Odell

1
Bethann Odell
Instructor: Malcolm Campbell
UWRITE 1103
April 2, 2015
PCOS:
The Dangers of Depression and the Sunshine of Support
Whitney Way Thore chronicles her life on TLCs My Big Fat Fabulous Life and
has revealed the truths, trials, and tribulations of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS.
Watching her show has captured my attention and made me passionate about this disease
and women everywhere who may be struggling with it. Huge aspects of this hormone
altering disease are the mental disorders that may come along with it. Whitney says

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM

Deleted: A huge aspect of this hormone
altering disease

herself, My quest for this perfect body started at age 10 and eluded me for the next 19

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM

Deleted: is

years, creating an uphill trek through self-doubt, eating disorders, polycystic ovarian

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:04 PM

Deleted: and oppression

syndrome, weight loss, weight gain, and towering waves of depression (Thore). This
quote speaks to me and I can probably say many other girls and women out there. The
part that stands out to me is towering waves of depression. Whitney Thore is not the
only woman with PCOS and depression or anxiety. Americas culture is set up to shame
those, especially women, who are obese or overweight. Women who are fighting an
uncontrollable disease are being shamed every day, resulting in mass levels of low selfesteem for these women. Why and how is this? Diving deeper led me to uncover studies
and research done on PCOS and the levels of depression in women affected.

Odell 2
Between 5 and 10 percent of women of childbearing age are affected by PCOS.
They are susceptible to symptoms such as infertility, excessive hair growth, severe acne,
and weight gain. An excess of androgens in the body causes this uncontrollable disease.
This male hormone overpowers estrogen in the ovaries, making hormone levels out of
balance. Due to this, it is common for other health issues to take place, such as diabetes,
mental disorders, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea. There is no cure for PCOS but
there are some things women can do to offset the disease. Unfortunately, when women
are diagnosed with PCOS, they are stuck with it for life. Additionally, it is possible for
women to become diagnosed with PCOS as early as 11, but again, they rarely find out
they have it until their twenties, sometimes thirties. Healthcare providers encourage
women to maintain a healthy lifestyle to improve fertility rates and reduce weight gain.
Going along with fertility it is common for women to find out they have PCOS when
they try to get pregnant, and cannot (Beyond Infertility). Though roughly 1 in 10
women are diagnosed with PCOS, very few people are educated about this disease and
instead may refer to it as the fat disease. It is important to make this disease known as
well as highlight the bigger picture here, which is body image in America and the health
dangers among us.
All of these factors related to PCOS can take a huge toll on a womans life, but I
believe depression is the most important factor to emphasize. A cross-sectional study
conducted through a questionnaire of 177 women with PCOS and 109 healthy women
revealed that women with PCOS had a much higher mean depression score than the
healthy women. The factors taken into consideration in this study were different for each
group of women for each type of mental disorder. For the experimental group, the women

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM

Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

Odell 3
with PCOS, the factors of anxiety were based on self worth, health evaluation, time taken
to diagnose PCOS, and age. In the control group, the healthy women, factors included
self worth, health evaluation, and rural living. As far as depression goes, the experimental
group factors were self worth, quality of life, fitness orientation, appearance evaluation,
and time to diagnose. The control group factors for depression were self worth, illness
orientation, and appearance orientation. The study concluded that anxiety, depression,
and negative body image are increased in women with PCOS (Deeks).
Another study by The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient
Health Questionnaire provided a self-administered scale to 117 women out of 135 who
attended a clinic for depression. They took marriage, education, and employment into

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM

Deleted:

... [1]

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM

Deleted:

account. Other than providing essential information into the reasons behind anxiety and
depression in women with PCOS, I thought this was interesting because aspects of ones
emotional state should be measured through common parts of daily life. Marriage,
education, and employment are three factors that can essentially control ones life. It
makes sense that if a woman is struggling in one of these three areas, they may also be
battling depression. Again, this study found that women with PCOS reported higher
levels (64.1%) of anxiety and depression in their lives. The most fascinating part of this
clinical study is how the sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters were
compared. This study was mainly trying to figure out why women with PCOS had
depression, and combined various factors, making it different from typical neurochemical
based studies. This study revealed that there is thought to be a correlation between the
androgens in the body and a womans mood, but this is a controversial claim. According
to this medical journal, there are other studies conducted to suggest the direct correlation

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:43 PM

Deleted: and provided essential information
into the reasons behind anxiety and depression
in women with PCOS.
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:50 PM
Deleted: that
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:50 PM
Deleted: in an interesting way.

