Let us meet our eight Supporter for the Work Smart Campaign.
Preethi Warrier, 39, is an Assistant Professor from Mumbai.
What is your official office hours?
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
How many hours do you spend at Work?
7 -8 hours
When did you first hear about Periods and from whom?
It was my mother who first told me about periods when I was ten. I got my periods at twelve and though I wouldn’t call it comfortable, I had pretty regular cycles until four years back.
What do you know about PCOD?
I initially heard about PCOD from my cousins. Then later, from a colleague of mine. My cousins were detected with PCOD in their teens, when their periods turned extremely irregular, even stopping for sometime. As for myself, I’m pushing forty now.
My menstrual cycles were pretty regular till I turned 35. But since the last few years, my periods have been extremely painful and irregular. It all started when my cycles stopped for 2 cycles in a row. I panicked and visited my gynecologist. The sonography detected the presence of a single cyst in my right ovary. It’s size being small, I was prescribed some hormone tablets for a few months, post which my cycles started naturally. The next sonography fortunately showed that the cyst’s size had reduced and I was advised to stop the hormone pills.
Is PCOD treatable ?
According to me, yes. I had a single cyst which got treated with hormone tablets. But talking about my cousins, they did undergo hormone treatment for long, they took tablets regularly for a few years. But I personally know that their condition improved a lot with proper treatment. My colleague was told she would require a surgery if it didn’t work out with medicines, but then fortunately, things are looking up now, she is up and running.
Are women with PCOD unable to conceive ?
Again, in my opinion, YES. All three women I know of have been blessed with children.
What is your idea of Work Smart ?
Work Smart is indeed a brilliant campaign, I agree with Aishwarya when she says , we women do not wish to make our menstrual cycles an excuse to escape work or return home early. But she’s right, unlike other chronic conditions, why do we often feel ashamed of talking about PCOD or menstruation related problems openly?
Ever since I turned 35, I have been suffering from hormonal imbalance and irregular and painful cycles. I go to work everyday, popping pain killers when it gets unbearable. I have been prescribed medicines for reducing the flow as well. But I don’t mind all that. I exercise, I practise Yoga, I am sure I can take care of myself. But on those days, when I feel particularly low, stressed or sick, thanks to my cycles, I just wish I could blurt it out to my male counterparts as well. On a particularly uncomfortable day, if I need to call in sick, I wish I could brazenly mention ‘ Menstruation’ on my sick leave form.
I am interviewing a few people, to check how much awareness, they have about PCOD.
Through this campaign, I am not asking that women working in corporates need to be sent home early. I am simply saying that men and women, working in Corporates, need to be sent home early without completing their jobs. I am just saying that men and women need to work more effeciently, so that we are able to wind up our day earlier. Technically speaking, it is of no use, women reaching home early and men reaching home late, because the kitchen closes only when the last person has their meal at home.
It may seem a simple but illogical change at present, but together if we can bring this change, which is quiet possible in our society. It will bring a huge change in all of our lives.
If you would like to participate in this campaign, Please do email me or contact me on Facebook.
The copyright of this Article belongs exclusively to Ms. Aishwarya Sandeep. Reproduction of the same, without permission will amount to Copyright Infringement. Appropriate Legal Action under the Indian Laws will be taken.
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