Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Flip

Original poster

PCOS need information and/or advice!

20 replies

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 15:05

Hello it's been brought to my attention that I might have PCOS I don't know nothing about it, I read alittle section on a website and I've contacted my doctors regarding having a blood test done!
I have high LH for over a week and sometimes longer, I've been getting them for a few months now I thought it was normal.
I've had a bad break out of spots,
headache's all the time,
vision keeps going wappy,
bad low tummy pains for a week about "so called" ov time mid cycle.
I use to be a spot on 28 day cycle girl for over 10 years but now I'm 4 days late here 2-3 days early there, had this for about 4-5 months,
I very much believe I have an hormone imbalance.
Been very emotional lately.

I don't know if any of the information I've given help's but I don't know what to think! I need someone to say I have reason to go for this test or not!

OP posts:

CarlyP · 29/08/2006 15:15

Go for it. I have them and endometriosis. get PCOS ruled out or at least confirmed. dont be scared, its ok to be worried, but you iwll feel better for knowing.

mad4girls · 29/08/2006 15:37

hi i
think you should go for it girl,

i mean i am the type who would rather know something that not know about it at least you can either get treatment if you have it or at least it will be ruled out if not, and your mind will be at ease for now anyway and dont worry were all here for ya to moan to either way

good luck

Original poster

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 15:46

Thanks ladies!

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 29/08/2006 15:46

I would get this further checked out; your symptoms have an underlying cause.

You can have a blood test done to assess your hormone levels properly. If the GP does the blood test they must compare the LH (luteinising level) level against that of the FSH (follicles stimulation hormone). With PCOS the level of LH can far exceed that of FSH (a common indicator of the condition).

Another possible option is for an internal ultrasound scan to be done to see what your ovaries look like. Polycystic ovaries have multiple cystic follicles on them and can appear lerger than normal size. The ovaries are normally the size of a walnut.

www.verity-pcos.org.uk is Verity's website and they have a lot of information.

HTH, any other questions just ask. Was diagnosed with PCOS back in 1997.

Original poster

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 15:53

AttilaTheMeerkat what symptoms did you have? If you dont mind me asking!

OP posts:

cazboldy · 29/08/2006 16:48

I was diagnosed with pcos in oct 04. Very erratic periods, weight gain (2 stones in 2 months) when lifestyle/dietary habits hadn't changed and loads of spots for the first time (was lucky as a teen)
Def go to the docs and get bloods and a scan done. It is best to know as it can affect your health in later life, and also by your nick name I take it you would like another baby??

Original poster

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 17:06

Been TTC for 14 months now!

OP posts:

cazboldy · 29/08/2006 17:18

Oh sorry to hear that. have you been to the docs about that at all?
If it gives you any hope, I had 8 cysts on one ovary and 6 on the other when I was scanned, and doctor said to me that if I wanted any more children I would have to consider hormone balancing treatment. I already had 3 children and decided I didn't need to worry about that just then. Since then i had a baby boy on 3rd Jan this year and am now pg again.
Also, If you have been trying for over a year I think you are more likely to get some kind of help.

Original poster

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 17:23

Been to the doctors going for my CD21 blood test on thursday i rang the doctors today to see if i can take the PCOS blood test while i am there, got to phone them back in the morning!

OP posts:

DreamingIguess · 29/08/2006 17:24

now it's my turn to be shocked... i mentioned earlier that i'd been diagnosed with mild pcos when about, oh 18 i guess. maybe a bit older. on basis of skin and a bit of body hair in my case; mainly skin.

anyway, had pains in side recently, last year..still get it.gp sent me for ultrasound on ovaries

i have pics right here, 6 on one 6 on other. i was told this was normal amount and figured that pcos must mean lots ie in the 20's plus.

help!

Original poster

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 17:34

I'm 25! I've reading on websites that it affects women in there teen's and early 20's!

OP posts:

DreamingIguess · 29/08/2006 17:42

i thought it could affect any age. i'm 32 now. i've decided anyway, was silly not to follow up on ultrasound with gp. took the ultrasound ops word that it was normal and thought i just need to get to gym. i dont' eat that much though and i've ballooned. my only hope was that i was somehow 3 months preg and tests were just showing neg.

got in 2nite, did a first response, and nothing.

gp's tomorrow for me. going to get my bloods and lh levels done.

have you seen this site babymad? quite useful, tells you

this

DreamingIguess · 29/08/2006 17:43

oops.. tells you about correct blood and hormone levels etc etc.

i should stop. am a hypochondriac at best of times & will lead you down a slippery slope

seriously - no harm in checking out with docs is there

Natty1806 · 29/08/2006 17:46

i have had my tests done and they came back fine for PCOS, BMI is normal have a few more spots than i would like, bit have very irregular periods. it did come up with very low pregestrone levels and since charting it is clear to see i do not ovulate, i am going in for a scan soon and to be honest would not be suprised if i have PO but not the syndrome if that makes sense.

Am also due to start clomid next cycle and have two other tests done in six months depending on what the scan shows.

Original poster

Babymad4num3 · 29/08/2006 17:53

Is Obesity or weight gain one of the key symptoms in PCOS???

OP posts:

manuka · 29/08/2006 18:44

Hi Babymad!! pcos isn't always seen on ultrasound which is the annoying thing about it. The main thing about it is no periods cos people with pcos don't usually manage to ovulate. a lot of people gain weight and get more facial hair. somebody said that posh spice has pcos and she's never had trouble conceiving so it doesn't necessarily mean bad news. tretable with hormone drugs.

mad4girls · 29/08/2006 18:49

sorry slightly off subject i thought posh spice had endometreosis

wannaBe1974 · 29/08/2006 18:50

babymad

If you've been trying for a baby for over a year then it's always worth getting checked out at the doctors, but you should be very careful about self diagnosing off the back of other peoples' simptoms or the internet. If you look on health sites it's often easy to find an illness, and relate your own simptoms to that illness.

You are currently very stressed about having a baby, and stress can delay, and even prevent ovulation. If you're getting pos ov tests then you maybe are having lh surges, but because of the stress you are currently feeling, your body isn't releasing the egg on that surge, and therefore might be having additional surges, which in turn cause the stress, and again the ovulation might not be occurring. It is highly possible to have more than one lh surge in a month.

I would definitely go and see the doctor as you have been trying for more than a year, and be open to the fact that there may be a hormone imbalance, but I would also throw away all your ov tests, and bd regularly and relax into the whole ttc thing. The more you stress, the harder it will be for you to get pg.

good luck x

AttilaTheMeerkat · 29/08/2006 20:02

BM4N3

My symptoms were irregular periods and a few stray hairs. The blood tests I had showed the classic LH/FSH imbalance (LH being far higher than FSH).

One problem with PCOS is that it is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently. One thing we all have in common though are the cystic follicles on the ovaries (these disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles). This cystic follicles associated with PCOS are very small and it can take a skilled ultrasound operator to spot them.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 29/08/2006 20:06

Doctors are still not entirely clear why some women have polycystic ovaries. There may be a hereditary link, and they are present in women of all ages, many of whom show no symptoms of PCOS. In other words, ovaries do not suddenly become polycystic; but women who have always had polycystic ovaries may develop symptoms at any time.

PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is the name given to a condition in which women with polycystic ovaries have one or more additional symptoms. So not all women with polycystic ovaries have PCOS but all women with PCOS have polycystic ovaries.

Flip