Do I really have PCOS?

Question

My doc told me (after an ultasound) that i have PCOS. Im not overweight (I weight 105 lbs), dont have weird hair growth, or diabetees, or dark spots on my skin. I just have not ovulated for 3 months. I was on the pill for 10 years.

Answer 1

Hey-
I didn't quite believe my doctor when he told me he thought I had it either. I'm 5'6" and 120 lbs...so not overweight either. My doctor thought that I had it but didn't seem to know a lot of facts. (I had NO symptoms other than irregular ovulation as well.) My doctor talked about going on Metformin the medicine often given to those with PCOS...but I happend to ovulated and got pregnant!

Unfortunately that pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks...it wasn't detected by ultrasound until 12 weeks. Apparently those with PCOS have a higher risk of miscarriage due to hormone levels.

Following my d&c in July I didn't have a period...didn't have a period...and moved to Indiana. I couldn't get in to see a new doctor until the 18th of September. The doctor went through my charts and just by looking at me said that he was sure I had PCOS. (There's a Thin women PCOS too!!)

This is the best website that I have found out there that talks about thin women PCOS.

http://jarrettfertility.com/PCOS%20patient%20handout.pdf

Thin women with PCOS typically have absolutely no symptoms other than irregular ovulation. My new doctor said that his wife has the same thing. They went through three years of seeing a specialists, failed IVF, and pretty much gave up. They tried Metformin because they had nothing else to lose. Three months later they were pregnant. They now have two healthy little girls.

I started Metformin that day...my temperature spiked just a few days later...so I knew that I ovulated. I had been waiting THREE months to ovulate and the day after starting Metformin I finally released an egg. I think it was too much of a "coincidence" for it not to have been the Metformin.

Two weeks ago I should have gotten my period. I decided not to waste my money on a test because my husband and I only had sex two days before I ovulated and I didn't stay in bed afterwards or anything. Well sure enough it turned out that I am pregnant! I'm still taking Metformin through the first trimester and pray that everything will go smoothly this time!!

I tell you all of this because if you're looking to get pregnant go on Metformin. My previous doctor told me not go take it unless I have to because it's a hard drug to take. It was not bad at all. I just have to be careful about not eating too many carbs with it....because that will upset your stomach. Metformin is known to help regulate ovulation AND reduce the risk of miscarriage.

So in reference to your question....if your doctor says you have it...assume that you indeed do. If you can go on Metformin DO IT!!=) It really is suppose to take a good three months before it really starts working...but it could certainly work out much faster for you like it did for me!

Let me know if you have any further questions!!

Answer 2

I do, according to ultrasounds and the fact that I am having trouble conceiving. My only physical symptoms are bad skin and "some" facial hair, not a 5 o clock shadow or anything. I'm 29 and I began to suspect PCOS about 2 years ago but was not formally told anything by a doctor until 3 months ago. I have regular periods and ovulate every month, I am not overweight and, as far as I know, do not have insulin resistance, so I have no idea WHY I have this condition. Birth control worked wonders for me when I was on it, my skin cleared right up and I no longer had such heavy periods and bad cramps. Hopefully, it will work for you. Many women with PCOS who are overweight manage to lose a lot of weight by using metformin, a diabetic drug, which may also help alleviate the symptoms of PCOS. Good luck! It's good that you caught it early- it will save you a lot of misery in the long run.

Answer 3

The symptoms of PCOS include:

Irregular or no menstrual periods
Acne
Obesity, and
Excess hair growth

Other signs and symptoms of PCOS include:

weight gain,
acne,
oily skin,
dandruff,
infertility,
skin discolorations,
high cholesterol levels,
elevated blood pressure, and
abnormal hair growth and distribution.

Any of the above symptoms and signs may be absent in PCOS, with the exception of irregular or no menstrual periods. All women with PCOS will have irregular or no menstrual periods. Women who have PCOS do not regularly ovulate; that is, they do not release an egg every month. This is why they do not have regular periods.

Answer 4

I to have pcos, and I am only 19 years old, even though you don't have as much symptoms to prove you have pcos, your dr can mostly tell threw a ultrasound, or by a blood test, I never had reguler cycles, so thats mean I never ovulate, I did 4 cycles of clomid which didn't work at all for me, My Gyno he perscribe metformin to me and guess what it regulate my cycle to a 29 day cycle, I was amaze, I have and appointment tomorrow, I hope my gyno put me on injections, but I have heard alot of success stories on metformin, I have more hope then I use to with metformin then I did with clomid, I am praying this month I get a BFP,

Answer 5

Not every woman who has pcos wil have all the symptoms associated with the condition. If your doctor has carried out an ultrasound and blood tests to check your hormones then its very likely that you do have pcos

Answer 6

if the dr saw the cysts on your ovaries then yes you do, the main symptom is not ovulating, birthcontrol is a treatment for this which may be why you haven't experienced any other side effect. i have pcos, and i am not over weight, diabetic, dark spots... but i am irregular, and ultrasound shows...
good luck if your ttc, it is not impossible, just a little more challenging then someone with no fertility issues. good luck