Most students at the University of Limerick worry about exams, Shauna worries about whether her own body will turn against her before she even reaches the lecture hall.
At just 23, UL student Shauna Hamilton is juggling assignments, deadlines, and a diagnosis that often goes unseen: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While her peers navigate the usual pressures of campus life, she is managing an unpredictable condition that affects her hormones, her energy, and her confidence in ways few around her understand.
Shauna divulges the complexities of her condition and what that looks like as she balances work, college and other life stresses alongside her condition.
“Eating certain foods can cause me major stomach distress for days” she says. “My energy levels will go up and down throughout the day.”
The symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some women have a few mild symptoms, while others are affected more severely by a wider range of symptoms.
The cause of PCOS is not yet known, but it often runs in families.
Shauna mentions how her sister already has a fertility condition which is what prompted her to investigate her symptoms. “My sister has endometriosis, so I had been tested for fertility issues before, but the symptoms were masked by the contraceptive I was on,” she says.
The range of symptoms and further conditions that can come from PCOS is long. If your blood glucose does not stay normal, this can lead to diabetes.
At least one in every ten women with PCOS go on to develop diabetes at some point.
Shauna also commented on this nerve-wracking possibility, “I also have insulin resistance so I’m more prone to getting diabetes.”
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal condition that affects up to one in ten women, yet awareness of it remains limited. For many, the symptoms ranging from irregular periods to fatigue and weight fluctuations, are invisible to the outside world, and the condition itself is often misunderstood.
“A lot of people hadn’t heard of it,” Shauna explains, highlighting the gap in public knowledge.
She states that “Raising awareness is crucial.”
This is not only to help those living with PCOS feel seen and supported, but also to ensure earlier diagnosis and better access to treatment.
PCOS can have a significant impact on fertility, making awareness and early management especially important for young women.
“Having to have the conversation about fertility so young was a really tough thing to do,” Shauna admits.
Understanding the condition and its potential effects is crucial, not only for personal health, but also for protecting the possibility of having children in the future.
Shauna goes on to explain how she didn’t even realise her symptoms were there while on the contraceptive pill. “I noticed something was wrong when I came off the bar contraceptive a few years ago and my period just wasn’t coming back,” she says.
For many women, this invisible reality can be frightening, the body can be sending signals that often go unrecognised or dismissed. The uncertainty and lack of clear answers can leave women feeling isolated and anxious about their health.
“Doctors only really care if you have fertility issues, they only really care if you want to have a baby,” Shauna adds, highlighting a wider problem: countless women may be living with PCOS without realising it, and without the guidance or support they need.
The daily struggle of being truly understood is a reality that many women with PCOS face silently. While this student is fortunate to have support from friends and family, others navigate the condition alone, without guidance or recognition.
Even what can’t be seen can leave a mark, a quiet battle that calls for compassion and recognition.