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Pregnancy

Pco but not pcos - any wisdom?

17 replies

RainbowMamaDarling · 01/04/2015 20:48

Hi MumsNetters,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place...... I didn't want to post in TTC as we aren't yet.

Today I had a US for my liver, and as part of that the sonographer (who was also a nurse) scanned my ovaries. She told me that I had polycystic ovaries and after questioning me on lots of subjects (periods, weight, skin etc) she said she was confident that I had polycystic ovaries but not PCOS. I have previously had 2 pregnancies (one loss at 22 weeks) and I have an almost 1 year old so historically have not had fertility issues. She told me that lots of women have pco and never know it and that it does not mean that I will have future fertility problems. My periods are normal although have always been a long cycle.

Is what she told me true? Does pco not always mean pcos? And is it possible to conceive naturally with pco?

We really want to try for another baby at the end of the year. I'm just feeling really worried about this scan. I have a follow up scan in 6 weeks.

TIA

OP posts:

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Teeste · 01/04/2015 21:38

I do have PCOS, not just PCO and have conceived twice, once without Metformin (sadly a miscarriage) and once with (now nearly 29 weeks pregnant). I don't know if you'd consider that natural or not, but I do. I have the classic PCOS symptoms - high BMI, hirsutism - and have still been able to conceive, but there are plenty of other PCOS sufferers who haven't. It's an individual thing. I'd say if you've managed it before, that's pretty much proof of concept, isn't it?

Either way, the advice you're most likely to get is to control your weight/fertility with a low-GI diet and plenty of exercise. I think they trot out that advice to everyone, though, regardless of the state of their ovaries :)

This link says '...the majority of women with polycystic ovaries do not have features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and do not require intervention.' So your nurse/sonographer is probably right. I'd suggest discussing it with whoever is supervising your next scan. Try not to worry too much! And FX for you.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 01/04/2015 21:39

Hiya! I'm in the same boat (PCO but not PCOS) and was diagnosed almost 10 years ago. I had a scan when I was 21 for bad periods and stomach pain and it was a large cyst on one of my ovaries. I had an operation to remove it. Since then, I've had some other larger cysts which were either treated with medication or operations. I've been unlucky and had some bigger cysts which have had to be treated, but lots of people who have cysts never even know about it because they're small and come and go. I always worried that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant naturally, but I did completely unexpectedly without even trying (just being careless!) I know that a big cyst can stop one ovulating, but cysts come and go and can be treated. At the time I got pregnant, I had one small cyst, but just two months previously I'd had a 4 cm cyst. So yes, it is totally possible to get pregnant naturally with PCO. I have bad PCO and I conceived naturally, but it doesn't sound like yours is that bad if you haven't had pain etc. I wouldn't worry about it at all - just keep an eye on it. I hope that helps!

WishUponAStar88 · 01/04/2015 21:43

I also have pco but not pcos. Also found by accident really on a scan. I conceived do quickly after coming off the pill. If you have regular periods then I would imagine you're ovulating regularly too.

Olivevoir · 02/04/2015 06:22

My dd was told she had polycystic ovaries aged 16 when she had appendicitis and they were exploring what was causing the pain. Scroll forward 2 years and she is now 23 weeks pregnant after not taking contraception seriously enough as a result! Hmmm. Anyway, due to early pregnancy severe cramping, she was given a scan to locate the source of the pain and was told that her ovaries were cyst free and looked completely normal...so it appears that it can come and go.

RainbowMamaDarling · 02/04/2015 07:36

Thank you so much! I feel lots better after reading your replies! It's just so hard to find info on PCO it's always about PCOS!

OP posts:

flanjabelle · 02/04/2015 07:42

I have full pcos. I also have a dd who was conceived through ONE split condom. Just one!!

I was told by a very unprofessional sonographer that I would never have kids naturally due to the state of my ovaries. That showed her!

