My 14yo has been diagnosed with PCOS and she’s devastated

[CVVFan]

How can I support her? I have my own chronic conditions but not that one. I know it’s not a death sentence but the doctor did tell she needs to lose weight and that left untreated can cause cancer :(

She said uterine cancer caused by excess lining

Which is correct, and the reason she’s been given Norethisterone.

Having read your responses I wonder whether the GP spoke about the cancer risk to try to cut through her apathy. I think they’re trying to make her take it seriously.

OP, you need to parent well here and help her understand the risks of PCOS and walk through the lifestyle changes with her. Focus on diet. If she consistently eats in a calorie deficit she will lose weight. That is not easy for lots of reasons, and it sounds like she will need support to achieve this but at 14 you need to be a driving force.

I don’t think so, my daughter was engaged and not apathetic with the consultant (gynaecologist), she was definitely a bit too blunt

I have never had cancer mentioned to me either and I was diagnosed at a similar age.
Try not to worry, it sounds scary but it is common and there are many ways to manage it. What is worrying her most? The cancer word or having this condition itself?
I would say Norithisterone however made me feel horrendous, I had it to restart my periods when trying to get pregnant and it was not pleasant. Other people however seem fine with it.
The best thing for me at that age was Dianette but I know that has fallen out of favour so not sure they still offer it.

It’s the whole idea that she has to look after weight even more even though she’s already lost 8-10kg

Your poor DD. If it helps at all, I’m 50, I have PCOS (diagnosed at 16) and have had 3 DCs (plus 1 miscarriage) without fertility treatment. I do not have cancer & my periods eventually became more regular the older I got.

I understand how scary it is but please be assured it’s an incredibly common problem that causes most of us no issues. I didn’t have a period at all until I was 15 & then maybe one a year until about 20. I’m fine.

Have a look at thewomensdietitian on instagram.

Read Alissa Vitti's books, she made her PCOS basically symptom-less

I ld imagine chatgbt would be a handy diet assistant tool, could come up with good anti pcos diet hints and tips, even weekly meal plans.

Well thank to the suggestions she’s happy to try that supplement many of you suggested

In a way it’s good that it’s been found now, I had horrendous periods as a teenager and it took them until I was 40 to diagnose and treat my endometriosis! It’s a good place to be that it’s spotted early

My niece has PCOS. Shes tried so many different things, completely overhauled her diet and exercise, she has been incredibly disciplined in this regard for 3 years now but has not had periods in this time. She was on merging and letrozole for a while but that didn’t help.

She’s now been put on HRT. 🤷‍♀️

DD was diagnosed at 16. The Consultant mentioned the risk of cancer, cardiac and diabetes problems.

She offered DD the pill, if DD wanted to bleed, and DD said no. The Consultant said this was fine.

The NHS info is very good. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/treatment/

DD is 17 now and has lost a bit of weight and has now had 3 periods in 6 months after a couple of years with 2 a year.