When I was 16, I was diagnosed with Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome. From what I understand, it is rather common among women. Do you have it? and if you do, what precautions do you take to maintain it? Also, for those of you who have children and PCOS, how hard was it to conceive?
PCOS- Do you have it?
12/03/2010
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I do not have PCOS but I do have a similar hormonal insufficiency not related to the ovaries that caused holy havok on my endocrine system making it very difficult to conceive. It took nearly ten years of trying to get a healthy pregnancy but after that it was like my body kind of woke up.
I do feel for you though PCOS is a monster especially with the more severe symptoms. How do you manage your PCOS? I have a friend who's daughter was just diagnosed with the condition and she is floundering.
I do feel for you though PCOS is a monster especially with the more severe symptoms. How do you manage your PCOS? I have a friend who's daughter was just diagnosed with the condition and she is floundering.
12/03/2010
Here's another post about it. A lot of women do have it but there isn't just one type. In fact, there isn't even just three types. It's more a spectrum of different symptoms and issues under an umbrella term, which makes diagnosis and treatment very difficult and needs to be individualized by a good doctor.
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12/03/2010
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I second that. It's important to make sure you've got good healthcare professionals working with you. I've never tried to conceive so I have no feedback there. My doctors have had me on all kinds of birth control pills and other medications. It is rather tricky sometimes. I hope you are getting the support you need!
Originally posted by
Darling Jen
Here's another post about it. A lot of women do have it but there isn't just one type. In fact, there isn't even just three types. It's more a spectrum of different symptoms and issues under an umbrella term, which makes diagnosis and
...
more
Here's another post about it. A lot of women do have it but there isn't just one type. In fact, there isn't even just three types. It's more a spectrum of different symptoms and issues under an umbrella term, which makes diagnosis and treatment very difficult and needs to be individualized by a good doctor.
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12/03/2010
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Sadly, I am not able to do anything about mine as of right now because I don't have health insurance and the clinics here are almost impossible to regularly visit.
Originally posted by
mllebeauty
I second that. It's important to make sure you've got good healthcare professionals working with you. I've never tried to conceive so I have no feedback there. My doctors have had me on all kinds of birth control pills and other
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more
I second that. It's important to make sure you've got good healthcare professionals working with you. I've never tried to conceive so I have no feedback there. My doctors have had me on all kinds of birth control pills and other medications. It is rather tricky sometimes. I hope you are getting the support you need!
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12/04/2010
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I didn't think to look in sex and disability section about this, Thanks Jen.
Originally posted by
Darling Jen
Here's another post about it. A lot of women do have it but there isn't just one type. In fact, there isn't even just three types. It's more a spectrum of different symptoms and issues under an umbrella term, which makes diagnosis and
...
more
Here's another post about it. A lot of women do have it but there isn't just one type. In fact, there isn't even just three types. It's more a spectrum of different symptoms and issues under an umbrella term, which makes diagnosis and treatment very difficult and needs to be individualized by a good doctor.
link less
link less
12/04/2010
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I don't currently manage mine actually Airen, I know for most people they need to make regular visits to their ob/gyn and maintain a healthy diet and exercise. However, the most important thing is to make sure you get checked up on because PCOS does lead to cervical cancer if not kept under control. Also, if you are a smoker or over weight the chances of you controlling your PCOS decrease.
Originally posted by
Airen Wolf
I do not have PCOS but I do have a similar hormonal insufficiency not related to the ovaries that caused holy havok on my endocrine system making it very difficult to conceive. It took nearly ten years of trying to get a healthy pregnancy but after
...
more
I do not have PCOS but I do have a similar hormonal insufficiency not related to the ovaries that caused holy havok on my endocrine system making it very difficult to conceive. It took nearly ten years of trying to get a healthy pregnancy but after that it was like my body kind of woke up.
