Really scared I have PCOS

[LailaDay]

OK, I know I should not get too freaked out, but I cannot stop obsessing.

I'm 33, married for nine years, and have been off birth control for five years. We've had "careless" sex during those years - we didn't really want a baby yet, but it wouldn't be unwelcome, so we used condoms together with the classic coitus interruptus. No accidents and no pregnancy. I thought we were just lucky.

Now we've been TTC since August. It turns out it is actually hard.

My cycles are long but regular-ish: between 32-37 days or so. I have never skipped one. I've used Clearblue Digital OPKs and got a positive test almost immediately both times (day 15 - so very early in my cycle). When I keep testing it seems my LH levels are all over the place. My cervical mucus as well. I have bad PMS.

Reading more about PCOS I have a lot of the symptoms although in a mild form: scattered dark hairs around my nipples (about 20 or so), acne (mild, but every month, usually in the second half of my cycle), a bit of an apple shape (BMI is 22 though - all fine - no history of thyroid issues).

Supposedly you have to try for a year before seeing a GP. With my story, do you recommend getting checked out early? Any recognition from ladies with PCOS? Or am I just too nervous and making too much of small abnormalities that are actually perfectly normal?

Honestly 80% of couples will conceive in a year. Even if you have raging pcos, many women go on to conceive naturally. Don't medicalise something before you have to...

I'm pretty sure you're panicking for no reason. If you had PCOS you'd know - your "symptoms " are very minor and really just what any normal woman would have.

You probably didn't get pregnant all that time because you were using two forms of contraception .Using condoms and pulling out is hardly what I'd call "careless ". No wonder you never got pregnant !

In reality you've been TTC for 2 months . Most women will get pregnant within about 12 months with no contraception.

Thanks both!

@Birdie69 - we never used both methods at the same time. We either used a condom, or we pulled out.

I have PCOS, have been on Dianette & Metformin at various times & was told by doctors I'd struggle to conceive. They said they'd try me on Clomid when I was ready.

But - I've been pregnant 'naturally' four times and the longest it ever took me to fall pregnant was 2 cycles. So you never know! Good luck.

These are inspiring words. Thank you! ^^

If you’ve only been TTC since August you’ve likely only had 2/3 cycles? I have PCOS as well as endometriosis and conceived my DS a year after having a missed miscarriage.

PCOS can make it harder to have kids but not impossible. Also with PCOS the ONLY reason I was diagnosed was because I was in so very much pain and my doctor referred me to Gynae as they were concerned about the pain I was in (as in crippled over barely able to breathe, heart rate high, sweating pain)

Good luck.

I've got PCOS and had 3 children, I wouldn't worry just yet! 

I know I shouldn't worry - I just have such a strong feeling that there is something wrong with me. :/

I just have such a strong feeling that there is something wrong with me

Health anxiety?

Ovulation generally occurs between day 11 and day 21 after the first day of your last period, so day 15 isn't early - it's totally normal.

I have PCOS and I don't ovulate at all without Clomid. In fact, until I had fertility treatment I rarely had periods.

@Coolaschmoola - I have long cycles though - it would give me a luteal phase of 16-20 days. I've heard that shouldn't even be possible.

@Bombardier25966 - just with this. Although I suppose it doesn't help that I've had regular bladder infections for most of my life and a couple of kidney ones that ended in hospitalisation - perhaps I don't trust that part of my body because of that.

You do know that your reproductive system is entirely separate from that system though, right?? They don't cross over.

What you're experiencing is the normal, yet irrational fear of not being able to conceive because you were warned at school that the first time you had sex you would get pregnant.

Wait till next August to get worried! You're still at the point where it's less than 50% would be pregnant since you started ttc.

Not "would" could.

With PCOS all standard rules go out of the window.

It takes a person with a totally normal cycle up to twelve months to conceive. Two is literally nothing.

Three slight cases of minor secondary symptoms, with a BMI of 22, ovulation and regular, if long, cycles is not really indicative of PCOS.

Diagnosis relies on two out of three main symptoms. They are missing or irregular (irregular for you - a long cycle is not necessarily irregular, unless it used to be shorter), excess male hormones checked by a blood test, and visible cysts on the ovaries shown by a scan.

Monthly acne is normal for many women without PCOS, as is a "bit of an apple shape", and hairy nips, particularly for dark haired people. The hirsutism associated with PCOS is generally male pattern hair growth.

In the kindest way possible, as someone with PCOS in all it's glory, you sound like you are clutching at straws because you haven't conceived in two months. The vast majority of women don't. You are ovulating though, which again reduces the likelihood of PCOS.

If you are still concerned ask your GP to do a blood test.

Not "would" could.

With PCOS all standard rules go out of the window.

^

Yes. That is one of the reasons I suspect I might have PCOS. My colouring is very fair by the way. The coarse, dark chest hairs really are an anomaly. I was never bothered too much about them before though - just used tweezers - until everything started adding up. I realise everything in itself is mild. But considering I have (some) cycles longer than 35 days, I have bad PMS, I have those hairs, I have the belly fat (even though my BMI is 22, according to my waist measurement I am dangerously overweight), and I have acne.

