Explainer | PCOS affects 10 per cent of women of reproductive age, including Victoria Beckham and Keke Palmer; how to tell if you have it
- Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome include irregular periods, mood swings, acne, facial hair growth and fatigue
- Three Malaysian women launched support group My PCOS I Love You to help fellow PCOS sufferers and their loved ones
At 17, Malaysian Deena Marzuki was diagnosed with PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. Her periods became irregular and she struggled with problems ranging from excessive hair growth and mood swings to fatigue, migraines and weight gain.
Her doctor gave her birth control pills to counteract the hormone imbalance, but the medication didn’t help.
“Even though I was physically active and eating very little, my weight continued to creep up, which bothered me,” says the now-32-year-old social entrepreneur, who lives in Kuala Lumpur.
“Between 17 and 23 I took illicit drugs, hoping they’d help me stay slim. Within months of losing my addiction and quitting those drugs, my weight ballooned from 49kg to 130kg. It was a frustrating time.
Her mood swings affected her daily life and ruined some of her closest relationships. “I’d get angry for no reason. People called me crazy and dramatic and cut me out of their lives. My ex-boyfriends thought I was psychotic,” she says.
