What were your symptoms for PCOS?

[BethanyCourt]

Hi all.

Just wondered what your symptoms were for PCOS? At first I didn't think anything of it, but the more I read about it the more I think it's a possibility for me.

Had a vaginal ultrasound back in June due to spotting between periods and a 14 days delayed AF (never found out the reason the delay). was told everything looked normal.
Have booked an appointment with my GP to follow this up as periods are still being a bit weird. I don't get any spotting but they have become really painful and heavy. I think the hormones affect my blood sugar levels too as I have felt really shaky and faint on the last two but felt fine soon as I had a quick sugar fix.

I have pretty regular cycles (anywhere between 25-35 days), but have quite bad hormonal acne , have gained quite a bit of weight in the last 18 months, mainly around my waist/belly. Also have an increase in dark/coarse hair on my stomach. This has all started to occur (albeit slowly) since coming off the pill just over a year ago. Not trying for a baby yet, but 25 so want to start within the next couple of years

Did anyone have similar symptoms? and with pretty regular periods?

Many thanks!

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Hi - this thread is a little out of date.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

I believe I have pcos but my doctor isn't bothered so haven't had any formal diagnosis. I have regular periods but a lot of facial and body hair which I spend ages getting rid of! I also have large spots that last a long time all over my neck. I have big blood sugar problems (my test indicated hypoglycaemic and that was when I was feeling 'normal'!) and have to eat every two hours and get enough sleep to manage it. I get pain in the groin and very heavy periods which have now made me anaemic. Id love to know what it is. My GP thinks it may be endometriosis but then that's common with Pcos I think.

Realitea isn't your GP bothered about taking this any further? surely even for the fact that you're showing up as hypoglycaemic?

Lack of periods was the main one, but pretty similar to you OP. Gyno explained treatment depended on whether i wanted to get pregnant or not - if not, take pill again, if so, lots of triggering periods, boosting ovulation, blood tests etc. Eating shed loads of vegetables and not much sugar really helps, on the few occasions I can bring myself to stick to it.

NotCitrus I'm pretty god with my fruit/veg, but I know I'm terrible for snacks (there is a packet of biscuits in the draw next to me as we speak!) Did you find these symptom's started to appear once you were off of birth control?

BethanyCourt no..it's so frustrating. I had an operation last year and the hospital were shocked the GP wasnt bothered! Still haven't been able to get them to take it further. They just said some people are more susceptible to it than others.

I've always had very regular periods but they were horrendously heavy and painful. I get spotting in between periods and I struggle to lose weight, no matter how hard I try. Period-wise, things are better on the pill.

I'm pretty sure they can tell if you have polycystic ovaries on the internal scan, so it's a good thing if it's normal. They told me during mine that I had cysts but I knew since I was about 12 when I had an abdominal ultrasound for other reasons.

My periods didnt return after my last baby was born. I bf for a yr and went to gp to ask what was going on. Blood test confirmed pcos which Id never even heard of before. Had difficulty losing baby weight which was unusual for me. Thankfully periods are regular again after losing weight which was really bloody hard. Basically my gp just diagnosed it and left me to my own devices. Its a horrible condition. for you and everyone else.

I have PCOS, frustratingly had an ultrasound about 10 years ago and they seemed to miss cysts but another scan 5 years ago confirmed it. I always knew I had it and in some ways the diagnosis was a relief. I gain weight very easily (but a lowish carb diet helps) I am also hairy and have a hairy tummy. Periods do go a bit haywire and become irregular with weight gain.

It took me a long time to get pregnant (5years) but weightloss, regular exercise, a low carb diet and a good dose of clomid did the trick in the end. PCOS is a bastard, but is very common and you can manage the symptoms.

Bethany Yes, I had no symptoms of PCOS when on the pill. To be fair, my sysmptoms haven't been that bad except for the lack of periods and ovulation. First time clomid didn't work but somehow got pregnant 6 months later (no periods for 18 months), second time it worked on the second month.

Oddly, after dc2 turned 2 and I stopped breastfeeding, I've since been having regular periods (ish) for the first time in my life (ie age 40!), but now have the gaining weight, craving carbs, and invasion of facial hair problems. The mood swings seem to be period-related.

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder that can affect each woman with it very differently. Not all PCOS patients for instance are insulin resistant; there is still much about PCOS that is not fully understood.

I also have no visibly apparent PCOS symptoms whilst on the pill; its anti androgenic qualities mask the underlying problems.

My main symptoms of PCOS were irregular periods and some degree of hirsuitism (hair). It was confirmed via blood tests (showing a classic imbalance of LH to FSH) and internal ultrasound scans showing the cystic ovaries. With regards to the cystic ovaries these cystic follicles can disappear, only to be replaced by further cystic follicles.

A low GI/GL eating plan can be helpful to PCOS patients.

For me: hairy belly, hairy face, infrequent but very heavy periods, multiple miscarriage, pre-diabetes (this was diagnosed by the darkening of the skin on my neck, which for years my mum had called a tidemark and nagged me about not washing my neck!) And also weight gain and difficulty losing weight despite many different types of diet. It sucks. I was only taken seriously after the second miscarriage and then went to the fertility clinic who did an internal scan.

No periods for over a year and pain which I thought I was in labour . I was given a scan due to it running thru all the women in my family and yes PCOS .. mild on one ovary and my periods still havent returned so 14 months without , have been to gynae and got another appointment next month to kickstart periods

Acne

Nothing else, until the internal scan

From late teens to mid twenties has bad acne. I had a bit of excessive hair too. Normal 28 day periods. Acne was helped with two courses of Roaccutane.

Had a miscarriage and didn’t fall pg despite tracking my cycles, having lots of sex at the right time. I was referred for an ultrasound which showed cysts on my ovaries. I was prescribed Metformin. I fell of the second month of taking it. I was then put on 75mg of aspirin and kept taking Metformin. I followed them same process when we tried for our second child.

Hello,

My symptoms are:
Hormonal cystic acne since age fourteen
Very regular 28 day cycle
Heavy periods
Excess hair on arms
Pigmentation on underarm (melasma)

No pregnancy despite TTC for a number of years.

I'm now single and saving for IVF.

Thanks Claireshh.

Very heavy and painful periods (reasonably regular).
I had blood tests which showed the typical PCOS hormone levels and cysts were seen on ultrasounds.
Over 20 years of TTC and no children. Nothing worked.