It took doctors a decade to diagnose me with disease that affects a tenth of women... I finally had an answer for my menstrual pain and irregular periods
It took doctors 10 years to take a young woman's complaints of excruciating abdominal cramps and irregular periods seriously and diagnose her with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Olivia Ferro, 26, who grew up in Chicago, United States, started her period at just 10 years old, but when she was 14 began experiencing severe stomach pains at the start of her menstrual cycle.
Despite being told that the pains were simply 'hormone changes', a year later when she was 15, a cyst on her ovary burst, causing her appendix to become inflamed and she subsequently underwent an emergency appendectomy.
She was placed on the contraceptive pill, and although the medication reduced the number of ovarian cysts, she continued to experience irregular and painful periods, as well as bloating and inflammation.
It would be nearly a decade before doctors would diagnose her with PCOS, a condition that affects around one in 10 women of childbearing age - and affects how well the ovaries work, impacting fertility.
There are three main features of the condition; irregular ovulation, increased testosterone and small fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries.
This results in a range of symptoms including irregular periods, weight gain, excessive hair growth and fertility problems.
It can take between six months and two years to be formally diagnosed, and it's estimated that millions of women are unaware they have the condition.
Olivia Ferro was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome when she was 24
Ms Ferro said: 'I couldn't fit into any of my clothes, so that was really hard.
'You're going out with your friends and you want to look cute.
'I was never a really big girl but when you're having an inflammatory attack and you can't wear the pair of jeans that you look best in, it definitely affects how you feel for the night and affects your life.
'And just then the pain that came with it – I can't button my jeans, and my stomach is so hard, and I just feel horrible, and I want to sit in bed.
'I'd miss classes at school and couldn't sit through stuff because my stomach pain or my pelvic pain was so extreme.
'It affects your mental health a lot too – my body's failing me, and I can't participate in school.'
By 17, Ms Ferro said she was experiencing 'episodes of severe nausea and vomiting', with her body 'randomly' going into septic shock.
She said her white blood cell count would also spike and she endured chronic stomach pain and fatigue.
Doctors were unable to determine the source or cause of the septic infection and she was prescribed medication for IBS.
By 18, Ms Ferro had had a range of blood tests and cardiac assessments and doctors also suggested she might be allergic to gluten.
She was still experiencing irregular periods and inflammatory attacks, and said she 'struggled' to lose weight.
Despite being 5ft 4in, exercising daily, competing as an athlete in high school and eating a healthy diet, her weight would not shift from around 11st 8lb (73.4kg).
Olivia and her sister Chloe founded SheMed in 2024
In 2018 she went to university, where she studied nutrition, communication and occupational science; but despite eating nutrient-dense food and continuing to exercise, her weight remained the same.
After moving from the United States to London in 2024 she launched a women's health company with her sister Chloe, SheMed, focusing on GLP-1 medication.
At the same time as launching the company, Ms Ferro's periods became even more irregular – bleeding for two weeks, stopping, then starting again.
She underwent several private tests in the UK, including hormone testing and an ultrasound and presented her results to her GP and was diagnosed with PCOS.
Ms Ferro was advised to 'finally' come off birth control in order to regulate her hormones, and encouraged to take out a private prescription for a GLP-1 medication.
After being prescribed the GLP-1 treatment in 2025, she has lost 2st 2lb (13.6kg), going from 11st 8lb (73.4kg) to 9st 6lb (59.8kg).
Ms Ferro also claims her testosterone levels have reduced to within the normal range, her chances of fertility have improved, and her periods have become more regular.
She is now aiming to maintain her weight and has no plans to stop taking the medication.
'I think asking questions is important, and push for your own health,' she said.
'In women's health in general, there isn't always a textbook answer to what is wrong – I think people need to start looking at the whole picture.'
PCOS can drive weight gain by increasing the body's tendency to store fat through insulin resistance, disrupting hunger and satiety hormones, slowing calorie burn, and, in some cases, influencing mood in ways that affect eating and activity patterns.
The NHS does not have specific guidance on using GLP-1 medication to treat PCOS.
However, they say in overweight women, the symptoms and overall risk of developing long-term health problems from PCOS can be greatly improved by losing excess weight.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women's health, said: 'The NHS offers a range of support for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, including mental health support, weight management and fertility services, and dedicated women's health hubs across the country providing specialist support in communities.
'We know that for some women with PCOS weight loss and eating a healthy balanced diet can improve symptoms but if you are concerned or have questions, please contact your GP.'