I do feel for you though PCOS is a monster especially with the more severe symptoms. How do you manage your PCOS? I have a friend who's daughter was just diagnosed with the condition and she is floundering. less
I do feel for you though PCOS is a monster especially with the more severe symptoms. How do you manage your PCOS? I have a friend who's daughter was just diagnosed with the condition and she is floundering. less
12/04/2010
I don't have it, but I have several friends that do (at least 4 that I know of) I know three of them really watch what they eat to avoid complications and I know they all took birth control pills to help with things.
12/14/2010
I was diagnosed with it about three years ago. I didn't realize how common it was! I have a journal thing that helps me keep track of it that I bought on Amazon and my doctor has me on birth control and metformin. There are tons of great books and even cookbooks available. Check them out!
Edit: As an addendum, I am scared to DEATH of being unable to conceive. Having children is one of my most important goals in life and I'm so scared it won't happen.
Edit: As an addendum, I am scared to DEATH of being unable to conceive. Having children is one of my most important goals in life and I'm so scared it won't happen.
12/14/2010
Ooh, ooh, I do, I do! Thank God for EF because PCOS made me lose all my hair, get violently ill, I was depressed and a whole hell of a lot of mood swings. I was showing as post menopausal at 76 years old and was in horrid pain. I have met so many other women here who know what I am dealing with
12/15/2010
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Diet! You can control a fair amount of the symptoms with diet alone. I take meds because my hormones are so bad, but I know my best friend uses diet to control hers. We both have opposite symptoms and we were diagnosed a week apart. She has certain hormone levels that are off and has weight issues and facial hair issues...me...I am itty bitty (I do gain weight and look like I am pregnant easily though) and have VERY LOW hormone levels. The kind that mad my Dr say...hmmm.
Originally posted by
Airekah
I don't currently manage mine actually Airen, I know for most people they need to make regular visits to their ob/gyn and maintain a healthy diet and exercise. However, the most important thing is to make sure you get checked up on because PCOS
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more
I don't currently manage mine actually Airen, I know for most people they need to make regular visits to their ob/gyn and maintain a healthy diet and exercise. However, the most important thing is to make sure you get checked up on because PCOS does lead to cervical cancer if not kept under control. Also, if you are a smoker or over weight the chances of you controlling your PCOS decrease.
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If you know which hormones are off you can treat with certain supplements as well...
12/15/2010
No I do not have it, but I wish you all the best getting hooked up with healthcare professionals who will advocate for you. This seems like a great place for support!
12/25/2010
I just had a breakdown about this last night. Apparently uterine tumors run in my family? Which is just GREAT for someone who has PCOS. It seems like I have no hope... I didn't see much on here from anyone who has it and has conceived... still no advice from someone who has gone through that?
12/25/2010
I have PCOS. I was shocked and crying when I was diagnosed with it when I was 16. It scared the crap out of me because I have always wanted to have kids, but I feel better now because I know people who have PCOS and have had as many as 4 kids with no problems. I have hope now which is the best. But I definitely understand breaking down and crying because of PCOS. I take birth control to maintain regular periods with less pain and a regular menstrual cycle in general. If any one ever needs to talk about it. Feel free to message me
02/13/2011
I'm sort of wondering if I have it actually.
I started my period around 14 which was after most of my friends, I have horrible cramps, my periods used to be irregular if I wasn't on the pill or some other form of contraception and I am quite "fuzzy" for a girl. I'm not super hairy but I do have more hair on my arms and over all body compared to other women.
Plus I have cervical cancer running in my family. My great anut died from this and my mom just got her uterus removed this past minth. My sister seems to have a mass on her cervix which is not cancerous. I haven't been checked in like 3 years....I am so unrealistically optimistic about my health....I should get checked.
Hope you get the answers you're looking for about pregnancy and childbearing.
I started my period around 14 which was after most of my friends, I have horrible cramps, my periods used to be irregular if I wasn't on the pill or some other form of contraception and I am quite "fuzzy" for a girl. I'm not super hairy but I do have more hair on my arms and over all body compared to other women.
Plus I have cervical cancer running in my family. My great anut died from this and my mom just got her uterus removed this past minth. My sister seems to have a mass on her cervix which is not cancerous. I haven't been checked in like 3 years....I am so unrealistically optimistic about my health....I should get checked.