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:52 PM

Deleted: .
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:09 PM
Deleted: T

Odell 4
between depression and serum androgens. Other studies, however, rebuke that claim.
(Bhattacharya).
Depression, we are saying, is not a disease; it is a natural response to certain
types of emotional introspection that result in excessive dreaming" (Medical Causes).
This fascinating quote given by Human Givens, 2003, J. Griffin & I. Tyrrell really hit me
hard (Medical Causes). The quote provides controversy and new insight into my

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:13 PM

Deleted:

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:15 PM

Deleted: .
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:15 PM
Deleted: according to the source

research. This article describes how depression is a natural response to emotional

pressures. The statement that I just quoted about depression not being a disorder directly
contradicts the medical research I have previously cited. Instead of allowing myself to be
confused by this new information, I was open to the idea of new perspectives about how
depression is diagnosed. Going further into depression and the emotional effects of it, I
found an article that closely relates depression and dreams. I thought this was something
crucial to point out, seeing that women with PCOS are fighting emotional battles, which
are often translated in our dreams. According to an article titled Depression and
Dreaming, it is known that depressed people dream up to three times more than nondepressed people. Over-dreaming stresses our body, and leaves us exhausted when we
wake up. Depressed people dream more because they have more emotional arousal to
dream out (Elliott, Roger). It is important for those struggling with depression to try
and relax often and focus on keeping a clear mindset before going to sleep. This article
would be good for a woman with PCOS to read. A worried conscience about the disease
would cause excessive dreaming and fatigue.
Women with PCOS are responding to aforementioned types of emotional
introspection. One woman writes a blog stating, I went off birth control in 2009 in the

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:50 PM

Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:48 PM
Deleted: these

Odell 5
hopes of conceiving. For at least 4 or 5 months after stopping the pill and before I was
diagnosed, I went into a deep depression. There was no color to my days and I was living
in survival mode, going through the motions from one day to the next. My marriage
started to suffer as I didnt find any joy in my marriage, my family or my work (Tarryn).
How can we help women just like these and turn things around? How can we shape our
society into accepting these women rather than shunning them?
Next my research guided me towards the neurochemicals in the body related to
depression. I found that low serotonin levels are just another symptom of depression, not
a cause. An article published to clinical-depression.co.uk states, Clinical Depression is

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM

Formatted: Right, Indent: First line: 0"
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 6:05 PM
Deleted:

often said to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and this is what most drug
treatments are based on. The more negative introspection you carry out, and the fewer
pleasure-giving activities you participate in, the lower your serotonin levels become
(Medical Causes). Women with PCOS are likely to withdraw from the world because
they are ashamed of their physical symptoms and uncontrollable moods. This can also be
true for women without PCOS, but the piece of this puzzle Im uncovering is that women
with PCOS cant help their looks or moods, and thus cant control the onset depression.
Their pre-determined sickness leads to this additional medical setback.
There are many ways to go about treating depression. In Current Psychiatry Vol.
4 No.2, the two authors described how depressed mood in PCOS may be physiologic and
psychological. Through studies conducted of a woman referred to as Ms. K, the two
writers found that other medicines may help treat depression in PCOS women better than
antidepressants can. Ms. K started experiencing symptoms from age nineteen. She had
put up with hair loss, central fat distribution, and male patterned hair growth around her

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:40 PM

Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:40 PM

Deleted: End-organ system deregulation
occurs and creates
y

Odell 6
stomach and thighs. She battled three major episodes of depression and recorded all of
this in the study. In Ms. Ks case, she was not obese and in fact had a normal BMI, but
she was still unhappy with her weight and fat distribution appearance. After going off of
antidepressants as part of the study, Ms. K recorded a significant improvement in mood.
Finding the right combination of medicines to combat insulin problems can indeed treat
depression. Ms. K proved this theory correct. When she was given the antidepressant
medicine venlafaxine, her symptoms increased, and after 4 weeks of tapering off the

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:46 PM

Deleted: According to the study, w

venlafaxine and alleviating her depression symptoms with a different drug used for
insulin treatment, she found an increase in mood. This study concluded that actually
treating PCOS with insulin-sensitizing medication could resolve the depression with
PCOS. Along with insulin medication, anti-androgens such as spironolactone can treat
baldness and acne, which reduces depression in these women as well (Elman and
Rasgon).
My last objective throughout this inquiry process is to find ways to reach out to
women with PCOS and combat depression worldwide. Through my research I have
found that the best support system for these women has been online blogs and therapy
groups. The PCOS Foundation based out of Houston, Texas holds monthly meetings for
Texan women with PCOS. Online blogs and chat rooms are a great resource for women
with depression to utilize when making it to a physical meeting is too challenging or not
accessible. Going back to Whitney Thore, she mentions in an episode of her show that
she has been flooded with emails from women contacting her and thanking her for all of
her public body acceptance efforts. It comforts me to know throughout this process that
there is a solution for depressed women with and without PCOS.

