PCOS Millennials

Isa sa mga what-ifs ko sa buhay na paulit-ulit kong naiisip.

“What if wala akong PCOS?”

“What if maaga kaming nabiyayaan ng anak?”

“What if ibang landas ang tinahak ko?”

Hindi natin maiiwasan mag-isip ng ganito, lalo na kapag gabi na at tahimik ang paligid. ‘Yung tipong tapos na ang lahat ng gawain, pero gising pa rin ang puso’t isip mo — bumabalik sa mga tanong na hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring kasagutan.

Saan Nga Ba Lahat Nagsimula?

Like many women, I grew up dreaming of a better life — hindi sobra, pero sapat. I didn’t dream of luxury or grand vacations.

Ang gusto ko lang ay simple: ‘Yung hindi ko kailangang mangutang para kumain, ‘yung kaya kong bilhin ang gusto ko, ‘yung hindi ako mangingiming tumingin sa menu dahil alam kong kaya ko itong bayaran.

Galing ako sa isang pamilyang hindi ganoon kaginhawa sa buhay.

Lumaki akong puno ng pangarap. At dahil hindi nga kami mayaman, I became a working student at 16 — turning 17 — and never looked back. I juggled my studies with work para lang makatapos.

Nakatapos ako ng 4-year course dahil sa tulong ng mga kamag-anak, scholarship, at syempre ng mga magulang ko. Wala silang kayamanan na maipapamana, pero binigay nila ang pinakamahalagang bagay — edukasyon.

Pero hindi doon nagtatapos ang laban.

Pagsusumikap Pa Rin, Kahit Pagod Na

After graduation, I immediately worked and started helping my family with their daily needs.

Lumipat ako sa boarding house na malapit sa trabaho para makaiwas sa traffic at gastos sa pamasahe. Ayoko man, pero kailangan.

Hindi ako tumigil mag-apply sa ibang trabaho. I was always looking for something better.

I even tried applying abroad, but it didn’t work out. Maybe because it wasn’t for me. Sabi nga nila, “If it’s meant for you, it will never pass you by.” So I trusted the process, kahit mahirap.

Eventually, I got married. Akala ko, everything was falling into place. After years of hard work, I was finally settling down.

Pero hindi pala gano’n kasimple.

Handa Ka Na, Pero Hindi Ka Pa Rin Binigyan

Ngayon na handa na kami magkaroon ng anak, bakit parang mas lalo pang naging imposible?

Hindi naman masamang mangarap. Hindi rin masamang sumubok ng sumubok. Pero minsan, mapapaisip ka: “May kapalit ba lahat ng pagpupursige ko noon?”

Yung katawan kong ginamit ko para kumayod ng maaga, para sa pamilya, para sa pangarap — ngayon, ito rin ang nagiging hadlang sa pangarap kong maging ina.

Ang Diagnosis na Bumago ng Lahat

Dito ko unang narinig ang salitang PCOS — Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

A term I didn’t understand at first. The first doctor I saw wasn’t helpful. Walang proper explanation, walang guidance. Parang inabot lang sa’kin ang isang papel, and I was sent out the door with more questions than answers.

Ang sakit, ‘di ba? You’re already confused and scared, and the people who are supposed to help you, barely try.

Na discussed ko yan sa aking blog na “When the Two Lines Fade: A Filipino Woman’s Journey of Faith, Infertility, and Unwavering Love”

As I started learning more, I realized I had many symptoms all along — irregular periods, weight gain, acne, hair thinning. But no one told me it was something serious. Akala ko kasi, normal lang ‘yun dahil pagod ako, stressed, o dahil tumatanda.

Pero hindi pala.

Hindi Lang Ako — Tayo ‘To

Sa bawat kwento ng PCOS, may kirot. Pero may pagkakaisa rin.

I found out I wasn’t alone. There are so many women like me — silently battling PCOS, infertility, hormonal imbalance, and all the emotional rollercoasters that come with it. Pero dahil tabu pa rin ito sa bansa natin, ang daming kababaihang nananahimik na lang.

Nahihiya.

Natatakot.

Napapagod.

For the longest time, I blamed myself. Maybe I worked too hard. Maybe I didn’t eat right. Maybe I should’ve visited the doctor earlier. Pero eventually, I learned to stop pointing fingers at myself — and others.

Because truth is, infertility is not just a “woman’s issue.”