I have no idea if I am ovulating. OPKs detect LH surges, not whether you ovulate. Women with PCOS have high LH levels - that is why women with PCOS often have false positives and cannot rely on the tests. I have tested positive almost straight away both times I used them, early in my cycle, about 20 days before the onset of AF.

And yes, lol, I know my bladder is not connected to my uterus. Just saying it might contribute to this anxiety / feeling I have that something is wrong. I honestly have no idea why I have such a strong feeling. I just feel like I know something is wrong.

It's nice to hear others with PCOS did just conceive naturally, though. I'd just feel so bad wasting an entire year. 33 is not young for your first, I know that.

Hi @LailaDay sorry you're feeling anxious but in all honestly I think all women TTC start to get anxious something is wrong when it doesn't happen straight away! We're always taught unprotected sex means pregnancy so actively try to avoid it - but in most cases getting pregnant really isn't having unprotected sex once or twice (does happen obviously but rare!) even if you're timing it perfectly you've still only got a 20% chance of conceiving each month & that's for a perfectly normal healthy couple.

Regarding PCOS - even if you did have it (many many women have it in some form but never know because their fertility isn't effected) as you are showing positive signs of ovulation & having reasonably regular cycles it won't be effecting your fertility. PCOS only effects fertility because when cycles are long & irregular you won't know your 'peak fertile time' & timing is key! & some women with PCOS don't ovulate. But if you're having positive OPK's you're fine.
I have PCOS, I always have regular cycles, I also have 1 DD & I'm pregnant!
Sorry for the long ramble but I hope I've put you mind at ease! If you were to of concieved within 2-3 months you'd actually be in the minority, not the majority. Please don't panic! As long as you're seeing positive ovulation sticks & symptoms you can assume for now that all is well. But after a year, yes see your GP. Although I'm sure you'll have your BFP by then! Best of luck!

Regarding your last post I've just seen PCOS can effect LH hormone but I think for the hormones to be that effected your symptoms would be much more severe than what you described. Try buying the cheap OPK's & taking them from say 5 days after your period until AF/BFP. Although the hormone can flatuate you should see a rise & fall. Good luck!

I have PCOS - have always had really bad facial hair. Also have always had periods that were all over the place. Sometimes only a space of 2 weeks between them, sometimes only a period every 8 weeks. Made it impossible to time when I may have been ovulating. However, I've had 3 babies, all conceived very quickly! So don't worry even if you don't have it.

Thank you both for taking the time to reassure me :) I really appreciate it!

I had this anxiety even before starting TTC, actually. Husband indeed is of the "but my sex ed class said I only had to look at you without a condom - why is this hard" variety - but I have seen a lot of friends struggle with fertility in the past. My cousin has been TTC for 3 years. I guess that also put the fear into me.

I have diagnosed PCOS - I had no idea I had it until I was pregnant with DD1. Currently sat here 22+5 with DD2 - wasn't trying to conceive but hadn't been using birth control for approx 7 months - I have a BMI of 30 and I'm 36 so all of the things you are worries about I wouldn't too much 

Thank you, @snowone!

Glad you had no trouble and congratulations!

You could try tracking your basal body temperature? That might ease your mind a bit that you actually are ovulating. You dont have to keep doing it if you find it a hassle/stressful but it might help your fears somewhat!

I was convinced there was something wrong with me and have been diagnosed with PCOS. We are struggling to conceive, since going on metformin I've had one chemical and currently on my first cycle after that. How bad is your acne etc? Some GPs will prescribe met if you want it and some will refer you for a diagnosis without it being based on lack of a pregnancy. I was getting really terrible cystic acne on my chin and jaw that I had never had before, it was so painful and nothing I did would help. The metformin has cleared my skin completely and my cycles seem more regular (only my third on it so far).

There are definitely options if you have PCOS, I wanted to reply because I relate to your knowing something was up. I temp and it always shows I ovulate despite no pregnancy too.

@KinCat - yeah, I've decided to try temping during my next cycle. :)

@OrcinusOrca - My (cystic) acne is mostly on my chin and sometimes in the nose / upper lip area.

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That is about a normal month for me - sometimes it gets worse. I have seen dermatologists for it in the past, and it was bad enough for me to have been prescribed courses of tetracyclines. I now use salicylic acid. Never had it as a teenager; it began in my early twenties. It usually starts around cycle day 15, and clears up by the time AF arrives.

It's just - I don't think it is strange to wonder if you fall out of the norm for all of these things. Like, I know the average woman has 28 day cycles - but up to 35 days is normal (mine is 37), it is considered normal to have anywhere from 2 to 15 hairs growing around your nipples (I have about 20), it is perfectly normal to have a pimple occasionally, but cystic acne in your 30s, even if mild, is not normal.