Do I really have PCOS?

[MummyAbroad]

Hi,

I would really appreciate some information from someone who knows about PCOS.

I have been "diagnosed" with it, but I dont really believe it! I am skinny with clear skin and regular periods and the mother of a healthy two year old boy conceived with no problems whatsoever.

I was diagnosed on the basis of:

1)a scan done 6 months after the birth showing one ovary with multiple cysts (at the time blood tests also showed a thyroid problem which has gone now) In those 6 months I hadnt had a period.

2) I had a missed miscarriage in March this year

3) Recent blood test show low levels of LH and FSH BUT the test was done before I got my very first period after the miscarriage and then the doctor counted back from my period and decided the test was exactly mid cycle.

Does anyone know if this is an accurate way to diagnose PCOS? and if its true that the PCOS "causes" miscarriage.

I have been prescribed a hormone to take in the second half of my cycle to help me get pregnant and told that this will reduce the chance of another miscarriage from 50% to 10%

Thanks for your help

[MummyAbroad]

Thanks for your post Fliesby,

Wow, your situation sounds just like mine. What blood tests did you have?

My bloods, scans and diagnosis were all done by different doctors in Costa Rica, so sometimes I just dont know whether I can trust the diagnosis or not. Nothing on the internet about PCOS seems to remotely fit my situation.

I didnt know that Thyroid problems and PCOS were connected. Can anyone recommend a good book from Amazon? I guess I have some reading up to do!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

You may have polycystic ovaries rather than PCOS itself but there is a fine line between the two.

I would not actually count on the thyroid imbalance being gone; again you need up to date test results here.

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently. Not all PCOSers by any means have problems with skin, weight gain and periods and what is a problem for one is not for another.

The commonality between all these women though are the cystic follicles on the ovaries, these disappear only for further cystic follicles to return.

You need up to date test results; anything done near or over 6 months ago should be discounted. An internal ultrasound scan would show the state of your ovaries now.

With regards to LH/FSH there is often an imbalance between these two hormones with LH being higher than FSH (normally these two levels are the same). There is evidence to suggest that elevated levels of LH are implicated in m/c but the causes are not fully understood.

Verity is a good website on PCOS- www.verity.pcos.org.uk and you may find books by Collette Harris useful too.

[MummyAbroad]

Thanks so much, this is all very useful.

I had an ultrasound done a year and a half ago which showed the cysts, and another one done two months ago after the miscarriage which showed clear ovaries. Can PCOS just go away sometimes?

My thyroid TSH level a year and a half ago was low - hyperthyroidism - but was normal two months ago. I am beginning to think I had temporary hyperthyroidism after my sons birth which has now gone. This is based on reading

www.endocrineweb.com/pregnancy.html,

but if i have clear ovaries now, and no other symptoms (apart from having had a miscarriage) could I still have PCOS?

many thanks to both of you.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

You need an up to date internal ultrasound scan as these cystic follicles can disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. Any test result given over 6 months ago should be discounted.

You can solely have polycystic ovaries without having the syndrome but it is a very fine line between the two (PCO and PCOS).
PCOS tends to be diagnosed if there is more than one symptom present but it is a very individualistic disorder and does affect each woman with it very differently.

Would also seek an up to date TSH level result although as you say that was probably a temporary blip.

HTH