I had heard a lot about PCOS before I was diagnosed. I knew that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome could affect your menstrual cycle and make it more difficult to fall pregnant, but I had always associated it with obvious symptoms like very irregular, painful or heavy periods.

So when I came off the pill and had regular, generally pain-free periods for three years, I assumed I was fine.

I certainly never imagined that PCOS would become part of my story.

Falling Pregnant

Towards the end of 2021, my husband and I started talking about having a family. We weren’t officially “trying” yet, but we definitely started becoming a little more relaxed about timing and contraception.

At the same time, I was following a fairly strict diet to reduce my body fat, running regularly and really enjoying my training. I was probably the fittest, strongest and leanest I had been in my adult life.

So when we got that positive pregnancy test, I assumed we’d simply been lucky with the timing.

My pregnancy went incredibly well. I had no major issues other than extreme fatigue and becoming VERY uncomfortable towards the end. My son was around 3.7 kg and seemed perfectly happy to remain tucked up underneath my ribs!

Then he arrived, and we entered the newborn bubble.

The early days of parenthood were magical. My son was a dream. He ate well, slept well and hit his early milestones as expected.

But while he was thriving, my body was going through changes I didn’t yet understand.

Struggling to Lose Weight After Pregnancy

I’d always heard that breastfeeding was amazing for postpartum weight loss.

I wasn’t relying on breastfeeding as a weight-loss strategy because my priority was making sure I was eating and drinking enough to feed my baby properly. So when the weight didn’t immediately start falling off, I wasn’t particularly concerned.

I stopped breastfeeding at five months when I returned to work, and that’s when I started paying a little more attention to my diet again.

But returning to work was difficult.

The stress of being back at work, combined with the anxiety I felt about leaving my tiny baby for so many hours each day, really took its toll. I’m a comfort eater, so once again, I wasn’t particularly surprised that I wasn’t losing weight.

Eventually, life started settling into a routine. Leaving my son became more “acceptable” to me, I started running regularly again, and I began tracking my food intake and calories more carefully.

I also assumed that, now that I was no longer breastfeeding, my menstrual cycle would eventually return to normal and my body would start feeling like mine again.

Except it didn’t.

When I Realised Something Wasn’t Right

After a few months of calorie counting, eating well, exercising regularly and getting fairly decent sleep, I expected to see results.

But there was almost nothing.

I was getting fitter. My running was improving. I was exercising consistently.

But my body wasn’t changing shape, and the number on the scale barely moved.

Weight loss wasn’t the only thing that made me start questioning what was going on.

My periods were very irregular. My sex drive had disappeared. My skin had also completely changed. I’d traditionally had oily skin, but suddenly it was extremely dry and flaky.

I started wondering whether my hormones had returned to normal after pregnancy.

Could something be going on with my thyroid?

Was there another reason I wasn’t feeling like myself?

Eventually, I booked an appointment with a women’s health GP and asked for blood tests.

My PCOS Diagnosis

Ten days after having the blood tests, I got the news:

I had PCOS — Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

I was shocked.

My immediate thoughts went to all the things I’d heard about PCOS over the years, particularly fertility problems and ovarian cysts.

And, of course, my mind immediately jumped to the possibility of having another child.

How had I fallen pregnant relatively easily the first time?

My doctor was surprised by my hormone results given that I’d conceived without fertility treatment. We discussed the possibility that my lifestyle and overall health at the time may have been supportive of my fertility, although PCOS and fertility are complex and everyone’s experience is different.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned through this experience is that PCOS doesn’t necessarily look the way you expect it to.

I had regular periods before pregnancy.

I didn’t have the symptoms I had always associated with PCOS.

I fell pregnant naturally.

And yet, here I was with a diagnosis.

What Happens Next?

For now, my focus is on understanding my body and getting back to feeling like myself.

After discussing my options with my doctor, I’ve started taking the contraceptive pill. It wasn’t something I particularly wanted to go back onto, but at this stage it’s the treatment option we’ve chosen to help manage my symptoms.

It’s still very early days.

I’ve only been taking it for two weeks, so I can’t draw any big conclusions yet. However, I’ve already lost around 1 kg and, interestingly, I’ve noticed a huge difference in my cravings and ability to control my intake of sweet foods.

That has probably been one of the biggest surprises for me.

I’d spent so much time blaming myself for struggling with food and wondering why the discipline I’d previously had seemed to have disappeared. Experiencing such a noticeable change has made me appreciate just how much our hormones can influence appetite, cravings, energy and how we feel day to day.

What Does PCOS Mean for Another Pregnancy?

One of the questions we’re often asked is whether we’ll have another child.

Before my diagnosis, that already wasn’t a simple question. Now, PCOS has added another layer to the decision.

PCOS can affect ovulation and fertility, but it doesn’t automatically mean that someone cannot fall pregnant. There are also treatment options available for women with PCOS who need help conceiving.

For me, though, it’s not only about whether another pregnancy is possible.

I’m still deciding whether I want to put the emotional pressure of actively trying for another baby onto myself and my marriage.

And that’s okay.

Right now, my focus isn’t on baby number two.

It’s on looking after myself, getting stronger and fitter again, understanding what my body needs, and giving the precious child we already have the best life we possibly can.

What My PCOS Diagnosis Has Taught Me

If there’s one thing I hope someone takes away from reading my story, it’s that PCOS doesn’t always look the way you think it will.

You don’t necessarily have to tick every stereotypical box.

My body was giving me signs: irregular periods, changes in my skin, changes in libido, stubborn weight despite consistent habits and a general feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

I’m glad I listened.

If you’re experiencing persistent changes in your menstrual cycle or other symptoms that concern you, speak to a qualified healthcare professional rather than assuming it’s simply part of life after pregnancy.

This is only the beginning of my PCOS journey, and I’m still figuring out what works for me.

But for now, I’m focusing less on fighting my body and more on understanding it.