Do I have PCOS? (long post)

nani · 04-25-2005, 02:48 PM

I'm 30. I have irregular periods (anywhere from 35-40 days), have hairs around nipples and on abdomen and a few sprouts on my chin and neck. I also have thinning hair on my head. I am normal weight (110 lbs, 5'1") but when I gain weight, it's around my waist. I never gain on my hips or thighs or butt like most women. I've never had a weight problem. I had really terrible acne when I was in HS. I've often wondered if my symptoms (especially the unwanted hair and the hairloss) are abnormal and have asked gynecologists during annual exams, and have always been told that I'm normal. I was so happy to hear that, and didn't pursue it at all. But I do remember that my my hair stopped falling and my skin looked so wonderful when I was on BCP for one year when I first met my DH. But the pills wreaked emotional havoc on me, so I stopped taking them.

Since Dec 04, my DH and I have been trying to conceive. We've had no problems conceiving, having gotten pregnant twice in the last 4 months. However, they've both resulted in miscarriages. After my first miscarriage in Jan 05, I came upon this message board and started to wonder if I do have PCOS, since I have a lot of the symptoms. I even talked with my family practioner and was told that I don't have the "PCOS look." I insisted on a blood test and the ratio LH/FSH ratio was 12:5. Since she dismissed my concerns so quickly based on the fact that I'm not obese, I made an appt with an RE. But, a week later I found out I was pregnant and then got sidetracked. Again had a miscarriage. Now I am convinced that something is wrong. I have an appt with the RE on 5/12. I plan to find out if I have hormonal imbalance.

Based on your experiences, what do you think. One nagging question I have is that the main symptoms of PCOS is not ovulating regularly right? I have irregular periods, but not absent for long periods AND I did ovulate twice in the last 4-5 months on my own since I got pregnant twice naturally. Does this mean I don't have PCOS?

So confused and worried but determined to educate myself and get to the bottom of this and try my best to have babies.

Thanks,
Nani

*katja* · 05-03-2005, 02:11 PM

First I want to say I am so sorry for your losses. I don't really have that "PCOS" look (if you define it as being overweight), but I do have long cycles like you and anovulation (I do though occasionally ovulate, especially it seems when I am coming off the pill or breastfeeding). I also have mild acne and hair on my upper lip, and oily skin, all of which with some effort I can keep under control to the point where people don't believe me that I have them. So I would talk to an RE (like you're doing) and see what they say. You could just have a relatively mild case or anovulation is not one of *your* symptoms, or even if you are normally anovulatory, if you have a super fertile partner, you might just catch every egg you happen to release. . .but after two miscarriages, I would definitely have an MD check things out. Other things may be at work here too, such as low progesterone or a thyroid condition, so it is best to have them rule things out.
You might also look into supplementation with natural progesterone but I would go the medical route first in case there are other things going on.
~Many blessings~

lissadell · 05-03-2005, 05:55 PM

There's lots of us that don't have all the symptoms of PCOS - but still have it. I've never had weight issues, always had irregular cycles off BCPs, had bad acne as a teen, and starting having some hair growth issues after coming of BCPs to TTC. Over the years, I had several doctors dismiss me b/c I don't "look like" I have PCOS. I've even had doctors tell me that after I'd been diagnosed!

It sounds like, from your symptoms, you may have it too. I believe the two key diagnostic criteria for PCOS in the U.S. are:

- Irregular cycles/ovulations
- High testsoterone levels

Another thing doctors often look for are cysts on the ovaries (but having this is not mandatory for the diagnosis). Not everyone has out-of-what LH:FSH ratios either, but a lot of us do.

I think your taking the right step in going to a RE. As the pp said, there are other conditions that have similar symptoms as PCOS and it's important that those get considered too. He/she should know all the right tests to run and exactly how to help you.

Good luck!

Aprile78 · 05-03-2005, 06:18 PM

For me, I miscarried in January of '04, and whenever I'd ask my GYN, they'd tell me sometimes that was normal..........my periods were erratic after the mc. Funny thing though, when I was in high school, I had blood work, and my cholesterol was already borderline @ 18. Anyhow, after a year of calling them, and having 4 false positives (which turned out to be those EPT sticks) ..........I went in again in December for the 2nd false positive pregnancy (used three tests that time) and of course I was not pregnant

BUT! I had brought the sticks with me to show her I wasn't crazy!

THAT I believe was the motivation she needed to book me with bloodwork, etc. Turns out, my sonogram was completely normal (good) no cysts, no thick lining, but my bloodwork was insane. High cholesterol, high insulin.....

They put me on Met 500 mg 3x a day, and in 3 months, my insulin went down, and my cholesterol is now a managable low number.

I did have the mid section weight gain, and a few stray hairs (and longer chin hair and belly hair -- eww), but I was also missing a few symptoms.

Sounds like you're doing just what you should be -- getting a 2nd opinion

Wishing you the best.

Stacie M · 05-03-2005, 08:11 PM

You don't have to be obese to have PCOS. I think that with the troubles you are having, a work up by an RE is def. warranted.

My weight gain was one of the LAST symptoms that showed up. I had dark hair on my upper lip, irregular cycles (not completely absent, but I might go six or seven weeks w/o AF) and I had oily skin. Then the acne came. Then the weight. Then the really bad hair growth. So, I know I had PCOS when those first symptoms were all I had, but I probably didn't have what your dr would call the "typical" PCOS look. I was thin and my weight gain was VERY sudden (80 pds in 18 months).

Good luck at your RE appt! Keep us updated!

Stacie M

nani · 05-04-2005, 09:17 PM

Thank you all for your responses. I talked to my NP about my concerns and she has requested a full blood work for repeated pregnancy loss (RPL) for me. She says it's highly unlikely I have PCOS (I have my doubts on this one, but am open to the idea that there is something abnormal going on in my body hormonally). I will be tested for Prolactin, Free Thyroxine, TSH, ANA, Anti Cardiolipin Antibody, aPTT, Testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 17 OH Progesterone, and Progesterone. I guess this is the regular slate of tests for RPL.

I take these tests in about 4 weeks, after my body has recovered from this current miscarriage. I'm worried about what we'll find out in June, but also interested in getting to the bottom of this. Depending on my hormone levels, I will pursue testing for PCOS. I will update you then.

Thanks.