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:46 PM

Deleted: y

Odell 7
The role of therapy plays a huge role in treating PCOS. Recently there has been a
huge movement in America to promote body acceptance. From the mass outbreak of plus

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 8:14 PM

Formatted: Normal, Font Alignment: Auto

sized models in the media, to Whitneys show, women everywhere are feeling more and
more comfortable to be themselves. Though the discontinuation of body shaming seems
like a simple and idea concept to others, to many it is not. Huffington Post is flooded with
articles and blog posts describing the culture we live in today. One particular article tells
of how designers are notorious for refusing to make dresses in larger sizes for celebrities.
Social media often takes the blame for our body shaming society, but TV, movies, and
magazines are all perpetrators of the thin life we idolize. Women everywhere are fighting
back to keep America on the right track. Just as we are striving for a society of equality
among all people, we should strive to teach one another to live healthy lives and love
ourselves how we come. Whitneys NoBodyShame movement sets a great example for
outlets out there that women can turn to. This quote comes direction off her website and
can be viewed on the first page, I am learning to practice aggressive self-love. I have
lived my life as a 130lb woman and as a 350lb woman living in North America, in

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 8:12 PM

Formatted: Font:(Default) Times, 12 pt

Europe and in Asia. Cultural norms, societal pressures and the whims of the fashion
industry do not define my worth as a woman or a human being. My intelligence,
personality, talents and contributions do not fluctuate with the numbers on a scale
(Thore). I can only imagine being a woman hung up on depression and struggling with
PCOS, and stumbling upon that page and reading those words. I would immediately be
inspired to call my girlfriends, start a group chat, attend classes, and motivate the world
around me to learn more about PCOS and body acceptance. Women are gaining support
from one another and making the journey a little less painful. One woman named Sarah

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 8:12 PM

Formatted: Font:(Default) Times, 12 pt

Odell 8
comments on a website, PCOS Diet Support, I was diagnosed with PCOS this past
Friday though Ive known something was wrong with me for a while. Because of that fact
I was so relieved to finally be able to put a name to my condition. Im so glad I stumbled
across your site thanks to Pinterest. Im learning so much especially about the symptoms
Ive been experiencing including depression as well as tiredness. While I am relieved to
put a name to my symptoms, I didnt expect the feelings of anxiety and worry. Your site
has helped me ease some of my worries about health and fertility. Thank you! (Tarryn).
This comment is just another example of the great types of therapy available. Extra
worries and anxiety can be cured through these online sites.
Finding the correct way to treat the depression, and finding a support group to
motivate and encourage one another is essential to the road to happiness. This quote
comes from PCOS Diet Support, the website I previously mentioned that raises
awareness for PCOS and types of support: So, the bottom line is that if you are
suffering from depression with PCOS, you are not alone and it is not all in your head.
Depression is another facet to this multi-faceted syndrome. Now that weve established
that depression in indeed linked to PCOS, lets look at how we kick it in the butt so that

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 8:14 PM

Formatted: Font color: Auto, Pattern:
Clear
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:08 PM
Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 8:50 PM

Deleted: yet another blog devoted
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:00 PM
Deleted: to
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:00 PM
Deleted: awareness
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:00 PM
Deleted: s

we can live the life of joy, color and sunshine we are meant to live (Tarryn). I feel this is
a beautiful and uplifting message to spread around the world. Everyone deserves to live a
life full of joy, color, and sunshine. This includes the millions of women (both diagnosed
and undiagnosed) with PCOS.

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 7:50 PM

Deleted:

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:45 PM

Deleted:
Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:45 PM
Deleted:
... [2]

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:45 PM

Deleted:

... [3]

Odell 9
Works Cited
Beyond Infertility: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (pcos). Bethesda, Md.: Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2008.
Internet resource. 25 Feb. 2015.
Bhattacharya, SM, and A Jha. "Prevalence and Risk of Depressive Disorders in Women
with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (pcos)." Fertility and Sterility. 94.1 (2010): 3579. Print. 28 Feb. 2015.
Deeks, AA, ME Gibson-Helm, E Paul, and HJ Teede. "Is Having Polycystic Ovary
Syndrome a Predictor of Poor Psychological Function Including Anxiety and
Depression?" Human Reproduction (Oxford, England). 26.6 (2011): 1399-407.
Print. 28 Feb. 2015.
Elliot, Roger and Tyrrell, Mark. Depression and Dreaming. Clinical Depression. 16
Feb. 2013. Web. 13 April 2015
Elman, Shana and Rasgon, Natalie. When not to treat depression in PCOS with
antidepressants. Current Psychiatry. Vol. 4 No.2, Feb. 2005. Web. 9 Mar. 2015.
Medical Causes of Depression. Clinical Depression. 21 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2015
Tarryn. Got the Blues? PCOS and Depression. PCOS Diet Support. 11 Feb. 2013.
25 Mar. 2015
Thore, Whitney. Meet Whitney Way Thore. No Body Shame. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.

Bethann Odell 4/13/15 9:43 PM

Formatted: Indent: Left: 0"