anyone know anything about polycycstic ovaries?

[maggiesmama]

been diagnosed, know how they diagnose, is there a treatment etcetc?

ta

I have two, there is a treatment (Chlomid actually!). I took it for a while until another gynec. told me it was not essential to have it unless I was planning to get pregnant. I continued taking it anyway.

and what symptoms before and after, if its not too nosey to ask? and have you been cured?

many ways to diagnose and usually a variety.

Do you have polycystic ovaries or polycytic ovarian syndrome - the first is generally asymptomatic.

Scan of ovaries showing "ring of pearls"
blood tests to measure LH/FSH levels with are ususally inverted
Assessement of symptoms - I think they expect two or more of - absence or extreme irregularity of periods, acne, facial and other body haor, weight gain. Other rarer symptom is male pattern baldness or hair thinning.

Some symptoms can be treated but the condition is genetic so cannot be cured.

Lack of ovulation can be treated with clomid
Hair and acne - various drugs most dianette
if you are insulin resistant (not all pcos'ers are) some doctors will prescribe metformin.

Try the verity website they should have a lot more information.

that should say "and a variety are used together"

Symptoms... the same Sue mentions, lack of ovulation, hair and skin acne.

I don't think it has been cured but the main points are already covered, I have a child, I don't get more acne or hair but... I continue to be the most irregular person on the planet in terms of menstruation.

Chandra would argue with you there, you CANNOT be the most irregular person on the planet - I have been known to go 9 months without a period then 6 then 3 then a couple of 30 day cycles then back to a six month gap etc...

Have been more regular since being on the metformin 30-60 day cycles but lucky in that I don;t suffer badly from haor or acne - due to my celtic origins. Celtic skins have few androgen receptors in then so although I have piles of testosterone flying around my blood my skin doesn't recognise it, hurrah .

Ovaries are up the spout though massive doses of clomid and IVF didn't work.

I have had 7-8 periods in the last 3 years, can you beat that???\

Oh damn - no can't beat that, since being on Metformin I don't generally go more then 2/3 months without one.

Curses, robbed of my title of most irregular woman on Mumsnet...

suejones,mind if I butt in here? I have pcos ,have two dc one thru clomid,one ten yrs later naturally.Anyway as I'm ancient now (44) I am wondering if I need metformin.Have had a glucose tolerance done which was fine,but I have apple shape
typical of it.I'm trying to help it buy cutting out bad carbs etc .
anyway,what symtoms did you have to be prescribed metformin or is it purely to get pregnant?

I have had met prescribed twice, once when TTC (which didn;t work) and more recently as since I came off it my weight has just gone up and up so GP is trying me on it again to see if it will help bring the weight down. I am insulin resistant so perhaps they are more relaxed about prescribing it to me also have strong family history of diabetes Mother and Father and brother, brother under 40 and father not overweight so geneteics is against me!

I saw an endocrinologist many years ago who diagnosed me as insulin resistant then. The only obvious effect when on Met is that my periods do become more regular (though apparently not more fertile!) and it does help control my weight. Does NOT act like a weight loss drug just allows me to eat normally and not put on weight. If I over eat I still put on weight and doesn;t help the urge to eat IYKWIM.

Not sure if that helps you?

yes very helpful thanks,
so is the metformin essentially to stop you becoming diabetic?

partly and partly to help control my weight (which of course will aslo help prevent diabetes)

Oh no!!! does it also have something to do with weight gain???? I have found increasily difficult to mantain my weight even when I'm eating less than before and more healthy stuff. I excersise regularly but still it is very easy to gain weight. Do I have to ask the doctor about this?

yes chandra ,weight is a problem associated with pcos.You need to stay clear of refined carbohydrates,because they cause a surge in insulin levels that causes fat to be stored.So switch to brown rice ,brown grainy bread,skip potatoes if you can and also avoid sugary things.

OH no!!!! well, I don't eat potatoes anymore anyway... I just need to think of one to put on weight.

Now, how am I suposed to live without pasta??? yeah I know... but the brown pasta is horrible!!! or better said how long should I cook it for? same goes for the brown rice.... the few times I have done it I always feel as if I have been eating bird's food. Might be doing something wrong...

Thanks for the information [sobs]

I find pasta fine and potatoes, this bigger problem is with much more refined carbs eg white bread, pastry sugary stuff. I lose weight very succesfully on a staple diet of pasta and mashed potato, though I do add heaps of vegetables and I suspect that the fibre from the veg slows down the absorption of the carbs.

try cutting out all bread and pasta, as well as anything sugary, for a week or two (I know, I know...) and seeing if you lose any weight.

Bet you do...

unfortunately I would also lose the will to live...

it's not as bad as it sounds, just a bit more expensive (honest ).

PMSL!!!