My husband was also diagnosed with varicocele, which affects male fertility. Sa dami ng naririnig natin na “babae ang may problema.”

I want to tell you now — hindi totoo ‘yun. Men can also face reproductive health challenges, and we need to talk about that more openly.

This is why we need to stop blaming ourselves.

Sana Tatlo Na Kami Ngayon…

Kung wala siguro akong PCOS, baka tatlo na kami ngayon or apat na kami or lima na kami ngayon.

Baka mas maingay ang bahay, mas magulo — pero mas masaya. Baka mas marami na kaming nilalabhan. Baka may isa nang nagpapa-good night sa’min bawat gabi.

Pero wala pa. Wala pa rin.

And that hurts. It hurts more than words can explain.

Pero alam mo? Natutunan ko ring tanggapin. Dahil ang pagtanggap, unang hakbang ‘yan patungo sa healing.

What Can I Do?

Nasanay na tayong puro “What if?” pero kailangan na nating simulan ang bagong tanong:

“What can I do?”

“What can I do to manage my PCOS?“

“What can I do to feel better mentally and emotionally?“

“What can I do to find hope, kahit ang tagal na?“

Hindi madali. Hindi rin mabilis. Pero unti-unti, pwede.

Pwede tayong magsimula sa pagkilala sa sarili nating katawan. Sa pag-acknowledge ng sakit. Sa paghanap ng tamang doktor. Sa pagbibigay ng oras sa sarili — sa self-care, sa therapy kung kailangan, sa pagkain ng tama, sa pag-inom ng supplements, at higit sa lahat, sa pagdarasal.

We Need To Be Heard

Isa sa mga rason kung bakit ko ito sinusulat ay dahil alam kong hindi lang ako ang may kwentong ganito.

Alam kong marami tayong babae na tahimik na lumalaban, pero hindi naririnig.

That’s why I also wrote about “Government Support for Women with PCOS: What You Need to Know“.

Kasi kailangan natin ng boses. Kailangan nating sumigaw, hindi para magreklamo — kundi para mapakinggan.

Kailangan natin ng polisiya na makakatulong sa kababaihan. Free consultations, accessible diagnostics, mental health support, and education about reproductive health — hindi dapat pribilehiyo lang ‘yan. Dapat karapatan.

To the Woman Reading This…

Maybe you’re also battling PCOS.

Maybe you’re trying to conceive, and it’s been months — or years.

Maybe you’re single but already anxious if you can ever have a child.

Or maybe you just feel off lately, and you don’t know what’s happening to your body.

Let me tell you this:

You’re not alone.

You are strong — even on days when you feel weak.

You are enough — even when society tells you otherwise.

And one day, whether through your own child, adoption, fur babies, or the lives you touch — you will be a mother in your own way.

What You Can Do Today

If you feel seen by this story, here are a few things you can do starting today:

• Talk to a specialist – Find a doctor who will actually listen.
• Join a PCOS support group – Online or in-person, it helps to talk to those who understand.
• Take care of your body gently – Eat well, rest, move your body, not to punish it but to thank it.
• Educate others – Let’s normalize talking about PCOS, infertility, and reproductive health.
• Speak up – Whether online or in your community, your voice matters.
• Pray – For peace, strength, and guidance.

To the Government and Society

Hindi namin ito hiling. Hindi namin ito gusto. Pero kung ito ang ibinigay sa amin, sana hindi rin kami pabayaan.

Sana dumating ang panahon na ang bawat babae sa Pilipinas ay hindi na mahihiya magsalita tungkol sa menstrual issues, infertility, at hormonal imbalance.

Sana may sapat na suporta — hindi lang salita, kundi aksyon.

We are More Than Our Wombs

Hindi lang kami mga babae para manganak.

We are more than our wombs. We are warriors. We are providers. We are nurturers. We are leaders. We are dreamers.

At kahit wala pa ang “tatlo” na pinapangarap ko — ako pa rin ito, tayo ito.

Buo. Lumalaban.

If you’re someone with PCOS, trying to conceive, or just feel inspired by this story, I’d love to hear from you.

Share your journey, comment below, or send me a message.

Let’s build a community that uplifts, understands, and empowers one another.

Together, we are stronger.

Love,
Reese ❤️

Free eBook for Every Millennial Woman with PCOS: Your Ultimate Guide to Thriving with Hormonal Imbalance