Pcos

[swish]

Hi!
The doc thought I might have this (I'm waiting for a scan), I didn't ov last month and my cycles have been crazy. I thought this was just because of supps and losing weight but now I'm not so sure.
Can anyone tell me what some of the symptoms are?
Is gearing up but failing to ovulate a sign of pcos?
Are back/ bottom pains before ov/af a sign of pcos?
Many thanks!

[nuthinbutpink]

Hi testosterone levels, facial hair, anovulatory cycles, cystic ovaries. We have seen HT gals find out they have PCOS or at least have poli-cystic ovaries and egg quality can be affected due to the conditioin. Michaela is very familiar with PCOS on here. You can post a question in the TTC/Infertility section and she will likely see it.

[swish]

Thank you, NBP, I will!

[atomic sagebrush]

Hi!
The doc thought I might have this (I'm waiting for a scan), I didn't ov last month and my cycles have been crazy. I thought this was just because of supps and losing weight but now I'm not so sure.
Can anyone tell me what some of the symptoms are?
Is gearing up but failing to ovulate a sign of pcos?
Are back/ bottom pains before ov/af a sign of pcos?
Many thanks!

1)Doctors often assume people have PCOS if they did not ovulate - it's a common diagnosis and just because someone wants to rule it out, don't worry about it jsut yet.
2)Some people have symptoms like they are heavyset with fat distribuition in the "apple" shape, facial hair, etc but others have no symptoms at all and there is great debate amongst docs and REs about whether these people even have PCOS, or what PCOS even is and if it is a disorder or just a variant amongst people.
3)I do not believe that gearing up and failing to O is in any way a reliable symptom of PCOS. Polycystic ovaries are PCOS, not failing to ovulate in and of itself. There are a million reasons why someone can gear up to O and then fail that are all much more common than PCOS, even just a stressful few days can make your body "change it's mind" and not O. Every woman has had a month or many where O was late or held off all together.
4)Back/bottom pains are again not indicative of PCOS in particular. Many people have very severe O pains that have nothing to do with PCOS. My O pains are much worse than AF is. In fact, if you have very severe cramps with AF it would be more likely that you have endometriosis (your doc will check for that.)

[swish]

Thank you, atomic, that is all really useful!! I have had on/off dull pains in lower tummy which i know can be a sign of pregnancy (I'm 4dpo) BUT can it also be a sign of PCOS or is there no way of telling - I'm driving myself crazy, can you tell?!?!

[atomic sagebrush]

There is no way of telling - I've read quite a bit about PCOS and NEVER once seen that listed as a symptom but that doesn't mean it's not floating around out there somewhere. However, I have personally experienced uterine cramping as a sign of pg though!!!! FXFXFX

[swish]

Thanks so much, atomic, I know I'm being stressy!! X

[lindi]

I think the scan will help to see if your ovaries are polycystic. Then bloodwork, and possibly a glucose test will help make a sound diagnosis. You would have high androgens (testosterone) which could possibly make you irritable, have acne, or extra body hair (facial). You would also probably have a reversed LH/ FSH ratio, your LH would be high and your FSH low. Insulin problems are thought to be at the heart of PCOS and actually other things now- like alzheimers- but anyways, the thinking that I follow is there is something causing your body to be slightly to very sensitive to insulin, and therefore your ovaries over-respond to insulin, causing an issue with the pituitary-ovarian axis- it sort of loops at a higher frequency, the end result is that your ovaries are super-and under charged at the same time- many more eggs than normal gear up to be ovulated, but none actually get ovulated. Hence the string of pearls appearance.
If you have PCOS the anovulation is of course not good when TTC, but there are other health problems that unaddressed PCOS can create- weird things like hearing issues to obesity to cardiovascular problems, so its good to see what exactly is going on, and going on with your insulin.
I have polycystic appearing ovaries, but doctors can;t quite give me the PCOS diagnosis definitively. Firstly because I don't "look" the way most PCOS women appear when battling weight gain (I'm thin), and I don't have acne or facial hair. I also ovulate regularly, so most of the criteria doesn't fit me.
Its hard to make a diagnosis, and I think a lot of doctors deal with PCOS in ways that aren't helpful. Good luck let us know what they find!

[swish]

Thank you so much, lindi. I already had blood work and my testosterone levels were average, my fsh and lh levels were both slightly on the low side. I have acne, I'm thin and I don't think I have extra facial hair!! So maybe it looks good for me?? I will definately let you know what happens at my scan, it's not until mid oct, I wish it were sooner!! Thanks for all your information :)

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you lindi! VEry helpful info as usual.

[ttcjustone]

I have PCOS and some symptoms are amenorrhea, anovulation, facial hair, acne, acanthosis nigricans, insomnia, being overweight or obese, and oily skin and hair that has lots of dandruff. Not every woman with PCOS has the same symptoms so getting diagnosed often takes awhile.

