Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is an endocrine disorder that results in a hormonal imbalance that causes a woman’s ovaries to become enlarged with small cysts. Those with PCOS are at a higher risk for heart disease, infertility, excess hair growth, and endometrial cancer, just to name a few. 

Essence Payne Randle had the idea to start advocating for PCOS when she was diagnosed at 31 years old, but she wasn’t given much information about the disorder. To educate herself and help others like her in the process, she created The Cajun Cyster of NWLA, Inc.  

“Part of my advocacy is focused on obtaining an earlier diagnosis for PCOS patients. I’ve been displaying symptoms since I was a preteen, but it took multiple doctors’ visits to obtain a diagnosis eight years ago. That boils down to having a doctor who was not knowledgeable about PCOS and did not recognize that starting my cycle at 8 years old, the excessive hair growth and high testosterone levels were symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. Given the fact that PCOS was first discovered in 1935, it’s disheartening to know that, not only are we no closer to a cure, but I may have been diagnosed as a teenager if my OBGYN was more educated on the subject. I could have received better healthcare and information from my physician,” says Randle. At the time of her diagnosis, there was only one fertility doctor in the city, so the waitlist for appointments was extremely long.