Those with PCOS

Can you tell me what your symptoms were? How did you know that you had PCOS? And how did your doctor diagnose you? I'm being to think that I may have this condition....

Also, how hard is it to TTC with this condition?

Re: Those with PCOS

I have PCOS - I have never had a regular period.
When I was younger I was put on BCP to give me regular periods and told not to worry about it. I would be put on Provera to start a "bleed" and then take BCP.
I wasn't actually diagnosed with PCOS until 3 years ago when we decided to TTC. That's when a sonogram showed all the little pearlized follicles in my ovaries that will never be released naturally.
As far as symptoms - very irregular periods, no sign of ovulation, facial hair, acne problems and I tend to carry any extra weight in my abdomen. About the only symptom I didn't have was a weight problem.

ETA: as far as TTC, PCOS is one of the easiest things to treat. Depending upon your weight an RE might recommend Metformin to control insulin and may or may not decide to combine that with Clomid.
Most RE's will see if you ovulate on Met and then let you try naturally - if you don't ovulate then they may try Clomid and then move on to IUI's.

Message edited 11/25/2007 10:49:03 PM.

Re: Those with PCOS

I was diagnosed about 2 years ago after 1 year of TTC. I had to bring it up to the Doctor, who later confirmed that "yes" I do have PCOS. I actually self-diagnosed after learning about the symptoms on this board and I was furious that a doctor never discovered it before! There is no definitive test for PCOS which is why it is important to go to a RE for dx because it can be easily missed by your obgyn.

Symptoms: My periods are anywhere from 28-38 days, I have extra fat around my abdomen,acne, and unwanted hair. My blood work also revealed indicators of PCOS. I have elevated DHEAS and LH/FSH ratio was 2:1 (*I think) or 3:1 (I cannot remember). And some women who suffer from an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is also an indicator. At the same time, I was dx with hypothyroidism. Most women with PCOS are insulin Resistant, however, I am not.

Hope this helps!! If you have your blood work with you, I would look over the results to see if you have any indicators.

Here are the Lab tests that you should request:

FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), will be normal or low with PCOS

LH (Lutenizing Hormone), will be elevated

LH/FSH ratio. This ratio is normally about 1:1 in premenopausal women, but with PCOS a ratio of greater than 2:1 or 3:1 may be considered diagnostic

Prolactin will be normal or low

Testosterone, total and/or free, usually elevated

DHEAS (may be done to rule out a virilizing adrenal tumor in women with rapidly advancing hirsutism), frequently mildly elevated with PCOS

17-ketosteroids (urine metabolites of androgens, used to evaluate adrenal function) elevated or decreased?

Estrogens, may be normal or elevated

Sex hormone binding globulin, may be reduced

Androstenedione, may be elevated

Lipid profile (low HDL, high LDL, and cholesterol, elevated triglycerides)

Glucose, fasting and/or a glucose tolerance test, may be elevated

Insulin, often elevated

TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) some who have PCOS are also hypothyroid

Re: Those with PCOS

Re: Those with PCOS

When I was a teenager I had really irregular periods. I figured it was normal and didn't think about it too much. When I was 19, I went to the gyno for the first time and she put me on BCP, for the irregularity and for BC too.
Skip ahead 9 years. I want to try TTC soon, so I go off BCP. 28 days later AF comes! Then again in another 29 days! I am thinking, great, I am regular now! But then it went to 35 days. And then over 60 days, so I go to see my ob/gyn who tells me its normal, its just a late period and AF should be here soon.
I know that can't be right, so I find a new ob/gyn. By the time I see this doctor, it has been around 90 days since my last AF. Right away she suspects PCOS. She does a sono which shows the "string of pearls" in both my ovaries. She takes blood which shows that the LH/FSH ratio is totally out of whack (the LH more than double the FSH), and my testosterone is too high.
Yep, I've got PCOS. She prescribes me metformin, which I take for 3 months with no AF. So she sends me off to an RE, which is where I am now.
I am taking the metformin with clomid. I am just starting my second cycle.
Last cycle they are pretty sure I had a chemical, so it seems I can get pregnant, but I am going to have to take progesterone supplements now.

Because my LH is so high, I won't get a surge that triggers ovulation, so I also have to get an hcg trigger shot when my follicles are mature enough.

We are trying 3 cycles naturally, and if that doesn't work we will move on to IUI.


My other symptoms besides not ovulating and not getting AF - I always had acne and too much dark facial hair.

Re: Those with PCOS

Re: Those with PCOS

My only symptom is only lack of periods -I went on BCP at 16 to regulate them. When I went off BCP, I got one period and then nothing.

I don't have the acne, weight or excess hair problems. Even my blood came back normal. What I do have, though is the classic string of pearls ovaries - which combined with lack of ovulation means a PCOS diagnosis.

Definitely insist on being tested. It involves bloodwork, an internal sonogram and, most likely, a glucose tolerance test to determine if you are insulin resistant.

By the way, a PCOS diagnosis is not the end of the world. It is one of the most treatable fertility issues. Good luck!

Re: Those with PCOS

I am a special case. I have always had regular periods since it started. No one even suspected there was a problem. I went off the pill after 8 years for health reasons and my cycles continued to be normal. I was pulled off the pill because my sister was dicovered to have genetic clotting condition. I was tested and it was revealed I have it too. It was discovered I have an elevated PAI-1 level (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1) and that led them to test for the 4G/5G polymorphism. I came back 4G/4G (all genetic crap). Due to this defect it was beli I could have PCOS. I had a sonogram done which showed my pearls . I was started on Metformin and became pregnant my 6th month on it (3rd month trying).
The only symptoms I have (looking back) was unexplained excessive weight gain when going off the pill and unwanted hair. I had asked my PCP about these and I was told some people are just not meant to be thin (I was working out 6-7 times a week and eating right) and that fair skinned people have a lot of hair to protect them from the sun
So my story is a little diffent then most but there it all is. I am a PCOS'er with regular cycles. I just didnt O during those cycles.

Re: Those with PCOS

Re: Those with PCOS

Just made an appt. with my OBGYN (whose practice also focuses on infertility) for a check up. I will voice all my concerns at that appointment and insist on being tested for PCOS. We aren't actively TTC, but I want to know what I'm up against (if anything) instead of waiting for when we want to TTC.

Re: Those with PCOS

Re: Those with PCOS

my sister was told she had PCOS after two months she was pregnant...

Re: Those with PCOS

Irregular periods, "string of pearls" on both ovaries..alot of pelvic pain.. My bloodwork came back abnormal too.(I think my dr said I'm Insulin resistant) she likes the levels to be around 10, mine is 30. So, I'm on Metformin, hasn't worked. Another symptom I have is, definitely extra weight in the belly area.. Which is so hard to get rid of... and of course not being able to get pregnant.. Can't think of anything else..

Re: Those with PCOS

The symptom that prompted the diagnosis was one big, painful cyst.

That made all the hair issues, belly fat, "aggressiveness," and hideously irregular cycles make sense.