Do you know a teen that might be interested?

Adolescent PCOS:

So you found out that you have PCOS as a teenager. Lucky you. What? You don’t feel lucky? Research is linking PCOS and insulin resistance to not only adolescent years, but child, infant and even embryo stages (Ibanez, et. al, Rev Endoc Met Disor, 2008, in press). What does this mean to you? Well it means taking on lifestyle responsibilities at a time when most teens are eating pizza and drinking soda pop. It means staying strong when media images bombard you with messages of impossible thinness and beauty standards.

If you are an adolescent or pre-teen and have PCOS, we’d like to hear about it. Wouldn’t it be helpful to hear from other teenagers, just like yourself, relaying their stories and coping strategies? It would also be helpful for parents and therapists to hear about your experiences.

The following is a list of brainstorm topics to help you write your story:

Your story
How are you making sense of all this? Is there denial? What kind of support do you have?
Do you have fertility concerns or concerns for the future? How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Does your treatment team do a good job educating you about PCOS and on
proper self care? What do you find helpful? hurtful? How can your parents be helpful? Do you have a strategy that works the most? How does this affect relationships with your friends and what about boys? Do you have regular, follow-up care? Do you see a dietitian, a therapist? A dermatologist? Any other thoughts, concerns, comments?

If you would like to contribute please e-mail info@pcosnetwork.com. Your name will be kept confidential. You must have verified parental/legal consent prior to participating.

Your parent/guardian must include the following statement in your e-mail to give PCOS Network permission to use your submission and indicate your agreement and understanding of the following terms.

- - - copy and paste statement below - - -

For consideration, I authorize PCOS Network and affiliates, to utilize my daughter’s submission in any medium or fashion in which PCOS Network may wish to reproduce the submission without compensation. My daughter understands this authorization as well. I understand that her name will be kept confidential and I may retract this agreement at any time.