The chef and TV personality speaks to Tatler about her mission to raise awareness about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Malaysia
An estimated 5 to 10 per cent of women aged 12 to 51 in Malaysia are affected by PCOS, a common hormonal disorder with a variety of symptoms including acne, weight gain, infertility and more. Left untreated, these women are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, mood disorders and endometrial cancer.
However, the journey to diagnosis and prognosis for PCOS—and many other women’s health issues—is often a long, difficult one; something Ili Sulaiman had to find out the hard way.
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It was early 2016. Ili had just won AFC and Food Network’s region-wide culinary competition Food Heroes. Upon returning home, she immediately got back into the kitchen to run her popular recipe blog, Dish by Ili and host several TV shows. At the time, she also opened her first restaurant and social enterprise, Agak Agak Initiative.
“I started feeling extremely fatigued and my hair was falling out. A doctor told me I had an autoimmune disease so I was on all these medication, inhalers and it wasn’t working,” she shares. It was only when her period stopped when she heard the term ‘PCOS’ for the first time: “My gynaecologist took a look at my blood test results and my insulin was through the roof! She found these ‘string of pearls’ in my ovaries."
But the relief at finally getting a diagnosis was short-lived. “All she said was ‘lose weight, take this pre-diabetic medication, stop eating sugar and come back in a few months’. That wasn’t a thorough action plan or solution!” she says. “I did what she said and nothing changed.”
Ili describes her helplessness at being unable to find any resources online, especially in an Asian context. When she opened up on social media and connected with fellow women with PCOS, she was referred to Dr Christina Tai at Subang Jaya Medical Centre.