As long as you are having a regular cycle then you can conceive. I had recently lost weight and that kicked my cycle back into gear. I went from haBing one or two periods a year to one every 5 weeks. Apparently that's enough to have a baby without trying!!

Bue · 02/04/2015 12:24

Tons of women have this and don't know it because they have no problems conceiving. Don't even worry about it.

BeforeIChangeMyMind · 02/04/2015 12:39

Yes, what everyone else has said. A sonographer told me that I had PCO but I have no other symptoms of PCOS and my GP didn't think it was anything to worry about.

I asked about cysts at a subsequent scan and was told there were none there - so again, another experience of it coming and going.

There's so much that we can worry about these days. Please don't waste time worrying about this. Just have fun TTC :)

RainbowMamaDarling · 02/04/2015 19:52

Ah MumsNetters!! You guys rock! Feel loads better, thank you so much.

And breathe!!!

OP posts:

BallroomWithNoBalls · 04/04/2015 22:44

Another one here with pco but not pcos - size ten, I do avoid sugar as it doesn't suit my digestion and conceive easily. Due my second soon - had one miscarriage before 12 wks in between the two, but that's pretty common anyway, doubt was down to my pco.

u32ng · 06/04/2015 21:58

Hello! I almost had to have fertility treatment whilst ttc dc1. Same issue as you with long cycles & things on my ovaries.

Anyway a month before treatment, DS1 was conceived.

Yesterday I just found out I'm pregnant with dc2 Typical!: after 7/8 months of trying it finally happened when we only had sex 3 times in the month (and had done it about about 7 times in a fortnight the previous month!!) I didn't reeeeally want a Xmas baby ideally as I have friends and colleagues who bemoan their decmeber bdays. Oh well! Just shows that babies come along when they want to come along!

Good luck!

FINEIsThisUsernameOk · 25/01/2017 11:33

Um.. My sister recently has been diagnosed with PCO, not PCOS though. She is having terrible stomach and back pain and it hurts me to see her this way. We tried everything from hot bags, to softer mattress, to balms suggested by the doctor but the pain prevails. The medicines the doctor has given curbs the pain for a few hours but then it re-begins with full intensity. Her sleep schedule is completely off now due to the pain and someone has to be home at all points in the day for her. She's only 15, but she is suffering too much. You have been diagnosed with this for a long time. Do you have any tips? Any pain relieving methods? does this get better over time? Or will be keep coming home half-way through the school day because she couldn't sit up any longer?

mrscrocopop · 25/01/2017 19:02

Hiya - I also have PCO but not PCOS and conceived very quickly. Good luck.

ClaireL90 · 22/07/2017 05:19

I was told ten years ago at 17 I had pco not pcos. I used to have periods every two weeks which were heavy. I was put on the pill. Had a scan in the week and no cysts and no enlarged ovary. I've come off my pill and will request another one depending how my periods are later on. Is pco a condition as such then? I don't get why or how it can just go? I had a bladder scan about 18 months ago for an unrelated issue he said he saw some. Has anyone had an ultrasound and it show nothing or do people think it's just the pill surpressing things? Although I was on the pill at the time of the bladder scan too

Mandraki · 22/07/2017 08:45

I got diagnosed with PCO/PCOS (they weren't sure due to the number of cysts and my age) at 16, and thought until earlier this year (I'm 27 now) that it might hinder me getting pregnant. After xmas we decided to try and see what happened, with the expectation of it taking ages. I was pregnant 2 weeks later! Bit of a shock. Not sure if I just got lucky (VERY LUCKY) or if I was misdiagnosed.

vitadolce2015 · 07/08/2018 18:30

I've come back from a scan where they told me i have pco. I don't have any other symptoms. I have to go back to the doctor and have more blood tests. It's just freaked me out as I had a miscarriage last year.

We're going to start TTC in next few months. Should we start sooner??

Any more positive conception stories to make me feel better?! It has helped reading these posts.

Thanks all!

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 10/08/2018 08:23

Since I posted last time, I went on to conceive and have my dd with no problems at all!

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