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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.

Original poster

***CAN YOU HAVE JUST A LITTLE PCOS?***

31 replies

DungunGirl · 05/02/2008 13:41

Hi ladies

Anyone out theere in the situation where doctors can see symptoms of PCOS but keep saying that they can't totally confirm it?

I have still got loads of tests to have done, BUT I have had blood tests and an ultrasound.

My scan showed one ovary showing signs of PCOS. It has a bumpy appearance and is enlarged. The actual report from the sonographer said it did have symptoms of PCOS but not all symptoms.

In other words....can one just have a very little case of PCOS but enough to produce the undesirable affects of Weight gain/infertility/spots etc?

Anyone?

---------------------

Hi - this thread is a little out of date. We've got some more information on PCOS here. MNHQ

OP posts:
fruitloop79 · 05/02/2008 13:47

yes. I know two people with borderline PCOS. I originally thought that was ridiculous as you either have cysts or not but I've been put right so yes you can have borderline PCOS
HTH

Original poster
DungunGirl · 05/02/2008 13:51

WOW fruitloop.
That is so nice to hear. I was starting to think I was going mad!

Did they get perscribed anything?

I am TTC no.2 and things are not happening. So was wondering with it being borderline whether they got anything for it.

OP posts:
fruitloop79 · 05/02/2008 13:54

No don't think so. I fact they are both super fertile! It's not fair, I know

AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/02/2008 14:29

Unfortunately PCOS is avery individualistic disorder and thus affects each woman with it very differently. What is an issue for one for instance is not for another. I have personally not heard of the term "borderline PCOS" but there is anyway a very fine line between polycystic ovaries and its related syndrome (basically the syndrome is the cystic follicles with one or more symptoms). The commonality though between the two are the cystic follicles on the ovaries.

Polycystic ovaries can appear larger than normal (walnut) size. It can also take a skilled sonographer to spot the cystic follicles.

I was diagnosed with PCOS based on both my irregular periods and bloodwork showing the usual LH/FSH imbalance.

Original poster
DungunGirl · 05/02/2008 15:32

Atilla

You seem very well read on this subject.
I didn't quite understand your explanation though...

Do you mean that I could have cystic ovaries without it being PCOS?

However, would cystic ovaries still produce the same side effects as PCOS?

I have got a slight hormone imbalance which has come as a result of the blood tests.

ohhh it is so confusing!

OP posts:
notmyrtle · 05/02/2008 19:17

I have cycstic ovaries (described as multicystic by my dr) but he won't diagnose me with PCOS because I ovulate & have regular cycles.

I have loads of PCOS symptoms though, an FSH/LH imbalance, oestrogen dominance & I can't conceive

soosy · 05/02/2008 19:52

me too notmyrtle, Nobody even mentioned it to me until we had been having IVF for about seven years, male problem! We do have ds now 10th attempt and have found acupuncture most helpful. I don't even have the spots etc. But I do respond really well to IVF drugs this last cycle I had 17 eggs, not bad for a 38 year old. It also means that apparently you are fertile for longer. Good luck

ChristmasShinySnowflakes · 05/02/2008 19:54

I think you can have Polycystic Ovaries and/or Polycystic Ovary *syndrome

See this site for further information:

Verity

Original poster
DungunGirl · 06/02/2008 08:52

Oh my God! Really? I have started the whole fertility clinic saga as I have been trying over 12 months now and according to NHS guidelines someone my age - 30, should not need to really try for more than 9 months. Well this is what my GP told me.

Anyway, I never knew about this 'cycstic ovaries' condition before....can you tell me more?

All that the I have been told so far is that before they can confirm...they think I may have a mild case of PCOS. But again who knows!!!!

COngrats on the success in the end! So....you had cycstic ovaries too? But you say that you were put on drugs. Was it clomid? Or metformin?

Ohhh this is all so exciting to find others!

OP posts:
Twiglett · 06/02/2008 08:55

PCOS is a syndrome that is defined by other symptoms as well such as hirsuitness, overweight etc

one can have polycystic ovaries without having PCOS ...

9 months is not the average for conception .. it's 18 months ... don't know how your GP could believe that

oh I had PCO before conceiving DS and none after so it's hormonally led

annoyingdevil · 06/02/2008 09:09

I have PCO, but very regular periods. took me a while to conceive, but still managed two babies in my late 30's! I believe I have it midly (thought not officially diagnosed)

AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/02/2008 10:36

Around one in five women have polycystic ovaries. This term describes the appearance of the ovaries when they are seen on an ultrasound scan. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the name given to a condition in which women with polycystic ovaries have one or more additional symptoms. SO not all women with PCO have PCOS, but all women wiht PCOS do have polycystic ovaries,

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.

notmyrtle - I think you are being poorly served by your GP. Multicystic ovaries is another term for polycystic ovaries. You should be referred to a gynae at a subfertility unit as a matter of course. I would not think you are ovulating with an LH/FSH imbalance (I have this and I certainly was not) so cannot understand why the GP thinks you are ovulating. It is also quite possible to have periods without ovulating.
It is also not a condition that should be messed around with by GPs.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/02/2008 10:38

Most couples conceive within a year of trying. Gynaes generally like to see people if they have tried for a year without succes or after six months if they are over 35. If a couple has not conceived after 18 months then there is likely to be a problem with either one or both of them equally.

