​Rudzani Matshili
 
After being diagnosed with a hormonal condition known to cause infertility and experiencing more than ten miscarriages, Tlhologelo Wendy Nkwali finally welcomed her son, Leano, a name she chose to honour what she believes was God's plan to make her a mother.
The 32-year-old was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in 2021, a condition that affects women of reproductive age and is recognised during September, which is PCOS Awareness Month. Nkwali admits she had some awareness of the condition beforehand, as she experienced many common symptoms, including excessive body hair, acne, and obesity.
Speaking about the difficulty of living with the condition. She sought medical help at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital after her menstrual cycle stopped unusually early at age 18, just a few years after it began. There, additional symptoms of the condition, such as low blood sugar, were discovered.
"My periods stopped more than ten years ago. I went to the hospital but was never diagnosed with PCOS. They treated my menstrual issue for three years, but a month after the treatment ended, my periods stopped again. I then resorted to contraceptives to maintain a consistent cycle. I had some knowledge about the condition from reality shows I watched, and the symptoms were definitely there, including facial hair at the tender age of 12. By age 22, I was very obese, weighing 350 kg," she said.
Nkwali struggled not only with the physical symptoms of PCOS - like weight gain and unwanted hair growth - but also with the emotional toll it took on her, including depression and a deep sense of insecurity about her body. These challenges were compounded by the social stigma surrounding infertility and appearance.
While there is no cure for PCOS, treatments can help manage symptoms. Many symptoms can be reduced through lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, which aid weight loss and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Nkwali said she achieved weight loss through healthy dieting.
She recalled being told to forget about having children based on her blood test results. In 2022, one doctor told her to forget about being a mother, and that was devastating. She was even considering adoption at some point, but the adoption rules were not favouring her - just like many other women out there.
"I underwent different treatments until my body just rejected all of them, and I was back to zero. Before becoming pregnant, I went to the hospital for more blood tests, which came back clean. The doctor then asked if I wanted to have a baby, to which I agreed. She put me on medication, and eventually, I got pregnant," she said. 
"I had been trying for years, miscarrying, so it felt surreal. It took several ultrasound scans before I could believe I was really pregnant. I started believing it around 17 weeks when I felt him move," she recalled.
Her pregnancy was considered high-risk, and she was placed on bed rest for most of it. She gave birth prematurely at 32 weeks due to placenta previa. The baby, now nine months old, weighed just 1.2 kg at birth.
She has since quit her self-employed business to fully care for her baby, who has minor health setbacks but is developing normally and healthily. Since giving birth, her periods have been consistent, though she still experiences severe period pains.
In conclusion, she urged women to seek medical attention for reproductive health issues and plans to extend her awareness efforts about the condition in schools and through awareness campaigns.