Do women with PCOS have a higher rate of unemployment?

WindDancer · 03-01-2007, 07:30 AM

I was just wondering if women with PCOS have a higher rate of unemplyment than non-pcos women. Due to pcos symptoms, etc.
I know that before I was diagnosed I had such problems with heavy periods that it was impossible to hold down a job. Now I am just starting my treatment, and hope I will become more 'normalized' so I could soon re-join the work force.

please par-take in the poll ladies!

georgy · 03-01-2007, 09:03 AM

I work full time. Couldn't not work - I'd be bored out of my skull

PCOS has never affected any part of my working life.

mommy1 · 03-01-2007, 09:30 AM

It never affected my working. However, I don't have really heavy af's. Only occasionaly.

newfiecyster · 03-01-2007, 09:49 AM

I works full time. before i had symptoms controlled i could only handle part tme but now it controllled i can do full time

newfiecyster · 03-01-2007, 09:49 AM

I works full time. before i had symptoms controlled i could only handle part tme but now it controllled i can do full time

Lailaria · 03-01-2007, 10:05 AM

Currently not working, but looking! Working during my heavy periods and severe cramping was always difficult for me. I hope it gets better and I'll be able to enjoy working again soon.

Laila

Jashobeam · 03-01-2007, 12:15 PM

PCOS makes me very tired. When I worked I usually had no energy left at the end of the day to do anything. Even as a teen, I would come home and want to go straight to bed after work. I'm a SAHM now which suits my energy levels better than office or factory jobs did.

stac8454 · 03-03-2007, 03:34 AM

I work full time, but I have to call in sick a lot. It's been a problem in past jobs and I've lost jobs due to it and quit jobs due to it... but now I have an awesome job that I love and understanding boss and I'm incredibly lucky.

It's so hard to work when you feel so yucky all the time. I too, suffer from fatigue and don't want to do anything after work either. If I didn't have to work or if I could just work part time I would do that. But I have to make money, so I work.

Fuzzy Bear · 03-03-2007, 07:54 AM

I had a nervous breakdown about 10 years ago and was advised to go on to Disability.
I have always thought it wrong for me to be depressed because I have always had a loving family and no traumatic events, but now I realize it has a lot to do with my PCOS.
I have extreme anxiety about going out anywhere.
I often have panic attacks when I do end up in a crowded situation.
My PCOS symptoms have made me feel like a freak and I have enough of a 'beard' that people notice and stare, sometimes even make rude comments. I usually walk with my head down when I take my dog for a walk if people are around at all.
So, ya, my PCOS symptoms are a definite reason I don't work.
If I could find a job like Stac8454 with an understanding boss, I would be ok in a job out of the public eye~ but I have days where I can't work and that is really the major reason I don't work.
I'd love to find a job from home that actually pays like a real job, but I have found a lot of those cost $$ and that isn't possible with my income.
Fuzzy Bear

acadiashores · 03-03-2007, 12:34 PM

I work full time. PCOS has never kept me from working but it has made it difficult sometimes due to very heavy flows on the second day of my AF. It was more of a problem in school because of very heavy cramping.

I do have to wonder if sometimes our PCOS makes employers turn us down because of a weight issue, acne or some unwanted facial hair...it's sad that so much emphasis is put on a person's exterior features instead of what is inside.

Meta888 · 03-03-2007, 03:29 PM

I work full time in the entertainment industry - where a lot of emphasis is unfortunately put on appearances, etc. This has not hindered me in any way. Working is the only thing that keeps me sane and it really helps to distract my mind from what is going on with my health. Getting up in the morning and going to work also helps to keep the depression at bay. My job is stressful & hectic and I have a lot of responsibility, but I absolutely love it. The feeling of self worth I get knowing that I'm excellent at what I do is necessary to counter balance how crappy I often feel about my PCOS ravaged body. It's a reason to get me out of bed most mornings. But that's just me, and we're all different.

It's an interesting question you've put forth though... it really is.

I think the key to overcoming personal issues and being succesful at making a living (or just living!) - is to find something you are truly passionate about and creating your own reality. If you can't make it into the office because of heavy A/F, etc... find something you can do that doesn't require you to be in an office and make that work for you. Take chances and risks and imagine what you would want your life to look like then figure out the steps you need to take to get you from here to there. If you can't find an understanding boss then become your own boss! Don't be a victim to your health, take the control back. Work with what you have!!!!

- Meta999

TrishainAZ · 03-03-2007, 04:07 PM

You don't have an option for stay at home moms. I don't work, but only because I am staying home with my kids. I worked before that and will again when they get older. I didn't answer the poll as it didn't have the right option for me.

FaeSpirit · 03-03-2007, 05:08 PM

I have always worked when I can. I don't have much education (I was stupid and dropped out in the 10th grade) which it seems like you really need that nowadays, so I have always taken many labour jobs. Labour jobs have taken it's toll on my body and even tho I would love working at these places, I would eventually have to quit because my body gets too sick on me.

It's happening again where I am currently working, so I am taking a risk and trying to find a fabulous office type job where it's still fast paced, but not necessarily fast paced and physically taxing on my body.

I love to work. I would go crazy if I couldn't work.

Currently I am looking at and being considered for a postion with a 4.5 start hotel as a Night Auditor. I am seriously considering it.

syrel · 03-03-2007, 05:30 PM

Well, I have always held down a job, or two (at the same time). I did have heavy periods while on oral contraceptives. I had switched to ortho evra (patch) and my periods are now down to 3-4 days long and light-medium flow.

mfsmith · 03-04-2007, 03:10 AM

I have had many problems trying to work. I would not get my AF for 6 months, and then AF would last for 2 months. I'm borderline anemic before this. It makes me exhausted, and so I have a tendency to oversleep. Bosses don't like that. I've also gone into work once and had to tell my boss that if I passed out, to call an ambulance and tell them I had been showing signs of toxic shock (I was going through 1 super absorbency tampon an hour). Plus, I work in a tourist industry, so lots of people don't want to hire or promote me because I look like a chia child. I think it has affected my working greatly.