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Housewife Siobhan Fletcher: ‘I’ve grown a beard for Movember!’

Thousands of men across the country have grown moustaches this month for charity fundraiser “Movember.

And, incredibly, 36-year-old Siobhain Fletcher has also joined in – by nurturing her very own moustache and beard.
Siobhain has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)  – which triggers increased testosterone and can cause facial hair – and normally does everything she can to hide her beard. But, this month, the housewife – who’s battled depression because of her condition – has bravely ditched her three-times-a-week shaving routine to raise funds for charity.

Siobhain, from Leek, Staffordshire, says: “I’ve had facial hair since I was a teenager – it was devastating when people first noticed. I’d spend hours trying different razors and products to get rid of it, only to be left with stubble.

“But I’ve learnt to come to terms with it and I’m embracing it. A guy working on a burger van thought I was a man the other day and called me ‘mate.’ I used to get embarrassed, but I laughed it off!”

Siobhain first noticed soft whiskers on her upper lip aged 17. By 21, the hairs had become thicker and darker and started growing on her chin, too – and Siobhain started snipping them off with scissors. She recalls: “I didn’t talk to anyone about it, I felt humiliated.”

In 2000, Siobhain met her husband, Jim, 42, a scientist, and moved in with him two months later. To hide her facial hair, she started using Jim’s razor in secret. She says: “I felt ugly and freaky. I’d shave when I was alone. I didn’t tell Jim – I didn’t want to put him off.”

But when her hair thickened, she enlisted her mum’s help to wax it off. She says: “It was really red afterwards, so I had to tell Jim. He was sensitive and reassured me I was beautiful. But, after each wax, I had to grow my beard back so there was enough hair to wax off again – that was hard. I didn’t go to pubs then as I didn’t want strangers staring.”

Siobhain had no idea what was causing her hair growth until late 2000 when, because she and Jim were struggling to conceive, she visited her GP. He diagnosed her with PCOS – which can cause weight gain, irregular periods, and facial hair growth.

“It was devastating. I became very depressed. Having facial hair made things even worse – I didn’t feel sexy or feminine,” says Siobhain, who’s been on antidepressants since 2005.

Siobhan's husband Jim has been very supportive

Now Siobhain has stopped waxing after a bad experience when the wax stuck. She’s tried hair-removal creams but they’ve burnt her skin. And she was told she had too much hair for electrolysis to be effective.

“I stick to clippers now. They keep the hair short enough for me to wear make-up. I do it every other day, sometimes with Jim – we laugh about it. We don’t share clippers, though – he has longer hair than me!” says Siobhain, who says laser treatment is too expensive.

Despite her attempts to control her facial hair, Siobhain admits people still stare. She reveals: “Sometimes, when there’s a bit of regrowth, people laugh at me in the street – it grows back within a day of removing it. But I’ve learnt to ignore them.”

Despite her embarrassment, this month Siobhain decided to use her condition to support Movember, a charity that raises awareness of prostate cancer and other men’s health problems.

“A male friend mentioned he was doing it and it struck me I could do it too. I wanted to challenge myself, and prove if I can go out on the street with a beard, then surely men who are experiencing health problems can get over their hang-ups and get tested – it could save their life,” she says, adding: “Jim is good at keeping an eye on his health.

“Going out with hair on my face is a big deal. But people have been really positive, saying I’m brave. Some of my friends think it’s strange, and Jim found it weird at first, but he’s supportive now and he loves me for me.”

Siobhain, who’s raised £500 so far, adds: “It’s been liberating. But I’m looking forward to removing it on 1 December. I’m considering having a ‘Big Shave Off’ party – I can’t wait!”

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