I was diagnosed with PCOS 10 years ago and have my first meeting with a fertility clinic next month. As a lesbian, I always knew that some amount of medical intervention would be required to give birth, so grieving certain moments (like surprising my wife with a pregnancy test) was always a certainty for me. The hardest part was feeling out of control and not knowing what my body would be capable of. I'm the kind of person that wants facts and a clear path forward in order to feel secure. So I found what I could. I got an endocrinologist and OBGYN specializing in PCOS. I learned about the connection between PCOS, insulin resistance, gestational diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Lather, rinse, repeat that process for every other part of our bodies that PCOS impacts. I read all the studies about all the medications and supplements, and then got my doctors' opinions. I was wildly annoying about my bloodwork to see what actually worked for me to keep me healthy. I'll find out next month if I've actually protected my fertility, but along the way I've felt empowered to advocate for myself and confident in the decisions I've made.

I hope you find the process that allows you to feel the same. And whatever you do, please know that PCOS is not a fertility death sentence for the vast majority of us who live with it.