Hope you get the answers you're looking for about pregnancy and childbearing.
02/14/2011
I don't have PCOS, but I have worked with a LOT of women who have it. One of the most important things, to be able to conceive, carry and nurse a baby is insulin control. Most women with certain types of PCOS do not have diabetes, but are unresponsive to the insulin they produce.
A drug called Metformin, along with a low carb diet really helps a lot of these women conceive, carry and feed their babies.
Some women with PCOS conceive carry and nurse with no problems at all. It is a syndrome, which has many symptoms and can cause different issues in different women. Not everyone with PCOS will automatically have problems conceiving. The stats vary, depending on WHO is doing the diagnosis and what criteria they use
A drug called Metformin, along with a low carb diet really helps a lot of these women conceive, carry and feed their babies.
Some women with PCOS conceive carry and nurse with no problems at all. It is a syndrome, which has many symptoms and can cause different issues in different women. Not everyone with PCOS will automatically have problems conceiving. The stats vary, depending on WHO is doing the diagnosis and what criteria they use
02/14/2011
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I have not been diagnosed with it, but have been treated for irregular and difficult periods, and have most of the symptoms related, which have not been treated. So, I'm like 90% sure it's PCOS.
Originally posted by
Airekah
When I was 16, I was diagnosed with Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome. From what I understand, it is rather common among women. Do you have it? and if you do, what precautions do you take to maintain it? Also, for those of you who have children and PCOS,
...
more
When I was 16, I was diagnosed with Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome. From what I understand, it is rather common among women. Do you have it? and if you do, what precautions do you take to maintain it? Also, for those of you who have children and PCOS, how hard was it to conceive?
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As I currently don't have health insurance, I just deal with it. Yeah, the month-to-two-month long periods, horrible cramps, hair in places it shouldn't be, etc.
As far as conceiving, I've done a lot of research on it (I'm hoping to be able to have children in the next five years or so), and there's medicine that forces ovulation (it's called Clomid) and improves the chance for conceiving.
02/14/2011
I have PCOS, but I consider myself to be one of the "lucky ones" with it in a lot of ways. For one, I don't have any symptoms aside from cysts on my ovaries, and irregular periods. I count myself lucky to not be insulin resistant, have acne, weight gain, etc.
We tried Metformin and Spironolactone to try to prevent the cysts from forming, but they didn't work for me. I can't be on hormonal birth control either, so I just deal with it the best I can.
My husband and me are in no way looking to have children, so I have no idea how easy/hard that would have been for me. I wish you luck!
We tried Metformin and Spironolactone to try to prevent the cysts from forming, but they didn't work for me. I can't be on hormonal birth control either, so I just deal with it the best I can.
My husband and me are in no way looking to have children, so I have no idea how easy/hard that would have been for me. I wish you luck!
02/14/2011
I haven't been 'caught' with cysts yet during ultrasounds, but I do have PCOS.
I eat as balanced as I can without being crazy, take Fish Oil pills, and I'm on the NuvaRing as birth control which doesn't do as well handling the acne symptom but went much better than Yaz or Yasmin, which both had me bleeding continuously for two months pure hell.
Without any of the birth control, I don't get periods ever. The endocrinologist said I have a "fake" one every year. They wouldn't be bad with cramping or anything, just last upwards of 3 weeks, sometimes leaving me incapacitated because of so much effing blood loss! Super annoying. And I get bad acne, and a few hairs around my nipples. For me, it's not all that bad.
I did get my hormone levels checked and was surprised to see I have 3x the normal amount of testosterone for a woman. Horniness, I can take. Acne, not so happy about from it
Never tried to conceive. My mom had really bad PCOS, was in the hospital for a week when it started, told she'd never ever be able to conceive. She had 3 kids.
I eat as balanced as I can without being crazy, take Fish Oil pills, and I'm on the NuvaRing as birth control which doesn't do as well handling the acne symptom but went much better than Yaz or Yasmin, which both had me bleeding continuously for two months pure hell.
