Doing CGM While Dealing With PCOS

I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS four months ago. Ever since I worked graveyard shifts, I started getting irregular menstruation but I didn't bother until my periods completely stopped. I had excuses about why won't I go to the doctor which was very stupid, but aren't we all have gone through that?

I attended a seminar about PCOS around sometime last year. I didn't have any plans on going but the freebies and snacks were the bait for me to come (haha! Let's be real here). I didn't know PCOS was that serious until I listened to what the speakers have shared.

I was already rendering my resignation when I finally decided to visit an OB-GYN. I thought I could use my medicard (an earned benefit for working for the company) one last time. Honestly, I could have maximized it from the start but I have set my health aside for a long time, which I regret. Learn from me - your medicard provided by your employer (or the one you got for yourself) isn't just there to cover you on your actual sick days that you're unable to report to work. Use it regularly, visit a family doctor. Have regular checkups. Don't rely on your annual physical exams at work. Don't wait to feel any pain. Prevention is always better than cure.

When you have PCOS, one of the symptoms you'll have is increased facial hair. I thought this was normal for me because of genetics - I have thick hair on my head and on my arm. I inherited that from my dad. But as time goes by, I get more facial hair than I'm used to. The hair on my upper lip and on my chin gets more obvious. I used to wear full makeup every day to work - perfect eyebrows, dramatic eyeshadow, contour, highlighter, amazing lip color, just like I'm about to perform on stage, but the hair on my upper lip isn't really nice to look at when you have a liquid foundation on. So I shave them off.

You may be wondering, what does this all have to do with CGM? And what is CGM anyway? CGM is short for the Curly Girl Method. It's a more natural hair care approach for wavy, curly, and kinky hair. This was introduced to me by my boss who practices the routine. This is created by Lorraine Massey and this is outlined in her book "Curly Girl: The Handbook".

For many years, I've been chemically styling my hair. I have it straightened many times because having straight hair is more manageable and in the Filipino culture, it's more beautiful than having curly hair. Having curly hair is looked down upon because it resonates being lower class or worse, a slave. Just like having caramel brown skin, most Filipinos want lighter skin. Being colonized by the Spaniards and Americans for so long drove this kind of thinking. I have also experimented with colors because I couldn't commit to a tattoo yet. But coloring my hair so many times, even bleaching it just to achieve the hue I want, dried it out, and caused me to have dandruff.

My boss encouraged me to embrace my natural curls. I don't remember when I started though, I think I'm in my 2nd month of practicing CGM. The change was definitely noticeable. I don't have pictures to compare but my curls are more defined now. I'm wearing my curls I naturally have. I could finally sport my curly hair, what I see in my baby pictures, even in just a low ponytail. My dandruff is gone and my hair is softer but I worry about the hair fall. I know it's normal to have it but my hairline has receded and clumps of hair would end up in the drains. 

Just the other day, after my once-a-week deep conditioning routine, I rinsed and noticed more clumps. I'm trying to have a positive mind and tell myself that CGM isn't a one-size formula for all. What it means is I can and should experiment with the products until I find what's perfect for me and achieve my personal hair goals. I remember having a very sad day one day because I don't know if it's my PCOS that causes my hair to fall or the change in my hair routine, or worse, maybe both!

Good news is, I have an online support group, Curly Girls Philippines, where I could read empowering stories and could receive advice from women all over the country (and other parts of the world, too!) with my hair journey. They have gone through the same concerns as I do now and in the future!