Teen Mom Maci Opens Up About Fertility

Women everywhere struggle with infertility. As women, having a child is the one thing we "expect" to be able to do. When an issue gets in the way of that, it can be devastating. Maci Bookout McKinney is no exception. During this past season of Teen Mom OG, she opened up about a miscarriage of a baby girl. She has always been a fighter and her openness and sincerity just show how strong she really is. 

Maci not only opened up about her miscarriage but also about more obstacles. She was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). PCOS causes your ovaries to mass produce cysts, which can be painful and cause a lot of issues when trying to get pregnant. It also messes with your menstrual cycle. Women can have their period for a month straight and then not have one for months at a time.

Maci and women with PCOS also suffer with symptoms such as weight gain, unwanted hair growth or hair loss, acne, oily skin and dark splotches on skin. It is a very common problem and it can develop any time after puberty. It is caused by high levels of insulin and androgens (male hormones). There is no cure.

Even though there are many different treatment options for PCOS, Maci still feels trapped. There are medications you can take, however it switches a symptom for a side effect. She tells the story about how her medication causes her to be irritable with her children, and she wonders if she could be negatively affecting them.

If you suspect you may have PCOS, please go to your gynecologist. The earlier the diagnosis, the better.