In an interview with TV2Fyn, Camilla Kristiansen shares her journey dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and its impact on her fertility, with insights from Professor Pernille Ravn, site coordinator of Spiomet4health Denmark at OUH
Camilla Kristiansen, aged 32, recently shared her journey dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and its impact on her fertility in an interview with TV2Fyn, a regional television station in Denmark. PCOS affects between 5% and 10% of women of childbearing age, often leading to fertility issues. Kristiansen’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by many women dealing with this hormonal disorder.
In the interview, Camilla shared, “I think from the age of 19 until I was 25, I cried maybe once a week because I was so frustrated. I knew I wanted a child.” Her story resonated with many, showing how tough dealing with PCOS can be emotionally.
For many women, PCOS becomes apparent in their 20s and 30s, especially when they have trouble getting pregnant and go to the doctor for help. It is common for women to encounter challenges in receiving a timely diagnosis or receiving one later, which significantly impacts their lives as they deal with symptoms they may not recognize.
Towards a new treatment for PCOS
The discussion not only delved into Camilla’s personal journey but also featured insights from Professor Pernille Ravn, shedding light on PCOS. She is the coordinator of the Danish site of the Spiomet4health clinical trial at Odense University Hospital (OUH), which is testing a potential treatment for PCOS.
Despite being the most common hormonal disorder among women of childbearing age, PCOS lacks specific treatment options. Symptomatic relief primarily involves birth control pills, hormonal contraception, metformin, and weight loss medications. However, Professor Ravn introduced the Spiomet4health project as source of optimism. She explained the project’s objective of intervening earlier in PCOS treatment, potentially addressing PCOS before symptoms manifest.
For many women like Camilla, the prospect of a tailored PCOS treatment represents a source of hope. As she reflected in the interview: “It would have been a completely different world for me as a 19-year-old if they had said, ‘Yes, you have PCOS, but you don’t have to worry because there is a treatment that makes it easier going forward’.”