pretty little liars actor with polycystic ovary syndrome is pregnant

nearly two years after tying the knot, pretty little liars alum sasha pierterse revealed that she’s expecting her first child with husband hudson sheaffer. the actress, who shared the snap on instagram of her bump on instagram , was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) back in 2017.

“i had no idea what was going on and i didn’t have any way of solving it,” she told people at the time . she later told entertainment tonight that she hoped her story would shed light on the often overlooked condition.

pcos is one of the most common hormonal issues in women, which causes cysts to develop within the ovaries according to mayo clinic. the cause for the condition stems from an imbalance of reproductive hormones that can also delay ovulation or affect the development of the eggs. this makes pcos a common cause for infertility.

for those who are able to get pregnant, pcos causes women to be at higher risks for complications during pregnancy, labour, and delivery. according to healthline , pregnant women with pcos are three times more likely to have a miscarriage compared to women without pcos. there could also be complications such as developing preeclampsia (a dangerous condition for both mother and baby), gestational diabetes, having a larger baby or premature births. this could lead to difficult deliveries or a cesarean section.

statistics from the cdc indicate that more than five million women of childbearing age are affected by the condition, but less than 50 per cent of patients are able to get a proper diagnosis, meaning that millions are suffering in silence.