I've been posting about this many times now but I believe this issue needs to be emphasized more, even if the TRO has been lifted. This is long. Bear with me.
Oh. And if talking about blood and reproductive parts gross you out, you can stop here.
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I was 14 when I got my first period. To be honest I got more excited than scared when I saw blood straight out of my vagina. I know, gross, right? But that's how it is. No sugarcoating.
I considered it as my entry to adolescence. I was a legit lady and my female hormones were already working.
I wasn't dysfunctional. Or was I?
I was getting used to this monthly scheduled thing. Then a year after, there was this certain month when it forgot about me. No visits—at all.
Another month passed. And another, and then another. Four months of drought down there. I panicked and told my parents.
My father brought me to a male obstetrician. (Yup, it was Papa. And a male OB. Awkwaaaard.)
"Wala namang boyfriend, di ba?" The OB chuckled. I shook my head no. Papa was eyeing at me attentively, then he laughed.
The consultation was quick. The doctor had this tool which he hovered around my tummy to check if anything eerie was there. (I didn't know what an ultrasound looks like before but I bet now it was that.) Then he poked parts of my stomach and asked if I felt any pain at all.
Nada.
"Okay, dahil bata pa siya, normal pa 'yan. Irregular mens niya pero sigurado magiging normal lang 'yan kapag nag-asawa na siya," he said to my dad. Then again, he let out a laugh.
I was 14 and it was normal. Skipping periods is normal. So I let it be.
Fast forward to years ahead. I was already 24. With a normal boyfriend. But still, with an abnormal menstruation period.
Of course, I didn't plan to get married that time just to fix my cycle. So decided to have another check with the OB. It took me ten years later for that.
As a hypochondriac, I really had to have the courage to push myself for a check up. I prayed hard, ate a decent breakfast, before I leave my apartment. (My parents were in the province by that time so I had to go alone.)
Luckily, the OB scheduled for that day was a woman. Uhm, I have nothing against male doctors but when we're talking about my lady parts here, it's undeniably less awkward.
She was really nice. She asked me to lie down and took out her ultrasound tool (finally got it right this time), pressed my abdomen here and there, and asked if there was pain. There was none, actually.
She prescribed some medication I can take for a week, which eventually made me bleed, and I had to come back for another consultation on the following week.
On the next consultation, I was advised to undergo a transrectal ultrasound, just so they could check thoroughly.
When the results came out, the doctor said I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and one of my ovaries have cysts (I forgot if it was the left one or the right one). Imagine how I was when I got the news.
My menstrual cycle was irregular because of this PCOS. I was told that due to hormonal imbalance, this condition can lead to bad acne and breakouts, unusual facial hair, and weight gain. It was a good thing I did not have hair or pimples all over, but now I know the reason why it was always a challenge for me to lose weight.
The doctor however assured that it wasn't that dangerous. But, if I did not take care of myself well, it could lead to diabetes and heart disease. I don't want that to happen.
She did not ask me to maintain a diet though. What she did prescribed was contraceptive pills—or Althea. For 21 days, I have to take those pills which cost more than what I expected. A box is around PHP350-400. It was really a burden because for I have shell out that much every month for pills. I had to stop for about a year, so my ovaries' stopped cooperating as well.
Good thing I asked for second opinion from another OB, who then prescribed me to take Trust Pills, which costs only P40 a box.
It went on like that. It was a monthly thing. I have to religiously take my pills, on time, for 21 days, and placebo pills for seven days thereafter.
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In June 2015, the Supreme Court ordered the Food and Drug Administration to stop renewing the certificate of product registration of contraceptive pills. Which meant from that date up to two years (certificate's validity), the pills will be phased out.
I thought, how about the other girls who have the same condition but experienced even worse? Those who have bad acne, skin breakout, excessive body hair, or even those bordering to diabetes?
They keep making us believe that pills are just for sex, just to avoid getting pregnant. It's not.
The biggest disadvantage is that not a lot of people know that PCOS is an actual condition and not just an excuse. The effects like mood swings and many others are caused by hormonal imbalance.
Like any other sickness or disease, it's not something we choose to have. We're not just nag-iinarte. Think of it as having PMS whole year round. That's how it is.
In 2017, I started hoarding boxes of Trust Pills. After I read the news, I have been buying 4-5 boxes every month. I check the expiration date just to be sure.
If it runs out, I don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I can ask my relatives from US to buy me some contraceptives? But I am still hoping the government can talk some sense into it.
I chanced upon this article wherein a PCOS girl treated herself with strict diet and exercise. (I am not sure if her ovary cysts disappeared, but her menstrual cycle normalized). That will probably be my alternative if I run out of pills. Not an easy one, but worth a try.
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In November 2017, good news came. DOH announced that the TRO on contraceptives has been lifted.
It was a relief. But it does not stop there. Have you ever tried buying condoms in a convenience store while suspicious/judgmental eyes stare at you? Now that happens the same when getting contraceptives. Take it from me.
I even experienced one time when this guy beside me at the Mercury Drug counter let out a low gasp when I said, "Trust pills po."
The battle does not stop here. Like any other disorder or condition, we have to educate people what PCOS is about. It may not be visible on the outside, but I can tell, many girls have it worse day by day. Stats even showed that 1 out of 10 girls have it.
Here's to hoping a lot of people would understand how it is like. Here's to hoping more and more #PCOSWarriors are brave enough to fight.
And here's to hoping that it does not stop here—with a period.