Without any of the birth control, I don't get periods ever. The endocrinologist said I have a "fake" one every year. They wouldn't be bad with cramping or anything, just last upwards of 3 weeks, sometimes leaving me incapacitated because of so much effing blood loss! Super annoying. And I get bad acne, and a few hairs around my nipples. For me, it's not all that bad.
I did get my hormone levels checked and was surprised to see I have 3x the normal amount of testosterone for a woman. Horniness, I can take. Acne, not so happy about from it
Never tried to conceive. My mom had really bad PCOS, was in the hospital for a week when it started, told she'd never ever be able to conceive. She had 3 kids.
02/14/2011
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It has so many presentations, it's hard to know what will work. As you don't have insulin resistance, I'm not surprised the Metformin didn't work. It works better for fertility issues and lactation than cyst formation, sadly. Cyst formation, with rupture etc is difficult to treat. You don't know when it's going to happen.
Originally posted by
Red Vinyl Kitty
I have PCOS, but I consider myself to be one of the "lucky ones" with it in a lot of ways. For one, I don't have any symptoms aside from cysts on my ovaries, and irregular periods. I count myself lucky to not be insulin resistant,
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more
I have PCOS, but I consider myself to be one of the "lucky ones" with it in a lot of ways. For one, I don't have any symptoms aside from cysts on my ovaries, and irregular periods. I count myself lucky to not be insulin resistant, have acne, weight gain, etc.
We tried Metformin and Spironolactone to try to prevent the cysts from forming, but they didn't work for me. I can't be on hormonal birth control either, so I just deal with it the best I can.
My husband and me are in no way looking to have children, so I have no idea how easy/hard that would have been for me. I wish you luck! less
We tried Metformin and Spironolactone to try to prevent the cysts from forming, but they didn't work for me. I can't be on hormonal birth control either, so I just deal with it the best I can.
My husband and me are in no way looking to have children, so I have no idea how easy/hard that would have been for me. I wish you luck! less
Hugs, sweetie. I know it can be painful.
02/14/2011
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My mom had it,too. Although they didn't call it that in the 60s and 70s. She had all the common symptoms, without the body hair, but with skin tags instead. She only conceived 3 times and had 2 miscarriages (my brother is my step dad's adopted child) I know she also struggled with low sex drive, so my guess is she didn't have the high T that many women have.
Originally posted by
tigerkate
I haven't been 'caught' with cysts yet during ultrasounds, but I do have PCOS.
I eat as balanced as I can without being crazy, take Fish Oil pills, and I'm on the NuvaRing as birth control which doesn't do as well handling ... more
I eat as balanced as I can without being crazy, take Fish Oil pills, and I'm on the NuvaRing as birth control which doesn't do as well handling ... more
I haven't been 'caught' with cysts yet during ultrasounds, but I do have PCOS.
I eat as balanced as I can without being crazy, take Fish Oil pills, and I'm on the NuvaRing as birth control which doesn't do as well handling the acne symptom but went much better than Yaz or Yasmin, which both had me bleeding continuously for two months pure hell.
Without any of the birth control, I don't get periods ever. The endocrinologist said I have a "fake" one every year. They wouldn't be bad with cramping or anything, just last upwards of 3 weeks, sometimes leaving me incapacitated because of so much effing blood loss! Super annoying. And I get bad acne, and a few hairs around my nipples. For me, it's not all that bad.
I did get my hormone levels checked and was surprised to see I have 3x the normal amount of testosterone for a woman. Horniness, I can take. Acne, not so happy about from it
Never tried to conceive. My mom had really bad PCOS, was in the hospital for a week when it started, told she'd never ever be able to conceive. She had 3 kids. less
I eat as balanced as I can without being crazy, take Fish Oil pills, and I'm on the NuvaRing as birth control which doesn't do as well handling the acne symptom but went much better than Yaz or Yasmin, which both had me bleeding continuously for two months pure hell.
Without any of the birth control, I don't get periods ever. The endocrinologist said I have a "fake" one every year. They wouldn't be bad with cramping or anything, just last upwards of 3 weeks, sometimes leaving me incapacitated because of so much effing blood loss! Super annoying. And I get bad acne, and a few hairs around my nipples. For me, it's not all that bad.
