‘My Big Fat Fabulous Life’: What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – Whitney Thore’s Illness Explained

My Big Fat Fabulous Life star Whitney Thore has an illness — but what is polycystic ovarian syndrome and is it really the reason she gained so much weight? Let’s take a look at the TLC diva’s medical condition and what it does to the female body.

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

The first thing to know is you might hear it called polycystic ovarian syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome — either way it’s the same thing. Most people find it easier just to say PCOS as it’s known. And this disorder is what Whitney Thore says made her gain weight in college.

With PCOS, the ovaries produce excess androgens (steroid hormones). Women have them in small amounts and men in higher amounts. Whitney said on My Big Fat Fabulous Life that she was diagnosed at age 23. About 10% of women have this condition.

With this illness, the ovaries don’t have enough female hormones to ovulate. Then, this lack of ovulation can lead to small cysts developing in the ovaries. And those cysts emit androgens in higher than normal amounts which can wreak havoc on the body.

The cysts themselves are a symptom of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Other symptoms include:

• Late-onset periods in puberty, missed, light, and/or irregular menstruation
• Enlarged ovaries
• Acne
• Thinning hair or male-type baldness
• Infertility
• Excessive body hair on the chest, back, or stomach
• Facial hair
• Skin tags on armpits or neck (bits of skin that crop up)
• Thick or dark patches of skin on the neck, under breasts, and armpits
• Weight gain, usually in the abdominal area

Most of these are things Whitney’s mentioned she struggled with on My Big Fat Fabulous Life. It’s usually diagnosed via ultrasound of the ovaries and hormonal blood tests.

PCOS can also cause insulin sensitivity which usually triggers weight gain. And this is a critical piece of the puzzle because obesity aggravates insulin resistance and worsens PCOS symptoms. So, it can be a vicious cycle.

Is There a Cure for PCOS for My Big Fat Fabulous Life’s Whitney Thore?

In short, no, there’s no cure. The only thing Whitney Thore’s doctors can do is offer medication to lessen symptoms. There are also lifestyle choices Whitney can make that could lessen her symptoms and mitigate the effects of PCOS.

One of the top approaches recommended is to eat a healthy diet and engage in physical activity to lose weight so your body better regulates insulin. For women with polycystic ovarian syndrome hoping to get pregnant, doctors may prescribe medication to trigger ovulation.

For women not trying to get pregnant, they may prescribe birth control pills to regulate periods, help acne, and balance the hormones. Sometimes, physicians may prescribe diabetes medication to help with insulin use — and sometimes medications for hair growth and to treat acne.

On My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Whitney said she’d had symptoms since her teens but was diagnosed at 23 after rapidly piling on 100 pounds in college. That’s when Whitney also first felt her hair falling out and grew facial hair.

Plus, Whitney Thore said her periods didn’t start until age 15 — which is pretty late — and she rarely has them. From her weight gain came mental health issues admitting she suffered anxiety and depression and also struggled with eating disorders in the past.

My Big Fat Fabulous Life Update: How Whitney is Handling Her PCOS

Two PCOS symptoms Whitney talks most about are infertility and her weight. Already, she froze her eggs and talked about finding someone to carry a child for her. Her bestie Heather Sykes agreed to carry a child for her but recently found out she’s not a candidate.

So, Whitney must find another surrogate if she moves forward with fertilizing one of her frozen eggs. The other obvious symptom is her weight. A few years ago, Whitney Thore admitted her highest weight was about 350 pounds. That was around the time of her viral video Fat Girl Dancing.

But the My Big Fat Fabulous celeb is always active. She lost down from the top weight but seems to be at a plateau on MBFFL. But it also seems like she’s hit a plateau. To date, Whitney Thore’s still struggling with symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome with no end in sight.

Watch MBFFL on Tuesday nights on TLC and check Soap Dirt for news and spoilers.