To ask if facial hair in young women always means pcos

[Givemehope700]

My dd is 25 and grows facial hair on her chin,upper lip and sideburns. She also has hair on her stomach. I’ve advised her to go to the doctors but she’s so worried she may have pcos and won’t be able to have children. I’ve told her lots of women with pcos still have children. The facial hair is distressing for her and I feel the doctors is the only thing that may help.

There are lots of things that can be done, laser hair removal, dermaplaning, waxing, or on prescription you can get a cream called vaniqua which takes about 8-12 weeks to work and is better combined with laser when it’s a hormonal problem. Please just tell her not to whip it off with a razor, it’s much harder to get under control and she may find herself having to shave every day as she will have stubble

PCOS doesn’t mean infertility - my two kids prove that!

Doesn’t always - one of my friends has a bit of an issue with facial hair and she conceived no problem. I don’t have facial hair but have pcos and struggled to conceive but managed to have 2 children with medication

I’d say get her to go if you can. If nothing else then for peace of mind. I’m quite hairy - arms, legs, stomach and face. I do not have PCOS. I had a child no problem and the older I get the less hairy I seem to become. But in my 20s I shaved 🙈

Thank you the reply. That’s exactly what she has been doing unfortunately. Yes I’ve told her that many women do manage to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. All she keeps saying are the negatives.

No it doesn't. It could mean anything from a genetic predisposition to more hair to a testosterone intolerance. But always get it checked out. Also a prescription for a cream such as vaniqua might help. And you're right, people with PCOS can have children.

I am the hairiest person alive. I have hairy hobbit toes, hairy tummy and lower back. My arms are darker and hairier than DH.
I have 3 kids that were all conceived with no long trying.

I went to my Dr when I was younger a few tines and they said there was nothing that could be done, it wasn't curable, they could only manage the symptoms - like bad skin, periods etc and if i wasn't at that time struggling to conceive there was very little point getting diagnosed. They were pretty reluctant to bother.

Not sure if other people disagree and it's helped them to get a diagnoses but I'm fairly certain I have it, haven't been diagnosed, just deal with the bad skin and periods and hair as isolated issues.
Not sure what positive will come from knowing?

I'd just get her laser hair removal, you can even do it yourself at home.

I have all the symptoms of PCOS and I'm very hairy. Had lots of scans and fertility investigations just to make sure (paid privately) - not a thing wrong with me and my 3 year old daughter is upstairs sleeping. I'm still hairy.

I am v hairy, 3 children no pcos, I do have a Phillips lumea though which is AMAZING

@Sleepinginthebathroom glad I'm not the only one! I actually got told once (I was already in tears just talking about it to the doctor) "there's clearly something wrong but don't worry you can have ivf on the NHS until you're 38."

I have acne and facial hair and suspect I may have a mild case of PCOS (my sister has been diagnosed with it - she had irregular periods & weight issues but no facial hair or acne). I was worried that both of us might have issues with conceiving but neither had problems.

I've had laser treatment both privately & on the NHS years ago but neither worked. I shave daily and barely anyone knows the extent of the problem.

She should definitely go to the doctors of she's upset by it. I've learned to live with it but it did take a toll on my self esteem at her age.

Nope. Mine started during pregnancy and has never gone away. No PCOS, i have four DC so definitely nothing wrong with fertility . I have no idea what causes it. I just wax it and deal with it.

I found it helpful to be diagnosed because there is information out there. I conceived ds the first time I had unprotected sex.

A big plus of PCOS for me has been finding that I seem to tone up with strength work really quickly - I'm good at things that need strength like rowing and yoga.

Pcos hair growth is fairly obvious. I can get my whole face threaded and after 2 weeks it’s just as bad as it was so have to do it again. Also the hairs tend to be tougher — more wiry and similar to men’s facial hair

Should say I’m late 20s. My Dad is French and Jewish so very dark colouring and I’m slightly lighter skinned than him but still olive. I think you’re more inclined to be hairier the darker you are or at least, the hair is more visible. My blonde friend doesn’t really need to shave her legs for example.

That’s all perfectly normal. Especially for people with Asian genetic herritage. I have hair on my stomach and a moustache and have no symptoms of PCOS or any issues with fertility.

Er Boggles - it’s not normal for people with asian heritage to have hair on their stomachs or thick moustaches. It took an Indian gaenocologist to tell me that; apparently the Indians who live in the UK come from areas where pcos is very common. If you haven’t been tested for pcos then you should get yourself tested.

Depends to what extent ? I had a baby and grew lots of hair after that I had to get my whole face and neck waxed!!

I am 24 and I have PCOS - I don't have any issues with extra body hair, but I am currently 31 weeks pregnant. PCOS doesn't always equal infertility - sometimes just means you need a little help and patience to get there. It honestly affects me very little. I was very scared when I got the diagnosis though so I know how she feels. Tell her not to worry

Does she have any other symptoms? Plenty of women (me included) are quite hairy without it being pcos. Never occurred to me i might have it to be honest.

I have hair, weight issues and acne - and a mild case of PCOS. Took 9 months to conceive first child (in fairness, only had about four actual eggs in that time, have very long and irregular cycles), but have caught every egg released since I first gave birth

If it is PCOS, it can cause issues, but the vast majority of sufferers still conceive. And I did find knowing was better, because the doctors were more prepared to help when it looked like we might have problems.

I am hairy and also have a Philips Lumea to tame it - it is amazing! I used to pluck thick black hairs from my chin daily. Now I pluck thin brown strays once every few weeks.

Hairy here too with two kids easily conceived 👍

I'm very hairy and got pcos, cant have biological children but have a gorgeous snoring adopted daughter upstairs 😍 she need to get checked as I buried my head for years and my symptoms are terrible now. My dsis also has pcos and conceived naturally. We also suspect my mum has it and she has 4 children!

I developed chin hair after menopause. I wax weekly and pluck strays between those weekly waxings. Laser removal works but the hair must be a certain length. When this improves, I may try laser treatment.