How long untreated will cause infertility?

Spaztastik · 10-10-2006, 05:18 AM

I'm new here, hi. I was "diagnosed" at 16 with it, but I was never given anything. Then, 5 years later, I went back to my Endocrinologist because I was losing my hair, my period was alarmingly infrequent, and I had hair growth on my face and she took blood tests. I'm positive it'll come back that I have PCOS and she will put me on birth control and Metformin.

My only fear is that after 5 years, it really did a number on me. My period was irregular for a year when I was 17 and regular from the time I was 18 until now, so they figured that was a good sign, but now it's gotten worse.

I'm not planning on having children now, but I obviously want to look out for my future.

If anyone knows the answer or is going through something similar, I'd appreciate your input.

Thanks.

k8p · 10-10-2006, 05:51 AM

Hi there and welcome to SC! It is good that you are taking something now. I was diagnosed in 2003, but I didn't do anything about it until' last year. Take care!

MiracleMom · 10-10-2006, 02:26 PM

I would like to say Welcome to SC!
I began having symptoms at 17.....was married at 22.....was diagnosed at 23.....was TTC for more than 14 years.....got pregnant with my first child at 36{Thanks to God and Metformin!} and now,at 40,I have a 3 year old and a 15 month old!!
There is hope!!
Good Luck to you!

MommyJenny74 · 10-10-2006, 11:48 PM

Welcome cyster!

I began having symptoms at puberty (age 11) and wasn't diagnosed until age 28. Long story short, I conceived my first two children without difficulty, and after ttc a third for 2 years, I was diagnosed and given met, and got pregnant on 1500 mg met. I hope this will encourage you cyster.

:Hugs: Glad you're here
Jenny

Spaztastik · 10-11-2006, 04:38 AM

Thanks for the warm welcomes and responses! You all do give me hope

For those of you with children, were you having problems with your period around the time you were diagnosed? I haven't had my period since March and before that it was a year.

My doctor is putting me on Birth Control to stimulate my period and reduce hair growth. I was just wondering if that was the solution for anyone else? I also noticed my pulse was a little faster (which I read on here many people have experienced), but I can also clearly SEE my pulse in my neck vein and I got checked out at the doctor. She said it was normal, but none of my friend's or family member's pulsating is so noticeable.

Anyway, thank you.

MommyJenny74 · 10-11-2006, 05:57 AM

Hi cyster,

I was having lots of trouble w/ my period around the time I got diagnosed. (Actually for a long time before that). After I had my second son in 1999, I went on the Depo shot (advice of my gyn at the time). I only took it a year, and of course had no periods while on it. Then in 2000 we came off the Depo to ttc again (we always wanted a big family)-- and nothing happened. I didn't have a period again until 2001, and it went nuts. I would bleed very heavily for a month or two at a time, and then not have a period for a few months (usually at least 2 or 3 months). The only solution I heard from docs was to lose weight. No one did anything to help, and I quit going. In 2002 my period got progressively worse, finally in the fall I ended up in the ER a couple times because the bleeding was so heavy and (TMI) full of huge clots. I followed up with my gyn and they put me on BCP. It helped me to have one period each month, but when I got the period it was still very heavy. Finally in January 2003 I saw a new doc (he was even a resident back then!) and he diagnosed me and put me on met right away. I had the best results with met. I went off the BCP shortly after starting met.

Sorry it's so long, just hope maybe something in my experience will help you. I'm here for you cyster!

Hugs
Jenny

Spaztastik · 10-11-2006, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MommyJenny74

Hi cyster,

I was having lots of trouble w/ my period around the time I got diagnosed. (Actually for a long time before that). After I had my second son in 1999, I went on the Depo shot (advice of my gyn at the time). I only took it a year, and of course had no periods while on it. Then in 2000 we came off the Depo to ttc again (we always wanted a big family)-- and nothing happened. I didn't have a period again until 2001, and it went nuts. I would bleed very heavily for a month or two at a time, and then not have a period for a few months (usually at least 2 or 3 months). The only solution I heard from docs was to lose weight. No one did anything to help, and I quit going. In 2002 my period got progressively worse, finally in the fall I ended up in the ER a couple times because the bleeding was so heavy and (TMI) full of huge clots. I followed up with my gyn and they put me on BCP. It helped me to have one period each month, but when I got the period it was still very heavy. Finally in January 2003 I saw a new doc (he was even a resident back then!) and he diagnosed me and put me on met right away. I had the best results with met. I went off the BCP shortly after starting met.

Sorry it's so long, just hope maybe something in my experience will help you. I'm here for you cyster!

Hugs
Jenny

So, your period became more regular after being on Met? Thank you.

tigir · 10-11-2006, 06:47 AM

BCPs were the things that screwed me up! I was only on them for 3mo and gained 30lbs so promptly got off. I know that isn't everyone's experience with them, but there are other options out there.

