you happy. Because they're going to be 474 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 3: different types of medications that come at you, different types 475 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 3: of supplements, different types of diets and eating plans that 476 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 3: you may make your head spin. I think the one 477 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 3: thing that should connect the dots for you and your 478 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 3: health is that this brings you joy. 479 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 2: This brings you joy. 480 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 3: So that's my personal message, and I just want everyone 481 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 3: with PCOIS to know that whether you're dealing with infertility, 482 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,640 Speaker 3: whether you're dealing with trying to lose weight or body 483 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 3: image issues, or just loneliness. It can be a lonely 484 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 3: diagnosis to navigate. Just know that there's hope, there's an 485 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 3: organization that is advocating on behalf of you, but that 486 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 3: you can also feel empowered by joining us and advocate 487 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 3: on behalf of yourself and the other millions who are 488 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 3: dealing with PCOS. 489 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 1: So, Sasha, In addition to PCOS Challenge, are there other 490 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: organizations or documentaries or social media accounts that you would 491 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 1: suggest for somebody who's wanting to learn more information or 492 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: get some additional support. 493 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, well, definitely PCOS Challenge. There are a few 494 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 3: organizations and very few around the world. I don't think 495 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 3: it needs to be specific to PCOS. And one of 496 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 3: the things that I found is that I would get 497 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 3: fatigued being hyper focused on whatever it is that's troubling me. 498 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 3: And this is one thing that and I've personally taken 499 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 3: social media breaks, so I connect with people in person 500 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 3: a lot more than I do on social media. What 501 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 3: you consume on the Internet or wherever, make it well rounded, right, 502 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 3: Try things that you hadn't tried before. Meet people, even 503 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 3: if you're an intro meet people who are like minded, 504 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 3: who have similar interests. So your life does not need 505 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:12,959 Speaker 3: to revolve around having PCOS, even if you do have PCOS. 506 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 3: That's what I think. Just expand your interests too, find 507 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 3: things out there that don't always have to remind you 508 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:24,080 Speaker 3: about your diagnosis. 509 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:27,759 Speaker 2: Right, So, yeah, that's actually my response to that. 510 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:30,400 Speaker 1: Got it? Well? Thank you so much for that, Sasha. 511 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 1: And where can we stay connected with you? What is 512 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: your website as well as any social media channels you'd 513 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 1: like to share? 514 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 3: So it's at PCOS Challenge on Socials and website is 515 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 3: PCOS Challenge dot org. 516 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 2: Perfect. 517 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: We'll be sure to include all of that in the 518 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: show notes. Thank you so much for joining us, Sasha. 519 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 3: Thanks doctor Joy for having me, and thanks for the 520 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 3: wonderful work that you do for a community. Thank you. 521 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. I'm so glad Sasha was able to 522 00:34:58,719 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 1: join us for this episode. To learn more about her 523 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: and the work she's doing, be sure to visit the 524 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: show notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Session 525 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,880 Speaker 1: three seventy eight, and don't forget to text this episode 526 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 1: to two of your girls right now. If you're looking 527 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 1: for a therapist in your area, visit our therapist directory 528 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 1: at Therapy for blackgirls dot com slash directory and if 529 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 1: you want to continue digging into this topic or just 530 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,800 Speaker 1: be in community with other sisters, come on over and 531 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: join us in the Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner 532 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 1: of the Internet designed just for black women. You can 533 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:31,200 Speaker 1: join us at Community dot Therapy for blackgirls dot com. 534 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,520 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Elise Ellis and Zaria Taylor. 535 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much 536 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: for joining me again this week. I look forward to 537 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 1: continuing this conversation with you all real soon. Take good care. 538 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:48,719 Speaker 4: What's