I did get my hormone levels checked and was surprised to see I have 3x the normal amount of testosterone for a woman. Horniness, I can take. Acne, not so happy about from it
Never tried to conceive. My mom had really bad PCOS, was in the hospital for a week when it started, told she'd never ever be able to conceive. She had 3 kids. less
I have a lot of the symptoms, (some body hair (although peri-menopause has taken care of a lot of that) high sex drive, blood sugar issues, cysts and irregular periods etc) but never had any trouble conceiving or nursing my children. I've even had a couple of cysts, but they were not dramatic and mine was written off endometriosis and dxed and treated as such.
My mother had both PCOS and endometriosis. How she had me was a miracle, I am told.
02/14/2011
Quote:
Thanks @P'Gell Yes, it's very difficult. I can be sitting eating a sandwhich one minute, and the next, in agonizing pain and on bedrest for a week. But luckily, it is happening less and less. Whew.
Originally posted by
P'Gell
It has so many presentations, it's hard to know what will work. As you don't have insulin resistance, I'm not surprised the Metformin didn't work. It works better for fertility issues and lactation than cyst formation, sadly. Cyst
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It has so many presentations, it's hard to know what will work. As you don't have insulin resistance, I'm not surprised the Metformin didn't work. It works better for fertility issues and lactation than cyst formation, sadly. Cyst formation, with rupture etc is difficult to treat. You don't know when it's going to happen.
Hugs, sweetie. I know it can be painful. less
Hugs, sweetie. I know it can be painful. less
02/14/2011
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Although I don't actually have PCOS, I found the cysts I was having (and they were not as awful as yours is) occurred less and less as I got out of my 20s. I hope that happens for you, too.
Originally posted by
Red Vinyl Kitty
Thanks @P'Gell Yes, it's very difficult. I can be sitting eating a sandwhich one minute, and the next, in agonizing pain and on bedrest for a week. But luckily, it is happening less and less. Whew.
02/14/2011
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Yeah, they told my mom "You aren't going to have children." Then my older sister came, "Well, chances are, you probably won't conceive again."
Originally posted by
P'Gell
My mom had it,too. Although they didn't call it that in the 60s and 70s. She had all the common symptoms, without the body hair, but with skin tags instead. She only conceived 3 times and had 2 miscarriages (my brother is my step dad's
...
more
My mom had it,too. Although they didn't call it that in the 60s and 70s. She had all the common symptoms, without the body hair, but with skin tags instead. She only conceived 3 times and had 2 miscarriages (my brother is my step dad's adopted child) I know she also struggled with low sex drive, so my guess is she didn't have the high T that many women have.
I have a lot of the symptoms, (some body hair (although peri-menopause has taken care of a lot of that) high sex drive, blood sugar issues, cysts and irregular periods etc) but never had any trouble conceiving or nursing my children. I've even had a couple of cysts, but they were not dramatic and mine was written off endometriosis and dxed and treated as such.
My mother had both PCOS and endometriosis. How she had me was a miracle, I am told. less
I have a lot of the symptoms, (some body hair (although peri-menopause has taken care of a lot of that) high sex drive, blood sugar issues, cysts and irregular periods etc) but never had any trouble conceiving or nursing my children. I've even had a couple of cysts, but they were not dramatic and mine was written off endometriosis and dxed and treated as such.
My mother had both PCOS and endometriosis. How she had me was a miracle, I am told. less
Then I came. "Well, that's it then! Pretty sure you can't conceive."
And my little brother rolled along.
When I was diagnosed 5 years ago, the doctors told me (before results were in), that if my mom had it then I had a 50% chance of getting it as her daughter. And it worked out that way too, I have it but my sister doesn't. Lucky me!
Hormones and the reproductive organs are difficult to predict.
She had never been on any medications for it, but very recently she went on.. Spironolactin (sp?), because her hair keeps falling out (yet she has the mustache she bleaches every other week, excess body hair too), and she said she'd felt better than she ever had.
