Forty, Still Rising: A Birthday Story About PCOS, Womanhood, and Finding My Voice as a Filipino Woman

It’s my birthday today. 🎂

Turning forty made me pause not because I feel old, but because I finally feel awake.

This birthday is not about counting years; it is about understanding what those years taught me. After four decades of living, loving, struggling, and healing, I can finally say this with clarity: I am not done dreaming, I am not done fighting, and I am not done speaking.

This blog is my way of honoring my journey, my body, and my voice as a woman living with PCOS. This is my story, written with honesty and hope, by Reese. 💗

Turning Forty as a Filipino Woman With a Voice

For many women, especially Filipino women, turning forty can feel like a quiet pressure to slow down.

Society often expects us to be settled, silent, and grateful for whatever life gives us. But reaching this age gave me something powerful—clarity. I now understand what truly matters and what I no longer need to carry.

Forty did not weaken me; it strengthened my sense of self.

At this stage of my life, I am no longer chasing approval. I am choosing alignment, peace, and purpose. I know my limits, I know my needs, and I know my worth. This decade is not about proving myself to anyone else.

It is about showing up fully for myself and for the women who see their stories reflected in mine.

A Promise I Made After Forty Years of Living

In forty years, life has tested me in ways I never imagined.

I experienced doubt, exhaustion, and moments when giving up felt easier than continuing. But deep inside, one promise remained steady: hindi ako titigil mangarap. I will not stop believing that growth is possible, even when the journey feels slow.

This promise is not dramatic or loud.

It shows up quietly in my daily choices—choosing to rest when my body needs it, choosing to learn when I feel confused, and choosing to hope even when answers are unclear.

These small decisions built the woman I am today.

Living With PCOS: Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a daily experience that affects both body and mind.

PCOS is a hormonal condition that impacts menstrual cycles, weight, energy levels, skin health, fertility, and emotional well-being. Some days, the symptoms are physical.

Other days, the struggle is mental and emotional.

PCOS taught me patience and self-awareness. For years, I blamed myself for symptoms I did not understand. I thought my body was failing me. Over time, I learned that my body was not broken—it was communicating.

Understanding PCOS helped me shift from self-blame to self-compassion.

Why PCOS Awareness Matters in the Philippines

PCOS awareness in the Philippines remains limited.

Many women are undiagnosed or misinformed because conversations about hormonal health are still rare. PCOS symptoms are often dismissed as normal stress, lifestyle issues, or lack of discipline.

This lack of awareness delays proper diagnosis and treatment.

Women are left confused, frustrated, and emotionally drained. Talking openly about PCOS helps normalize the condition and encourages women to seek medical advice earlier, improving long-term health outcomes.

Being Unheard in Women’s Healthcare

One of the hardest parts of my PCOS journey was feeling unheard by healthcare providers.

Explaining symptoms repeatedly and feeling dismissed can deeply affect a woman’s confidence. I often questioned my own experiences instead of trusting my body.

Advocating for my health was not easy, but it was necessary.

Women deserve healthcare that listens, understands, and responds with empathy. Being heard should not be a privilege—it should be a standard.

Babae Ako: Embracing Womanhood With PCOS

Being a woman means living in a body that changes constantly.

Babae ako, and my hormones, emotions, and cycles are part of who I am. PCOS does not define my worth or limit my potential.

For many women, living with PCOS comes with shame and confusion. I choose a different path. I choose understanding over judgment and care over silence.

My body deserves patience, not criticism.

Why I Choose to Share My PCOS Journey

For a long time, I stayed quiet about my struggles.

I believed my experiences were too personal to share. But silence created isolation. When I began sharing my PCOS journey, I discovered connection.

Women reached out to me with stories that sounded just like mine. They realized they were not alone. That moment changed everything.

My voice became a bridge for understanding and support.

Representation in Women’s Health Stories

Representation matters in women’s health.

When women see stories that reflect their struggles, they feel validated. They learn that their symptoms are real and deserving of care.

PCOS representation encourages women to ask questions, seek treatment, and advocate for themselves.

Awareness saves time, energy, and emotional well-being.

From Personal Healing to Women’s Health Advocacy

My healing journey slowly transformed into advocacy.

Learning about PCOS empowered me to help other women navigate their health journeys. Knowledge created confidence.

Sharing my story is now a responsibility I embrace. If my experience helps another woman understand her body better, then my journey has meaning beyond myself.

Access to PCOS Care and Women’s Health Support

Women with PCOS deserve access to affordable healthcare, accurate testing, and compassionate providers.

Hormonal health education should be available to all women, regardless of income or background.Understanding our bodies is not a luxury. It is a basic right. Proper access to care improves quality of life and long-term health.

Learning how hormones affect my body helped me release years of guilt and confusion. Each symptom became information rather than failure.

Hindi pala ako sira. I was simply uninformed. Education helped me reclaim my confidence and trust my body again.

Forty and Still Becoming

Turning forty does not mean my growth has ended. I am still learning, still evolving, and still becoming the woman I am meant to be. This stage of my life is about balance, awareness, and intention.

Mas buo at mas matatag si Reese ngayon. 💗 I choose to live honestly and speak with purpose.

If you are living with PCOS and feel invisible, know that your experience matters. If you feel unheard, your feelings are valid.

Nakikita kita. Naririnig kita. You deserve understanding, care, and respect.

A Birthday Promise for Women’s Health

On my birthday, I promise to keep learning, sharing, and advocating for women’s health.

I will continue creating spaces where women feel safe to ask questions and empowered to seek answers.

Hindi ako titigil—hindi ngayon, at hindi kailanman.

This story is not the end—it is the beginning of a louder, braver chapter. Forty gave me clarity, courage, and compassion.

This is my journey, written with honesty and hope. If this blog helps even one woman feel understood in her body, then every word is worth it.

Love,

Reese. 💗

PCOS Millennials