My encounter with PCOS began in my teenage years. At that time, I didn't know that the subtle signals my body was giving me would play such a significant role in my life years later.
In my teenage years, I had a regular menstrual cycle. Therefore, I didn't think I would experience any hormonal problems. However, over time, I started to develop slight facial hair growth. Along with this, I developed a noticeable, and sometimes uncontrollable, craving for sweets and pastries.
At that time, I didn't know that these things could be interconnected.
When I received a PCOS diagnosis at age 22, a new chapter began for me. Suddenly, I started looking at my body differently. Even with regular menstrual cycles, I realized my body was sending me messages in other ways.
For me, PCOS wasn't just a hormonal diagnosis. It was also a process of understanding how emotional ups and downs, nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns, and lifestyle are all connected to our bodies.
At certain times, I experienced significant mood swings. I found myself in a more sensitive, more volatile mood, and at times, I struggled to understand myself.
Then I asked myself:
“Should I only manage what’s happening in my body by external intervention, or can I support my body by changing my lifestyle?”
I chose not to use medication.
This was my personal choice, and the right path for me was to work on my lifestyle. I changed my diet. I seriously reconsidered my consumption of sweets and pastries. I started eating more balanced meals.
And I made exercise a part of my life.
Initially, I wasn’t doing it just for my physical appearance. Over time, I realized that exercise wasn’t just about weight or body shape for me. It became very valuable in terms of my metabolic health, energy, mood, and the relationship I had with my body.
During the process, I saw a decrease in my insulin levels. My body fat percentage decreased, and I started to notice the changes in my body not only in the mirror but also in how I felt about myself.
But the most important change for me was much more than the numbers.
I learned to listen to my body.
While I used to see a symptom simply as a problem to be eliminated, over time I began to understand that it could be a message from my body.
PCOS taught me this:
Not every woman experiences PCOS in the same way.
In some women, irregular periods are prominent, in others acne and hirsutism, in others weight or metabolic problems… In some women, the symptoms may be much more subtle.
My menstrual cycle was regular. But that didn't mean everything was perfect hormonally.
That's why today, when talking to young girls and women, I think it's important to explain that the idea that "My periods are regular, therefore I can't have a hormonal problem" isn't always true.
Because sometimes our bodies speak not loudly, but with subtle signs.
And recognizing those signs is the first step in building a relationship with our bodies.
Today, as a beauty expert, I don't just look at PCOS from an aesthetic point of view.
For me, facial hair growth, acne, oily skin, pigment changes, or changes in body composition aren't just beauty problems. Sometimes, these are visible signs that can give us clues about a person's overall lifestyle and hormonal balance.
Of course, as a beauty expert, my job isn't to diagnose. But helping a woman notice changes in her body, ask the right questions, and consult a relevant healthcare professional when needed is invaluable to me.
My own story has taught me this.
Beauty isn't just what we see in the mirror.
Healthy skin, a strong body, a balanced life, and understanding one's own body are also part of beauty.
PCOS started for me as a diagnosis made years ago.
But over time, it transformed into a journey that taught me to understand my body, pay attention to my diet, exercise, listen to myself, and most importantly, to cooperate with my body instead of fighting it.
Looking back today, I think that those little hair growths in my youth, my intense cravings for sweets and pastries, and my mood swings were actually the beginnings of my awareness.
And the most important message I can give a young girl today is this:
Don't judge your body solely by its appearance. Listen to it. Notice its changes. Because sometimes the body doesn't want us to be perfect, but to understand it.
My PCOS journey began exactly like that.
Not when I was trying to change myself, but when I started to understand myself.
