Hello and welcome to Zoe Recap, where each week we find the best bits from one of our podcast episodes to help you improve your health.

Today we're talking about gynecological health.

Conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome are more common than you might think,

yet they're often misunderstood, frequently

undiagnosed and are all too easily dismissed.

That's why it's essential for us to build a clear understanding of these conditions, how lifestyle

factors can influence them and when it's time to seek expert care.

America's gynecologist, Dr Jen Ashton, joins me to break down these complex conditions,

helping you to feel more informed and empowered in your own body.

PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, it's called the most common but least well-understood

hormonal condition affecting women.

And in the medical literature, it is quoted as affecting 10%, sometimes 15% of women.

I believe it could be even higher than that.

So it's incredibly common.

Hallmark features are signs of hyperandrogenism.

Signs are increased testosterone levels, producing acne, excessive body hair, male pattern baldness,

difficulty losing weight or gaining weight, menstrual irregularities, so irregular periods.

Those are a lot of the common signs or symptoms, but just to keep it fun and interesting,

women can have PCOS and not have any of those signs or symptoms at all.

As a woman listening to this, I think a lot of women will think, well, hold on I might have one of those

symptoms, which doesn't necessarily mean they've got PCOS. Unless you have one of those kind of

symptoms and it's bothering you or impacting your life, is it something that if you didn't get

...