When There’s a Dearth of Good Information on Women’s Health, a Million Scams Bloom

In my mid-20s, a gynecologist diagnosed me with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a common hormonal condition for which there is no standard test; only a constellation of symptoms can trigger a diagnosis. I was told I could have trouble getting pregnant and was given very little additional information, though internet research suggested I might be at greater risk for diabetes and cardiovascular problems later in life. I always knew I wanted children. I was devastated.

PCOS can be diagnosed if you have two of three symptoms: hyperandrogenism (an excess of the androgen hormones, which are associated with acne, male-pattern hair growth, insulin resistance and weight gain), irregular periods and ovarian cysts. I did not have hyperandrogenism or any of the related physical symptoms, but my periods had never been regular, and an ultrasound revealed my ovaries to have so many cysts, they looked like the craters on the moon.