I was diagnosed through a transvaginal ultrasound that revealed 12+ cysts on each ovary.

[carmella_marie]

I just went to the doc today because I was having cramping from 4-10 DPO--like really bad period cramps but I don't cramp too bad for AF thankfully. The doc did an U/S and they were cysts, so I was immediately like, is it PCOS? and She said no, normal ovulating women get cysts all the time. When you O and the egg bursts out, sime fluid can get in the peritineal (i think that was the word she used) cavity and cause some inflammation and swelling and cramps like I was experiencing that goes away when you get your period.

Are you coming off the pill? When I came off the pill I had months and months of crazy anovulatory cycles. It has been at least 6 months and I feel like they are finally getting back to normal. I don't think an anovulatory cycle here or there is too much cause for alarm. But if you are hard core dieting and swaying it could mess you up I would think...

***HUGS!!***

[swish]

Thank you for sharing that, ttcjustone!
Thank you carmella, that is pretty much exactly when I had cramps so maybe I have cysts, I'm in the 2ww so I will have to wait and see.

[twosweetlads]

The pains sound more like endometriosis I have it and ovulation pain is horrendous. I had fake ovulation every month and long cycles and irregular. i hope you find out soon. x

[swish]

Twosweetlads, did you just have pain at ovulation or during the 2ww as well? I had ov pains this month and I've never had them before, they weren't that bad, not bad enough to take tablets, it was a pain in my bottom similar to the one I get when af is on way. Does that sound anything like what you have experienced? Thank you so much for sharing, this is all really helpful for me :)

[fresas]

I have pain on and off with ovulation. It may or may not be related to ovulation. Mittleschmertz is ovulation pain and can happen in perfectly healthy women.

When I was having anovulatory (sp?) cycles, I had some pretty intense, sharp, random ovarian pain and it got worse after I started taking metformin for a short time and then started improving.

I don't have that type intense pain anymore. I once in a while have spotting around ovulation, but I haven't seen that for about 4 months.

[twosweetlads]

Yes. It has been a long process as spending time off the pill makes it worse every month. It started off just pain around ovulation but very bad pain. (Everyone is different though). Also very heavy painful periods although this has gradually got worse. Pain in my back in the two week wait and leading up to ovulation. Although again this has been gradual throughout the months. Pain in my bottom too especially near periods and when a bit constipated (bad on girl diet). I felt like the girl diet really aggrevated things for me hence having to stop. I hope you get something sorted and unfortunately if it is endo then it can't be seen by just a scan it has to by a laparoscopy.
Goodluck if you need to find out anything I am always happy to help. unfortunately I am an expert on endo!

[swish]

Thank you, I hope things work out for you :)

[atomic sagebrush]

I have PCOS and some symptoms are amenorrhea, anovulation, facial hair, acne, acanthosis nigricans, insomnia, being overweight or obese, and oily skin and hair that has lots of dandruff. Not every woman with PCOS has the same symptoms so getting diagnosed often takes awhile.

I was diagnosed through a transvaginal ultrasound that revealed 12+ cysts on each ovary.

Thank you that is excellent info.

[atomic sagebrush]

I just went to the doc today because I was having cramping from 4-10 DPO--like really bad period cramps but I don't cramp too bad for AF thankfully. The doc did an U/S and they were cysts, so I was immediately like, is it PCOS? and She said no, normal ovulating women get cysts all the time. When you O and the egg bursts out, sime fluid can get in the peritineal (i think that was the word she used) cavity and cause some inflammation and swelling and cramps like I was experiencing that goes away when you get your period.

Are you coming off the pill? When I came off the pill I had months and months of crazy anovulatory cycles. It has been at least 6 months and I feel like they are finally getting back to normal. I don't think an anovulatory cycle here or there is too much cause for alarm. But if you are hard core dieting and swaying it could mess you up I would think...

***HUGS!!***

Thanks for this info! I have wicked cramps at ovulation and I believe Zanacal does as well and do not have PCOS.

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes. It has been a long process as spending time off the pill makes it worse every month. It started off just pain around ovulation but very bad pain. (Everyone is different though). Also very heavy painful periods although this has gradually got worse. Pain in my back in the two week wait and leading up to ovulation. Although again this has been gradual throughout the months. Pain in my bottom too especially near periods and when a bit constipated (bad on girl diet). I felt like the girl diet really aggrevated things for me hence having to stop. I hope you get something sorted and unfortunately if it is endo then it can't be seen by just a scan it has to by a laparoscopy.
Goodluck if you need to find out anything I am always happy to help. unfortunately I am an expert on endo!

(((hugs))) TSL you might find the Low-Everything diet is easier on you because of the lack of dairy.

[twosweetlads]

Thanks Atomic but I have my BFP now! so eating what I want! x

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh DUH, I think I knew that!!! Congrats!!!