Original poster
DungunGirl · 06/02/2008 11:46

Wow....this is great things are all becoming more and more clear.

I never knew you could have Polycycstic ovaries but not have PCOS.

The nurse at the fertility clinic pretty much said that I had a polycycstic ovary ( my right ovary only ) but stop there and didn't go as far as actually saying that I had PCOS. It all makes sense now!!!

((Twiglett))
I was quite surprised when my GP said the 9 months, but by the time he referred me it was 12 months.

(((Atilla)))
Again...you amaze me with information! I have had a DS already and my symptoms started after I gave birth to him!!! My hormones are all out of sync.

Also, the doctors never explained why I did not have a milk let-down which meant I could not breast-feed my son at all. Only recently have I found out it can be a sign of PCOS.

So...in fact I could have had PCO since I was a teenager but not had the symptoms start to appear until after my hormones where unsettled by having my first child! MAGIC!!! It all starts to make sense!

(((annoyingdevil)))
Do you mind me asking how long it took you to conceive your two children?

OP posts:
bubblagirl · 06/02/2008 11:53

i was told from age of 15 to 22 that i had pcos

had laprioscopys {sorry cant reme,ber how to spell} hysteroscopys scans all confirmed i had it went for scan at 22 and they were all gone

i was told its not uncommon for women at some point to appear to have pcos for years i had lots of cysts saw them on screen on scan pics and then 7 yrs later nothing

had to have lots of investigations took me off all meds at 24 i bled all the time so had tablets to stop me ovulating took me off to test hormones on if could couldnt have children

was told would be 18 mths before my body went back to normal within the month i was pregnant

could not believe it after all them yrs of being told i couldnt but i didnt give it second thought and doctor thinks this is why my body was acting so positively as wasnt stressing about it

sfxmum · 06/02/2008 11:58

just to add my experience

I was diagnosed in my early 20's after a depression from a bereavement, my weight shot up my periods stopped.

I was put on dianette but most of the symptoms did not really improve.
It seems that my periods are linked to my weight, as in below a certain threshold I am ok.
fertility was not an issue as I did not want children but periods / weight / mood have always been interlinked and depression has been a major factor.

I had 2 mc before I wanted children, one once I started trying to conceive in my mid 30's the had my dd when I was 36.
am now 39 trying to conceive again, had mc 2mnths ago.

my periods have been regular since dd was born the most regular they have ever been which is surprising as my weight is still a bit too high

fruitloop79 · 06/02/2008 12:34

DungunGirl I too had no milk let down. I was devastated to say the least! After 9 months of being totally against formula. Plus being told that every woman can breast feed by midwives! Also comments like "that baby needs a bottle" really hurt.
I now know it was most likely down to PCOS. I've also got an underactive thyroid which can also have an effect on milk production.
Next time I'm gonna make sure I get the help to be able to breast feed! I'm sure it's not impossible with the right medication etc..

Original poster
DungunGirl · 06/02/2008 13:52

((( fruitloop )))

Oh my God! I thought I was some freak of nature not being able to breast feed my DS. I am so relieved to have contact with someone who had the EXACT same experience. I know what you mean about the midwives they kept going on and on and on about it.

It angers me more now to know that it is obviously not un-normal..so why wasn't I offered some sort of explanation?

It would save me all this heartache with TTC no.2 and only now finding out that something is really not right!

ARRGHHHH....

OP posts:
fruitloop79 · 06/02/2008 13:56

ARRGHHHH......

fruitloop79 · 06/02/2008 13:56

ARRGHHHH......

annoyingdevil · 06/02/2008 15:23

To answer your question, I was pretty lapse using contraception from around the age of 30 - didn't bother using it most of the time, but was not actively trying to get pregnant IYSWIM. Conceived DD at 37 and DS 15 mnths later! Both times I conceived after losing a few pounds

Original poster
DungunGirl · 06/02/2008 16:21

I am really trying to lose some weight as I put on so much after having my DS. Again...why? Didn't put on any weight worth a mention while pregnant!

Anyway, I am a mere 1.5 pounds away from officially losing my first stone! Hooray.

God...it has been hard...have had to take up jogging 3 times a week, yoga plus have cut back dramatically on portions at dinner time!

Fingers crossed it will all help!

OP posts:
sfxmum · 06/02/2008 19:52

well done and keep it up
I really need to go back running somehow everything else seems to fall into place

Original poster
DungunGirl · 07/02/2008 09:38

Hmmmm...was just reading more about PCOS and never ever realised that skin tags can be a symptom!

Over the last 2 months I have grown a big skin tag in my underarm and I had a little one on my neck ( which I pulled off! Was not pleasant! )

Is it worth me mentioning this to the people at the fertility clinic?

OP posts:
fruitloop79 · 07/02/2008 13:56

OH MY GOD - Skin tags too! AArrgghhh! I have those! got two on my neck removed about 8 years ago! plus a couple under my armpit and one at the side of my armpit.
I don't understand why I've always had all these bloody symptoms and PCOS wasnt picked up sooner! I had a scan about 7 or 8 years ago and they said there was nothing there! Does PCOS just come and go when it feels like it?