PCOS... Now you see it, now you don't!

[woollysocksaresexy]

OK, my story... about 10 years ago I got diagnosed with PCOS having gone to my GP about my really long and irregular cycles. This diagnosis was made with the symptoms, abnormal bloods and via a very cysty ultrasound.
Now we are TTC... my bloods are normal and on another ultrasound my ovaries are completely normal, not at all cysty.
And while my cycles are an awful lot better than they used to be (no 3+ month ones!), they are are still kind of long, at 35-40 days a time, with no obvious cause!
Has anyone else had vanishing PCOS? I thought it was supposed to be there for life!
And has anyone else got cycles this long with nothing wrong with them?!
I have hope that since I had a mc in December things are working, but these long cycles are somewhat inconvenient when TTC!
Thanks!

I have PCOS...what's your secret?! I've heard people can manage it through exercise and diet, are you doing anything differently, are you quite fit?

Sorry about your mc in December I guess that means you are ovulating though? I don't THINK I ovulate and couldn't seem to get anything happening naturally so am on clomid at the moment. My cycles got more normal though when I was doing a low GI diet and a bit of exercise.

No idea, Alexandra! But its a bitch of a condition isn't it?!. The thing is I still have other less-than-lovely symptoms of PCOS, and can't believe that a 40 day cycle is normal, but apparently theres nothing wrong with me now. WTF?

Crossed my fingers and toes for you that clomid does the trick for you

I was sorry to read about your miscarriage and hope you received and continue to receive support as and when needed. The Miscarriage Association may be helpful if you have not already spoken to them.

www.verity-pcos.org.uk is a helpful website as well.

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently. Its a condition that does not go away of its own accord unfortunately so I think your long cycles are still being caused by PCOS. It can however, be managed to a certain extent (a GI/GL eating plan can help with PCOS) and some women with PCOS do manage to ovulate spontaneously very very occasionally. That scenario probably happened here but equally it is possible to have periods without actually ovulating.

The cystic follicles associated with PCOS can be very small; also these can disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. A clue they may have missed is the size of the ovary; polycystic ovaries can appear larger than normal (walnut) size.

What blood tests were taken and on what days (you should have had a day 2 done anyway to compare your LH level against that of your FSH level; there is often an imbalance of LH to FSH). Any result over 6 months old should be discounted, in any event you need up to date results.

Are you under the care of a subfertility unit currently?.

Blimey, are you a doctor, Attila?! Or have you just learnt from long and bitter experience of crap GPs? Thanks for your reply!
I do not really believe that my PCOS has gone, even though my GP says there is nothing wrong with me as despite the biochemistry and scan being negative, I am sure there is something not right. Don't get me wrong, this is a much better situation than before, but I just want to know whats causing it still!
I had the day 2 and 21 (or 30 in my case) bloods done, which were all normal and that I had ovulated. I think I am regularly ovulating as I have the same symptoms of ovulation and progesterone, but at different times and always late.
I plan to go to a different doctor once I have recovered a bit more from the mc, I can't quite face more talking about things and prodding now, its all a bit raw.

I'm so sorry to hear of your MC. I would definitely see a different doctor. It sounds we both have had experience of crap GP's.
Once you are up a fertility clinic, once I got my appointment letter I rang them to ask which consultant had experience in PCOS, sometimes all of them do sometimes not. Best to check.
Hope you get some answers soon.
My PCOS has disappeared completely, this can happen. I've been scanned several times and at no point were there any cysts and I used to have some whoppers!
When you feel ready, I hope you get answers and a sticky bfp.

I have pcos and used to have 60 to 90 day cycles. Nightmare! My DC were conceived on CD 56 and 63 respectively!! I was focussing so much on CD14!! Im not saying that's the case with you but I can empathise with the long drawn out cycles. Verity is a brilliant site, the ladies are so supportive and there is some excellent advice on there!

Sounds promising though that your cycles are getting shorter.

In answer to your question posed the answer is that I have learnt much from my own experience at the hands of ignorant GPs, I told one of them off when he told me that endometriosis (that I also have as well as PCOS) was not common (soon put him right on that point!). I fortunately managed to see a knowledgeable gynae who helped me to conceive otherwise I would not be a parent now.

Some GPs can be ignorant (I'm being charitable here) when it comes to PCOS and I note you also have other symptoms that could be associated with this condition. It does not go away of its own accord but some PCOSers do ovulate spontaneously albeit on an occasional basis. The surest way you are going to know that though is to have regular monitoring and blood tests done; other signs can be misleading.

The causes of PCOS are not fully understood but no one therapy or treatment will completely eradicate the cystic follicles. As mentioned as well, these can disappear (mine did) but return.

What did they measure for day 2 and day 21 and what were the results of same?.

I wish you well in your ongoing recovery with regards to your miscarriage. Its still very early days for you.

Would suggest you keep an eye on your cycles and do seek the advice of a different GP when you are feeling more able to.