I am currently taking prometrium which is just natural progesterone. It can do the same thing as BCPs (not sure about hair issue), but without a lot of the symptoms. There are also a lot of other things you can do. I am currently taking cinnamon and excercising regularly - I have had a period for 10mo in a row now without the aid of meds. The prometrium is for some mid-cycle spotting and so far is working for that.

My period was wacko after BCPs and I would sometimes go 6mo without one. The seven years between my first two children were the worst for my symptoms and I wasn't dx until RIGHT before I conceived #2 (without help). It is great you have found out now and can work towards better health before TTC. Keep doing your research, there are so many options out there! Good luck!

Spaztastik · 10-11-2006, 07:11 AM

Do others gain a lot of weight on BCP? And I'm just worried because I wont be TTC for probably like 10 years and I dont want it to be too late.

MommyJenny74 · 10-11-2006, 07:36 AM

Yes, my periods were much more regular with met. I got one each month and it wasn't so heavy!

I'm taking cinnamon too. So far so good!

Hugs hun, if I can help don't hesitate to ask!
Jenny

tigir · 10-11-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaztastik

Do others gain a lot of weight on BCP? And I'm just worried because I wont be TTC for probably like 10 years and I dont want it to be too late.

Everyone reacts differently, so I can't tell you if that would happen to you - there are also a lot of different pill options, so it is just a matter of finding one for you. Of course like my OB told me, you don't know until you gain weight on it, so it is kind of a rolling of the dice thing.

I decided to go the natural route first and add meds later if I just couldn't do it on my own. Right now I am making sure to eat at least 1/2tsp of cinnamon daily and I have taken out nearly all sugar and refined carbs in my diet. I try to make sure to eat no more than 1600-1800cals per day as I am trying to lose weight. I also excercise an hour per day at least five days per week. So far my periods are regular and my symptoms have improved, my AN is almost gone and the hair on my face doen't grow as fast.

It would make sense that getting your body back in order would give you the best chance at TTC when you do decide to do that. Even on meds you will need to watch your diet and excercise as those things alone effect PCOS symptoms. I hope any of that helps!

Stacie M · 10-11-2006, 07:43 PM

First, welcome to SC!

Second, I don't think it matters how long you do w/o treatment as far as ferility is concerned. There are plenty of people who went years and years w/o any form of treatment.

Another concern you should have is that going w/o a period for extended periods of time can raise your risk of endometrial cancer. Your doctor should be using Provera to induce periods.

Also, as far as BCP's go, I do NOT gain weight on them and I find that they do help *mask* my PCOS symptoms. I use the term mask because BCP's do not cure PCOS (nothing does) and doesn't really help the root of the problem. I have been back on BCP's for 2 months now, and so far I am very pleased with them (I was on them for years when I was younger).

You should be being treated with SOMETHING whether you are TTC or not. BCP's may be a good match for you, since getting PG right now is not your goal. And, plenty of cysters use Glucophage (metformin) even when not TTC, because it actually helps the root of the PCOS problem and is beneficial even when you aren't TTC.

Good luck! I hope you decide to stick around!

Stacie

PS: I am 26 and am just now even considering TTC. Don't worry about waiting too long!

Spaztastik · 10-12-2006, 07:53 AM

It really makes you at risk for that type of cancer? That is very frightening. Has Metformin or BCP helped with hair loss. You said it masked symptoms, so I was wondering if hair loss was part of that.

MommyJenny74 · 10-12-2006, 07:55 AM

Yes if we don't shed our uterine lining regularly we're at increased risk of cancer.

My hair loss decreased when I was on both BCP and met.

Hope this helps

Hugs
Jenny

Stacie M · 10-12-2006, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaztastik

It really makes you at risk for that type of cancer? That is very frightening. Has Metformin or BCP helped with hair loss. You said it masked symptoms, so I was wondering if hair loss was part of that.

I don't have horrible hair loss, but what I do have seems to get better on BCP's. Also, my facial hair seems a tad bit better.

I tolerated the metformin fine, and it did prevent me from getting the sugar highs and lows that I had been feeling, but I didn't have the miraculous help from it that some others have had. It did regulate my periods which was AWESOME!

The reason I went on BCP's right now are one, I am not actively TTC at the moment, and two I just had surgery for endometriosis and wanted to use the BCP's to control that.

There are also some great vitamins and herbs that help PCOS a lot. I recommend looking into B complex vitamins (all of the B vitamins are GREAT for PCOS). Also, Vitex got my periods from about one every 6 months to about one every 2 months. It helped my symptoms a lot.

Good luck! Please keep us updated on what you do. And yes, not having a period raises our risk of endometrial cancer. Your doctor should know this and be giving you Provera to induce a period if you are not having them on your own.

Stacie