March 24, 2017 3.45 pm
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Lincolnshire Talks: Why is there still a stigma for women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome?
One in five women in the UK suffer with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), meaning thousands of women in Lincolnshire alone are affected. Despite this, so many are still left feeling embarrassed and ashamed as a result of some of their symptoms. So, if it is so common, why is there still a stigma around the…
Why is there still a stigma around polycystic ovary syndrome. Photo: Tina Beznec
One in five women in the UK suffer with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), meaning thousands of women in Lincolnshire alone are affected. Despite this, so many are still left feeling embarrassed and ashamed as a result of some of their symptoms. So, if it is so common, why is there still a stigma around the condition?
PCOS affects how ovaries work. Polycystic ovaries are enlarged ovaries that contain numerous fluid-filled sacs that surround eggs.
If a woman has PCOS, these eggs might not be released. Ovulation may become irregular or it may halt altogether, causing the sufferer a great deal of pain and an increase of hormone levels in the body.
Despite the name, PCOS does not always mean there are cysts on the ovaries.
Most women are diagnosed in their late teens or early 20s.
The symptoms of PCOS vary greatly from person to person, but common ones include irregular periods, oily skin or acne, and excess hair growth on the face, stomach, chest or back (known as hirsutism).
There is no known cause of PCOS; however, there are signs that it runs in families and is related to abnormal hormone levels, including high levels of insulin.
Women who have the condition may also be susceptible to developing type two diabetes and high cholesterol levels in later life.
There is no cure for the condition, but there are various treatments that can help sufferers manage their symptoms.
It is often the excess hair growth that causes many women embarrassment. In September 2016, an Australian PCOS sufferer called Tina-Marie Beznec posted pictures of herself on Facebook shaving her face.
This prompted many responses; most were kind, but some could only be described as ignorant. Given the normality of the condition, it was surprising to see people’s reactions.
Tina Beznec shaved her face and posted it on social media to raise awareness of PCOS. Photo: Tina Beznec
Gemma Thompson, 19, who lives Lincoln, was diagnosed with PCOS when she was only 13.
She said: “I started menstruating when I was 13 and, all of a sudden, my periods stopped and were replaced with agonising pelvic pain.
“Around the same time, I became incredibly spotty and started to see more excess hair growth on my face and other parts of my body.”
Gemma Thompson, 19, has suffered with PCOS since she was 13
Doctors told Gemma she was just going through puberty and that her periods had not settled down yet because she was still so young.
After a year of searing abdominal pain, Gemma went back to the doctors and had a scan of her ovaries.
Her results showed that she had several small cysts.
After being told her cysts were benign, she was put on metformin (a medication largely used to treat type two diabetes).
She said: “I still get self-conscious about the acne and excess hair but largely, everything has calmed down. I still get a little bit of pain at my time of the month, but it’s mostly disappeared.
“My advice would be to go to your GP no matter what your age. If it persists keep on going to the doctors. It took a lot of persistence on my part to get treated but I’m just glad that I can now live a more normal, pain-free life.”
Megan Taylor is a second year student studying journalism at the University of Lincoln. She has a keen interest in print and online journalism. She feels passionately about engaging local people in discussions about issues that affect them and to make it easy for people to access important information as quickly as possible.
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Have I Got News For You star Paul Merton will perform his show ‘Impro Chums’ on stage at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln later this month.
Merton, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike McShane, and accompanist Kirsty Newton are back on the road, with Lincoln among the stops on the tour for an evening of improvisation.
Tickets are on sale priced at £25 for the show at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 31 – buy your tickets here.
Merton is a writer, actor, comedian and radio and television present, who is known for his improvisation skill and deadpan humour. He is a founder member of The Comedy Store Players and still appears at the Comedy Store in London most Sundays.
The 64-year-old is also a resident guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute and his travel series on Channel Five called Paul Merton’s Adventures covered India, China and Europe. Last summer he co-stared with Suki Website in Motorhoming with Paul Merton as part of a six-part travel documentary for Channel 5.
His autobiography ‘Only When I Laugh’ reached the Sunday Times bestseller Top 10.
A 22-year-old man who died in a motorbike crash in Lincoln will be given a final send off with a rip-roaring procession on the way to his funeral.
Connor Peters, 22, tragically died in a crash on the B1190 Lincoln Road on Monday, May 9, as his black Lexmoto motorcycle collided with a white Isuzu van.
He unfortunately died at the scene, and a fundraiser was set up for the “cheeky, loveable rogue” to have the send off “he deserves”. At the time of reporting there is a remarkable £5,000 on the GoFundMe page, which you can visit here.
Connor Peters, pictured here with his mum, tragically died in a crash on Monday, May 9. | Photo: GoFundMe
Now, plans have been made for a motorbike procession to join the hearse taking Connor to his funeral service. The event, titled Connor Peters’ Last Ride, has been organised by his brother Josh.
It will take place at 11.50am on Monday, June 13, starting from Larne Road in Lincoln.
Josh says on the event’s Facebook page: “As a family, we are wanting a full motorcycle procession behind the funeral car, we want as many bikes, trikes, mopeds anything. We want so much noise remove all baffles removed, pops and bangs enough so he can hear from up there.
“Connor was a 22 year old lad that was full of life and was loved by so many, he loved his little 125cc, he thought that he had finally hit the big time but due to a awful turn of events he lost his life doing something he loved.
“For many of us bikers we can understand the love and passion he had for that short period of time. A biker fallen hits us all but we all club together to make an effort to remember those we lost.”
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