In need of advice re possible PCOS in DD (16)

[Velvetbuzzsaw]

To avoid drip-feeding, some background: its been a difficult journey with DD. Over Lockdown, she became isolated and developed social anxiety and then went through a period in school where she wouldn't talk at all. This led to a period of thinking she was NB or Trans but lost interest when she changed friend groups. She started having periods at 13, they were regular for a bit and then became erratic, then have stopped (no, absolutely no chance of pregnancy). I think she was self-conscious when all her friends would have their period regularly but she wouldn't. Now over the past year the hair growth on her upper lip, and now jawline, has increased. She has medium fair skin with dark hair so its pretty obvious. She does dermaplaning (didn't like epilators, threading etc) but hates being reminded to do it.

It is NOT an easy topic to discuss with her. Its taken a while to get her to agree to speak to the GP at all, who has ordered blood tests and an ultrasound.

Please can anyone who has been through this tell us what to expect, what other symptoms can there be? Is it possible it isn't PCOS but something else? TIA

If she is or was interested in transitioning, is there a chance she could have used testosterone? I would definitely think along the same lines as you though, and encourage her to be checked out for PCOS.

Thanks for asking, I did think about that. But I can't imagine the effects lasting this long? Also doubt she would have access to such a thing - she goes to an all-girls school and barely goes out. Her current friend group are all pretty straight and lovely girls who seem to have totally escaped the genderwoo madness. DD says she hasn't even brought it up with them. Anyway, hopefully the blood test will spot any anomalies.

Please help. It could also be Cushings. She recently acquired dark purple stretch marks which is a symptom.

I just want to hear similar experiences - diagnosing PCOS, managing mental health issues around it.

Just to say acquiring dramatic stretch marks in puberty is very normal. They go eventually.

In Cushings they come with weight gain which you don't mention.

Thanks for your answer. Yes there isn't much weight again, she is a healthy teen in every other way.

Sorry I'm just out of my mind with worry.

Have you considered that she is ASD and the periods are a totally separate issue?

You mention social anxiety, isolation, a period of selective mutism and a period of gender confusion.

All of these put together make ASD a possibility.

Just wanted to say I think you are being a good Mum in encouraging her to get pcos checked out. I was diagnosed a long time a go but not until 20’s and it was a blood test to check hormones I believe and an internal ultrasound (I had a full bladder and the scan probe thing was placed inside the vagina, it was ok and the lady was gentle, I was more bothered about the wanting to wee before the scan!). Things may be different now so I can only say from my experience.

My Gp looked at my results and said I had pcos. Advised to lose weight as I have always struggled with this. That was it at the time others may have a different experience to that depending on circumstances eg if obese, needing help with fertility etc. I have had a child with no assistance but there are drugs to help with fertility if appropriate.

Best thing is to get her checked out and then once you know seek advice on how to manage symptoms.

The symptoms I have had include excess hair, irregular periods (although they have become more regular as I got older though when young could go months), hormone related moodiness/low mood, weight gain, heavy periods/anaemia at times.

You have said she is healthy other than the issues you mention so you are doing the tight thing in being proactive in getting her checked as if it is pcos then she can take steps to look after herself now and help her body keep healthy.

This is probably no help at all, but I have had excess body hair all of my life. It arrived with puberty, upper lip, occasional chin, lower back, fast growing on legs and underarm.
I had blood tests as a teenager and repeated occasionally throughout adulthood and they have always come back as normal. Some people are just more hairy than others!

The irregular or lack of cycle could be either due to her young age, or due to stress? It sounds like she's gone through a difficult few years.

Wow, I didn't think of that. Yes those are her two main symptoms - the hair growth and the irregular/absent cycle. I would be relieved if it was just normal body hair. PCOS can really vary, can't it, in terms of severity.

I am also just a hairy woman. Never did any tests, although periods were awful. And am overweight but that isn't exactly rare these days

Some of us are just hairier and less regular than others.

Aww, bless you sweetie. That's strangely comforting to know.