I love hearing that people out there have "miracle babies," because it shows that sometimes mother nature has its own bizarre plans.
02/14/2011
So sorry to hear that. I thankfully, do not. But I have suffered from endometriosis since I WAS a teen. Had surgery this year, but it wasn't completely removed (not even close. UGH!) But, I've gotten SERIOUS relief recently by using coconut oil and aloe vera pills. The aloe works miracles! Due to the endo, I am no longer able to concieve, but I did get pregnant twice and lost them both. All in 1 year!
05/26/2011
I don't but my older sister does and has struggled with it for years
05/26/2011
I am firmly convinced from both working in medicine and being an endometriosis patient myself that doctors have absolutely NO idea what they are talking about when they say a woman will "never be able to have a baby." I have seen more women told this and then go on to have healthy children.
I was told I was no longer fertile after I had endometrosis endoscopic surgery years ago, I could no longer have children. I went on Depo after the surgery, and about 3 months after I got off the Depo I became pregnant with my youngest child.
Fertility is simply to complicated for anyone to predict. I have also seen women who have been told there is "nothing wrong" with her or her partner not be able to get pregnant or carry a child.
Too much is involved in conception, implantation and gestation for doctors to predict. Our last baby was a TOTAL surprise, because I was told the scar surgery from both my endo and other problems had blocked my tubes and "it would be impossible" for a fertilized egg, if one got through, to implant. Yet, there my 11 year old daughter is.
I was also told before I had any kids "It is going to be difficult for you to get pregnant." I have irregular periods, "hormones issues" and evidence that I didn't ovulate every month. I've been pregnant 5 times and have been able to carry 3 of them nearly to term. Our youngest was 4 weeks early.
In fact, I got pregnant SIX WEEKS after a doctor told me it would be "very difficult" for me to get pregnant without fertility drugs. It was the first time I had ever had unprotected sex (My Man and I got lazy one night, because after all, "I will not be able to get pregnant easily.") Six weeks or less after the doctor told me I was high risk for infertility, I was in his office with a bun in the oven. I have lost 2 pregnancies, but 3 "took."
I was told I was no longer fertile after I had endometrosis endoscopic surgery years ago, I could no longer have children. I went on Depo after the surgery, and about 3 months after I got off the Depo I became pregnant with my youngest child.
Fertility is simply to complicated for anyone to predict. I have also seen women who have been told there is "nothing wrong" with her or her partner not be able to get pregnant or carry a child.
Too much is involved in conception, implantation and gestation for doctors to predict. Our last baby was a TOTAL surprise, because I was told the scar surgery from both my endo and other problems had blocked my tubes and "it would be impossible" for a fertilized egg, if one got through, to implant. Yet, there my 11 year old daughter is.
I was also told before I had any kids "It is going to be difficult for you to get pregnant." I have irregular periods, "hormones issues" and evidence that I didn't ovulate every month. I've been pregnant 5 times and have been able to carry 3 of them nearly to term. Our youngest was 4 weeks early.
In fact, I got pregnant SIX WEEKS after a doctor told me it would be "very difficult" for me to get pregnant without fertility drugs. It was the first time I had ever had unprotected sex (My Man and I got lazy one night, because after all, "I will not be able to get pregnant easily.") Six weeks or less after the doctor told me I was high risk for infertility, I was in his office with a bun in the oven. I have lost 2 pregnancies, but 3 "took."
05/26/2011
Unsure, I show some of the signs but i've never been tested.
06/01/2011
I do. Was diagnosed when I was 20. So I've known about it for almost 3 years. It's really not a big deal to me. I'm overweight. (I'm 5'4" and 150 pounds) and I break out. I'm on birth control to get a regular period and I try to watch the sugar.
06/04/2011
I have it, and it is a living HELL! Constant sugar cravings/blood sugar issues, infertility, irregular periods, and weight gain (which happened to me once I hit my 30's). I could not conceive due to it even after being on fertility meds. I would not wish it on my worse enemy.
08/24/2011
Total posts: 46
Unique posters: 34
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