Dr. Soucie and her team are studying the lived experiences of people diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and are looking for participants from the Windsor-Essex community who wish to share their PCOS journey.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the most common endocrine syndrome in women or individuals assigned female at birth, with a global prevalence of up to 21 per cent, affecting an estimated 1.4 million Canadians. Symptoms cluster into reproductive (menstrual irregularities, impaired ovulation, high testosterone), metabolic (insulin-resistance, obesity), and psychological distress (depression, poor body image, poor quality of life). If left untreated, PCOS increases a woman’s risk for diabetes, stroke, or heart disease.

The majority of PCOS research has taken a biomedical lens with a focus almost exclusively on how the syndrome impacts people’s lives negatively. The goal of this research is to challenge this framing of PCOS by amplifying stories of strength, resilience, and healing.