Tanisha Frazier is a professional plus-size model and official Ambassador for PCOSAA, the PCOS Awareness Association (https://www.pcosaa.org/). As you should know, September is National PCOS Awareness Month.
I don’t know about you, but I was absolutely ecstatic when I first got my period! My mother had prepared me well about what to expect and she assured me that it was a natural, joyful process which only women were lucky enough to experience. Those poor, deprived men!
There was one tiny thing she neglected to mention, however: that those 2 little organs called ovaries would trigger periods that mimicked Niagara Falls, a mustache that would make most teenage boys jealous, and acne that could be cast as the “before” picture in a Proactiv commercial.
In other words, I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (or PCOS). PCOS is when your ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones that are usually present in women in small amounts, causing small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) to form in the ovaries.
Thankfully, I soon realized that I was not alone, not by a long shot. Approximately 5-10% of U.S. women of childbearing age have PCOS, which means that about 5 million women suffer with the same symptoms, including infertility issues when they try to conceive.
-Tanisha Frazier
Professional plus-size model and pageant winner Tanisha Frazier, AKA “Plus Model Nish”, a New Jersey native who is in the process of becoming an official Ambassador for PCOSAA, the PCOS Awareness Association (https://www.pcosaa.org/), speaking up for every woman who is silently suffering, fighting for research on and better treatment for this debilitating syndrome, just in time for World PCOS Day on September 1st.
Tanisha explains, “In my early 20s, I was struggling with irregular periods, difficulty losing weight, and a lot of excess hair. After I was diagnosed, I was devastated because I was in a relationship at the time and all I thought of was that I may not be able to have children. There is no cure for PCOS; you can only manage your symptoms and I’ve been on a rollercoaster ever since trying to find the best ways to manage my PCOS. In my case, low-carb diets, going gluten-free, keto, and exercise help immensely.”
She goes on to say, “I’m still working to overcome the insecurities that come along with having PCOS and those same insecurities made me want to be the best version of myself. It has pushed me into therapy, which has restored my self-confidence, and I truly believe that’s made me a better model and person.”
“I decided to become an advocate for PCOS because many feel they can’t talk about it due to shame, weight, and societal norms: They’re ashamed that they have hair growing everywhere. They’re overweight and society views plus-size people in a negative light. Since it’s an invisible illness, they’re also often accused of imagining or exaggerating their symptoms, which makes it even harder to speak up.”
If you’re struggling with PCOS, please go see your doctor because you’re not alone and don’t have to suffer in silence. Also, seek out support from the PCOS community, such as on the Facebook group https://m.facebook.com/groups/PCOSers. Your “cysters” are here for you!”
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