PCOS Awareness Month:
Understanding, Compassion, and Support
September is PCOS Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects around 1 in 10 women. Despite how common it is, many people still don’t fully understand what PCOS involves. For those living with it, the impact can be physical, emotional, and deeply personal.
This month is an opportunity to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind anyone affected: you are not alone.
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal condition that can affect the ovaries, menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall wellbeing. While every woman’s experience is different, some of the more common symptoms include:
- Irregular or absent periods
- Difficulty conceiving
- Acne or oily skin
- Hair thinning or excess hair growth
- Weight changes or difficulty losing weight
- Fatigue
- Low mood or anxiety
These symptoms can vary in severity and may change over time. For some, PCOS mainly affects reproductive health, while for others it touches almost every part of daily life.
The Myth About Weight
One of the most damaging myths about PCOS is that weight causes it. In reality, weight gain is often a symptom, not the cause.
Hormonal imbalances and something called insulin resistance (more on that shortly) can make weight gain more likely, and make weight loss more difficult. Sadly, many women are told to “just lose weight,” which oversimplifies a complex condition and can leave them feeling blamed, shamed, and unsupported.
Weight stigma can also prevent women from receiving the care they truly need. PCOS is about so much more than body size, it’s about understanding hormones, health, and the whole person.
Insulin Resistance
A large proportion of women with PCOS also experience insulin resistance. But what does that mean?
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose (sugar) from food for energy. With insulin resistance, the body doesn’t respond properly to insulin. This means higher levels of insulin circulate in the blood. In turn, this can:
- Disrupt other hormones
- Increase levels of androgens (male-type hormones)
- Contribute to symptoms such as irregular cycles, acne, hair changes, and weight gain
- Leave women feeling fatigued or experiencing energy crashes
Understanding insulin resistance helps explain why lifestyle changes that focus on balance, stress reduction, and hormone support can be so beneficial.
It also highlights why PCOS is not caused by something women are “doing wrong.” It is a medical condition with complex hormonal roots.
The Emotional Side
Beyond the physical symptoms, PCOS can have a powerful impact on emotional wellbeing.
Feelings of frustration, low self-esteem, and anxiety are common. Struggles with fertility or repeated cycles of hope and disappointment can be particularly painful. Many women describe feeling as though their bodies are “working against them.”
This is why emotional support is just as important as medical care.
How Counselling Can Help
Counselling provides a safe, non-judgemental space to explore the emotional impact of PCOS. It can help to:
- Process feelings of loss or frustration around fertility or identity
- Reduce the weight of self-blame and shame
- Build self-compassion and confidence
- Find new ways of coping with stress, anxiety, or low mood
- Feel seen and understood in experiences that are often minimised by others
Talking about PCOS with someone who understands the emotional layers can bring a huge sense of relief.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help
Hypnotherapy can also be a gentle but powerful tool for supporting women with PCOS. It works by guiding the mind into a deeply relaxed state, where positive suggestions and visualisations can be more easily absorbed.
Hypnotherapy can support in areas such as:
- Stress reduction (important for hormone balance)
- Building a more positive relationship with the body
- Managing anxiety or negative thought patterns
- Supporting healthy lifestyle habits in a compassionate, sustainable way
Many women find hypnotherapy provides a sense of calm and empowerment, which can ripple into both emotional and physical wellbeing.
Moving Forward With Compassion
During PCOS Awareness Month, my hope is that more women feel informed, supported, and less alone in their experiences. PCOS is not your fault. It is not caused by your weight or lifestyle. And you do not have to face it without help.
Compassionate support; whether through counselling, hypnotherapy, or holistic self-care can make a real difference.
If you are living with PCOS and would like a safe space to explore your journey, I warmly welcome you to reach out. You can visit my contact page here. Together, we can create space for healing, understanding, and hope.
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