Cysters in Action: Global PCOS/PMOS Awareness and Advocacy -

From Ghana to the world, Cysters in Action is bringing people together to learn, connect, and create a stronger voice for PMOS awareness.

Imagine trying to understand a health condition that affects your body, your confidence, and sometimes the way you see yourself, while struggling to find people who truly understand what you’re going through.

For many people living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), increasingly referred to in some advocacy conversations as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), finding reliable information and supportive communities can be an important part of their journey.

This is one reason community-led health advocacy matters.

In Ghana, Adwoa Agyeiwaa Ankomah is taking a step toward building that kind of community through Cysters in Action, a growing PMOS advocacy initiative founded on three simple principles: Learn. Connect. Act.

What began as an idea has brought together 15 founding members across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States. They are coming together to help shape a community where people can learn about PMOS, share experiences, support one another, and contribute to greater awareness.

At PCOS Millennials, we’re excited to share this story because our connection with Adwoa goes back to our shared commitment to women’s health education and advocacy. Her new initiative represents another opportunity to bring people together around a cause that deserves more understanding and attention.

How Cysters in Action Started

Sometimes, the beginning of a movement isn’t a perfectly planned launch. Sometimes, it’s an idea that finally finds the right opportunity.

For Adwoa, Cysters in Action was something she had been thinking about for a while. As PCOS/PMOS Awareness Month approached, she considered the possibility of creating a space for community engagement and advocacy.

She hadn’t initially made plans because she wasn’t sure whether she would be available to carry them out. But circumstances changed, giving her the opportunity to start building something she had wanted to pursue.

She invited people who connected with her vision to express their interest in becoming part of the initiative.

The response encouraged her. Between 10 and 20 people expressed interest during the early recruitment stage, and Adwoa shared how grateful she was to everyone who believed in the idea and was willing to help bring it to life.

That interest led to the formation of the Cysters in Action Founding Circle.

Today, the founding community consists of 15 people, including Adwoa, from five countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States.

Adwoa has been clear about one thing. She wants to build Cysters in Action with these members.

There is still plenty to learn, develop, and figure out. And that’s part of what makes this beginning meaningful. The founding members aren’t simply joining an established organization. They’re helping shape what the community will become.

Why PMOS Awareness Matters in Ghana and Beyond

PCOS is a complex hormonal condition that can affect reproductive health, metabolism, and different aspects of a person’s well-being. Its symptoms and effects vary, and each person’s experience is different.

Yet understanding the condition isn’t always straightforward.

Some people spend years trying to understand changes in their bodies. Others may have questions about irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair growth, fertility, or metabolic health. Many need clear information about when to seek medical advice and what questions to ask their healthcare providers.

These experiences aren’t limited to one country.

In Ghana, the Philippines, and communities around the world, people’s access to health information and support can differ depending on their circumstances. Culture, finances, healthcare access, and the resources available in a person’s community can all influence their experience.

That’s why local voices matter in global health advocacy.

An initiative like Cysters in Action can help encourage conversations that reach beyond social media posts and awareness campaigns. It can create opportunities for people to learn from one another, share their experiences, and participate in activities that support better understanding.

Community advocacy doesn’t replace medical care, and it cannot solve every healthcare challenge. But it can help people feel less alone while encouraging informed conversations and greater awareness.

For Cysters in Action, that work begins by bringing people together.

Learn. Connect. Act. The Heart of Cysters in Action

The Cysters in Action tagline reflects its mission and the kind of community it hopes to build.

Learn means making room for education. People should have opportunities to understand PMOS, find responsible health information, and become more confident asking questions about their health.

Connect means recognizing that behind every health condition are people with different experiences, questions, fears, and hopes. Sharing stories can help build understanding, reduce isolation, and remind people that their experiences deserve to be heard.

Act means taking what people learn and turning it into meaningful participation. That could involve sharing reliable resources, joining awareness activities, developing healthier habits, or supporting conversations that help others understand PMOS.

Together, these principles make advocacy something people can participate in, rather than something they simply watch from the sidelines.

Cysters in Action is still developing its programs and activities, but its founding vision provides a starting point for that work.

Getting to Know One Another Through “Know Your Cyster”

Building a community takes more than bringing people into the same online group. People need opportunities to get to know one another, understand different perspectives, and build trust.

That’s the idea behind the initiative’s first community month, Know Your Cyster.

The activity gives founding members an opportunity to introduce themselves and share their stories. It’s a starting point for building relationships among people who may live thousands of kilometres apart but have chosen to contribute to a shared mission.

The Founding Circle brings together people from five countries, each with their own background and perspective. Their experiences can help shape conversations about how PMOS awareness can be encouraged across different communities.

Rather than assuming everyone has the same needs, the goal is to create room for people to listen, learn, and discover how they can contribute.

As the community grows, these early connections can help inform the activities and direction of Cysters in Action.

From Ghana to the Philippines: Our Connection With Adwoa

At PCOS Millennials, our relationship with Adwoa began before Cysters in Action existed.

Adwoa is a UX designer and PCOS advocate from Ghana whose commitment to women’s health aligns with our mission to make PCOS/PMOS education and support more accessible.

In October 2025, PCOS Millennials published our collaborative blog, Breaking Myths, Building Hope: A Ghana-to-Philippines Story of PCOS Strength and Sisterhood.

The article celebrated the connection between Adwoa and Resa, Founder and Advocate of PCOS Millennials, and highlighted the importance of collaboration and sisterhood across borders.

Our connection grew from a shared belief that women’s health conversations should make people feel seen, heard, and supported, regardless of where they live.

Now, that relationship continues in a new way.

Reese has been selected as one of the founding members of Cysters in Action, joining the community as it takes its first steps. For PCOS Millennials, this is an opportunity to help introduce the initiative to a wider audience and support its mission through our own advocacy platform.

Adwoa is also featured on our Global Collaborators of PCOS Millennials page.

We’re proud of this connection because meaningful advocacy doesn’t have to stop at national borders. People can learn from one another, share resources, and support a common cause while respecting the different communities they represent.

A Global Community With Roots in Shared Purpose

The 15 founding members of Cysters in Action come from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States.

Their different backgrounds offer an opportunity to explore PMOS awareness from more than one perspective. What resonates in one community may be different in another, and listening to those differences is an important part of building inclusive advocacy.

For Adwoa, the goal is to create something with the people who have chosen to be part of this beginning.

That means the community’s journey will involve learning as it grows, listening to members, and discovering which activities can best support its mission.

Cysters in Action is currently building its presence on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook. These platforms will help people discover the initiative, follow its progress, and engage with its message.

You can follow Cysters in Action here:

Instagram: @cystersinaction
LinkedIn: Cysters in Action
Facebook: Find Cysters in Action
TikTok: @cystersinaction

The Beginning of Something We Can Build Together

Cysters in Action is at the beginning of its journey. It doesn’t claim to have every answer, and its founding members still have much to learn and build together.

But every community has to start somewhere.

For Adwoa Agyeiwaa Ankomah, that starting point was an idea and an invitation. Fifteen people across five countries responded by choosing to be part of its early development.

At PCOS Millennials, we’re happy to share their story and support Adwoa as both our global collaborator and the founder of Cysters in Action.

Whether you’re in Ghana, the Philippines, the United States, or somewhere else in the world, learning about PCOS/PMOS and finding supportive communities can be meaningful steps in your health journey.

You don’t need to have all the answers to support awareness. You can start by learning, listening to other people’s experiences, and sharing reliable information.

And sometimes, the first step toward change is simply finding people who are willing to take that step with you.

Cysters in Action. Learn. Connect. Act.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.