Is PCOS hurting my body image?

Whether you have PCOS yourself or you know someone who has it, you know that dealing with this condition is not easy. As a result of PCOS, people may experience physical symptoms such as painful periods, irregular periods, infertility, acne, and excessive body hair. However, PCOS does not just cause physical symptoms: there are many mental and emotional side effects of the condition as well. Enter body image and self-esteem! 

This article will explore:

• What does the research say about body image, self esteem, and PCOS?
• If I’m struggling with my self image due to my PCOS, what can I focus on to arrive at a place of body neutrality or body positivity? 

PCOS & body image: The research

A chronic condition can be difficult to deal with. In fact, 50% of adults with chronic conditions expressed that their body image had been negatively affected, compared to 36% of adults without a known diagnosis (1). Living with a long-term health condition takes up a lot of mental space, and it’s important to remember that some days may be more difficult than others. 

 Body image and self esteem are particularly difficult issues for people with PCOS. And research backs this up. Consider the following findings:

• A negative perception of body image among people with PCOS may include dissatisfaction with appearance, feelings of loss of femininity, and feeling that they are less attractive sexually (2). 
• Body image issues can result from defeminizing symptoms like hirsutism, particularly for people with PCOS who identify as women: studies have found that people with PCOS feel that facial hair greatly affected their self confidence, causing them to worry about their appearance as well (2, 3). 
• Acne is another common symptom that results in negative body image. Studies have shown that PCOS symptoms, acne included, have caused patients to purposefully isolate themselves from others, limit their social interactions, and negatively impact desire for intimacy with a partner (4). 
• A 2013 study showed that infertility is negatively correlated with self esteem in PCOS patients. In many of these cases, childlessness is a major psychological burden associated with diminished self-perception, as motherhood is widely viewed as an important part of female identity. This can lead to feelings that one’s body has “failed,” further affecting self esteem (2).
• Evidence suggests that people with PCOS are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, with body image as a common factor (5). 

This research is not intended to intimidate you, but rather prove that you are not alone if you are suffering from negative body image and have PCOS or another hormone-related issue. Society puts a negative connotation onto common PCOS symptoms and characteristics such as fertility challenges, acne, hirsutism, and weight. This is a nearly impossible force to ignore as an individual person, and just like it is not your fault for having PCOS, it is not your fault if this hormone imbalance has you feeling down about yourself. 

But where do we go from here? 

Improving body image with PCOS

Body image work can take years of consistent effort, but the mental health benefits of doing this work make it worth it. 

On days when you don't feel good about your body, it's important to be kind to yourself and know that when it comes to dealing with body image issues, you are not alone. These tips will help you remain body positive (or body neutral, more on that below!) as you manage your condition.

Treat yourself with kindness and compassion: Practice self-love by loving yourself unconditionally. Living with PCOS is not your fault. A mindfulness card deck may be beneficial for practicing gratitude, mindfulness, and implementing meditation.

Journal your feelings: Keeping a journal can help you recognize triggers, track symptoms, and identify negative thoughts. Journaling may also help to improve your mood as well as your symptoms.

Join a support group: Joining a support group may alleviate distress and help you manage and cope with your condition. For more information about PCOS support groups, visit the PCOS Awareness Association website at https://www.pcosaa.org/. A number of support groups are also available on social media platforms such as Reddit and Facebook. If you are a member of our PCOS Program, you can also talk to your Pollie health coach for additional support. 

Seek therapy: PCOS is associated with feelings of depression, anxiety, low self esteem, and poor body image. You do not have to deal with it on your own. If you are having trouble, and need additional support, seek help from a therapist.

 Incorporate body movement: Among its many benefits, mindful movement reduces anxiety, depression, and negative mood as well as improving self-esteem and brain function (6).  Incorporate body movement that you enjoy. Some examples include walking, yoga, pilates, gardening, and swimming. 

Learn about body positivity and body neutrality: Body positivity is a global social movement that focuses on acceptance and equality of all bodies, no matter their size, appearance, traits, or other physical factors.  Many people have found this mindset to be transformational for their mental health. The Body Positive movement has undoubtedly been a helpful force in dismantling diet culture, but it is also important to know it is not for everyone, as there is still an emphasis on appearance and unfaltering body positivity can be unrealistic in today’s society. Enter “body neutrality,” which focuses on what your body can do for you as opposed to its appearance. This Diet Starts Tomorrow podcast episode does a good job of explaining the benefit of focusing on your body’s function instead of its appearance. Your care team will be happy to share more information on mindsets like this if you are a part of our PCOS Program. 

Curate your social feeds: Speaking of social media, use it to your advantage! Curate your feeds so that you are consuming content that will build you up as opposed to tear you down. While there is luckily much movement toward celebrating realistic bodies of all types and sizes as well as frameworks such as Health At Every Size (HAES), many brands and individuals with large platforms do still promote idealized perceptions of female bodies as well as other potentially harmful influences such as diet culture, overtly and covertly. Keep an eye out for these accounts and consider unfollowing them so that your feed is more full of content that helps you practice self love and body positivity or neutrality. 

There are numerous physical challenges faced by people with PCOS, but the psychological components must also be addressed. If you are struggling with body image or other mental health-related challenges, do not hesitate to speak to your healthcare provider or your Pollie health coach for support.

Sources

1. “Body Image and Long-Term Health Conditions.” Mental Health Foundation, 6 Aug. 2020,https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/body-image-report/long-term-conditions. 
2. Bazarganipour, Fatemeh, et al. “Body Image Satisfaction and Self-Esteem Status among the Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Irinian Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 11 Oct. 2013. 
3. Lipton MG, Sherr L, Elford J, Rustin MH, Clayton WJ. Women living with facial hair: the psychological and behavioral burden. J Psychosom Res. 2006 Aug;61(2):161-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.01.016. PMID: 16880018.
4. Blau, Nenad, Duran, Marinus, Gibson, KMichael, Dionisi Vici, Carlo. Physician's Guide to the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Follow-Up of Inherited Metabolic Diseases. 2014.
5. Lee, Iris, and Anuja Dokras. “Mental Health and Body Image in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research, vol. 12, June 2020, pp. 85–90., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2020.04.004.
6. Sharma, Ashish, et al. “Exercise for Mental Health.” The Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 08, no. 02, 2006, p. 106., https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v08n0208a.