Wisbech woman with polycystic ovary syndrome is ‘finally a mum’

Even that was not straightforward, because Rylo arrived very early, at just 29 weeks.

When Miss Collins was given her diagnosis, babies were the last thing on her mind and she initially regarded her symptoms as being “just a hassle”.

“I had an answer for the problems I had, but there was no support around anything else. I was told to come back when I wanted a baby,” she said.

“My period turned up when it turned up, and I also had classic symptoms such as excess hair, acne and difficulty losing weight.”

Dr Nausheen Mawal, lead clinician in Norfolk for Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic, said: “Women with PCOS often have elevated insulin levels, which can make weight loss challenging, and higher levels of testosterone – the ‘male’ hormone.”

The imbalance results in multiple fluid-filled follicles on the ovaries, resembling cysts, which contain immature eggs. These are not released, leading to irregular periods.