A Conversation with A Charlottesville Mom and PCOS Advocate

Whitney is a Charlottesville-area mom to two girls and runs the lifestyle blog WorthyStyle. If you follow her (@worthystyle on IG, @worthystyle on FB), you'll know that she is a proud polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) advocate and infertility warrior. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Whitney has graciously agreed to share some of #HERstory with the Jefferson OB community in honor of September being PCOS Awareness Month.

What signs and symptoms did you first experience, and what led you to talk to your doctor?

My first signs and symptoms were chronic and fast-growing hirsutism, which started for me in 3rd or 4th grade, around the same time that my cystic acne started appearing on my back, chest and face. My menstrual cycles started as early as 5th/6th grade and were VERY heavy and sporadic. This pattern continued up to my diagnosis of PCOS. What led to my talking to my doctor was my chronic weight gain or complete lack of weight loss when I was getting married. It just plateaued and stayed there for months and months, worrying my family and myself.

Where did you turn for support?

I turned to my family first, to see if there were possibly some genetic ties to PCOS, and I learned it possibly came from both sides of my family based on symptoms and problematic patterns. I then told my friends about it, as they knew we had wanted to start a family and were concerned about my mental health due to the diagnosis. My husband was amazing as he told me we would move mountains for me to have PCOS success (and thus our starting a family).

How did PCOS impact your plans to get pregnant?

I was given a very specific medical plan for my pregnancy (particularly due to family history of miscarriages in first and second trimesters). I wanted a healthy pregnancy, so I first was prescribed Spironolactone, birth control and Metformin. Along with my diagnosis of Celiac disease and the new diet related to that, as well as my fitness program, I lost 75 pounds in just under 10 months! My bloodwork came back much improved, my skin was clearer than ever and my hirsutism even lessened. I was then put on a program of Clomid and ovulation tracking (and urine tests!) which took about 6 months for my first pregnancy. For my second pregnancy, I had a Hysterosalpingography, which possibly opened up a partially blocked fallopian tube as I had some slight pain during that, and then started tracking my ovulation cycles. I was put on Clomid for a cycle, then Letrozole to see if that would speed up the process... I was on my last medicated cycle when the team told me my next step would likely be IVF. On my last Letrozole cycle, I was sent an hCG injection which I took at home, and that cycle I was able to get pregnant with our second daughter! It took more money and time than we ever planned, but we are so grateful to be parents to our 4.5-year-old and 1-year-old daughters.

What advice would you give to a woman who is... experiencing symptoms but not yet diagnosed? Newly diagnosed? Struggling with infertility?

One of the biggest gifts you can give your doctor is a log or journal where you track your symptoms. Log your period and log your health symptoms. It may help them put together the diagnosis you all are looking for! If you are newly diagnosed, follow Verity PCOS (a UK PCOS charity) and PCOS Challenge (a US PCOS charity). If you want to start a family and are looking for infertility support, Resolve.org is an amazing infertility nonprofit. There are tons of wonderful books out there to help educate you. Make sure you have a supportive network in your family, friends and at home. And please treat yourself to a mental health day or spa day, the biggest gift you can give yourself during such an intense time is some pampering!

Whitney had both of her beautiful, healthy baby girls delivered by Jefferson OB providers (Dr. Arnold for her oldest and Dr. Kilfoil for her youngest) at Martha Jefferson. While she saw endocrinology and fertility specialists to help support her pregnancies, Whitney expressed her appreciation of the Jefferson OB team, especially her primary OB, Dr. Wamhoff, in confirming the diagnosis and renewing PCOS prescriptions once she was postpartum to help get her symptoms back in check. “I’m very grateful to go to this practice that listens to their patients!”