I'm 19 years old, and i have just recently been diagnosed with PCOS. Last year around January, I was having a lot of problems with my period. I wasn't getting it regularly (my period had NEVER been regular, but it was starting to get bad. i'd skip a month or two sometimes) and so I made an appointment with my gyno. I think she sort of diagnosed me, but I never heard PCOS come from her mouth, so I didn't really think it was a serious issue. She told me that I didn't always ovulate.
Well, she ordered blood work for me and told me my cholesterol was bad and my testosterone levels were a little high. So she put me on the pill. I remember they gave me something called Provera to induce my period, and then i started the BC. Well, I had my period for a straight month, and for 4 months of being on this pill, my period was acting strange. I'd get it for about 2 days and it wasn't even blood. It was goopy and unlike any period I'd ever had before. So after about 4 months of being on the pill, I stopped it.
Now, about 7 months after stopping, things were getting weird again. I'm sexually active so I was worried about pregnancy. I went to the gyno for my yearly exam and for new BC, and I was diagnosed with PCOS. She ordered new blood work, and it turns out that my testosterone levels are 95. Normal testosterone levels for a woman should be anywhere from 17-76, and mine is 95.
I'm very upset, because all I want in this life is children. I really REALLY want them one day. Is this going to affect my chances? I've been overwhelmingly depressed since the diagnosis. I'm afraid my boyfriend will leave me, I'm afraid I'll never find happiness. I don't know what to do with myself.
Is there anyone out there who can give me some kind of hope or advice? Why does this have to happen to me? I just want to be healthy and normal...
Like you I was 19/20 years old when my Gyno told me I had PCOS (i'm 22 now). My periods were screwed up as well. I would have 3 or 4 a year...then a couple years ago I had a period for 4 months straight. I was miserable, so I went to a gyno and she put me on Provera as well to clean me out. It didnt work so they did tons of blood work and a ultrasound. Well they told me i had PCOS and that my hormones were all over the place and as you my testosterone was way high. I've had trouble losing weight (now 180lbs), my acne is embarassing, and my only luck is that i dont have hair growing on my face.
I totally understand your birthcontrol problem. With the b.c. i'm on now its very hard to figure out when i will bleed. I would get that "goup" as well. And sometimes i feel like i have a kidney infection even when i've avoided all sodas.
Now there are a lot of advance treatments to help with pregnancy. Clomid is one of them that I know some people with PCOS have taken and were sucessful with. Try talking to your boyfriend about your condition. Make him understand that if you two want children in the future you both might have to try a little harder to achieve that goal. PCOS doesnt mean the end of having children. I understand...I dont have a romantic attachments to anyone and I am not yet sexually active...I feel my baby clock is running out too..
I was 19 when i was diagnosed and at the time it is heartbreaking. I constantly feel like I should be TTC. It has taken alot of self talk to convince myself my partner wont leave me, cos my self esteem is so low.
I am 19 and just was diagnosed about 6 months ago and I understand the complete heartbreak you are experiencing now. I was devastated when I was diagnosed, but after reading these message boards, I was so encouraged. There are so many people who have overcome this and been really successful in having children. My faith makes things so much easier and I just have to know that things will work out exactly how they are supposed to. Good luck with everything and I hope you're starting to feel a little bit better!
Hey, My name is Cheryl and I just joined this website. First off I completely understand were your coming from. I am 21 and I had a son in my previous relationship. I finally meet the man of my dreams and after getting diagnosed with PCOS on Dec 23rd 2008 all my dreams suddenly shattered on having another baby. I went to many websites and I'll I could see were the negative things that came with having PCOS and one of them was not being able to have kids again. I did a lot of research about what to do when trying to conceive with PCOS. I have recently realized that there is hope for me. I felt the same way you felt about my boyfriend. I kept wondering if he would leave me if in the future if I couldn't get pregnant but I know he won't leave me. I'm not going to lie I'm scared. Honestly since the day I found out I have been crying but at the same time I am trying to stay strong its just hard and yes I'm very upset but the only thing I can do is to fight this and try to stay on a healthy diet and on my meds and not let this beat me.
Hey! I just joined this site today. I'm 20 years old, and I after about a year of misdiagnosis/ confusion, I had a sonogram and now the doctor is pretty positive I have PCOS. I still need to get my second set of blood work in to confirm it. I've found that when I'm on the pill I have my period normally, and when I'm not I just plain old don't get it... for as long as 7 months at a time, maybe longer. I just want to say that I too, completely identify with your fears about children. I've always wanted children, and never gave a second thought to my fertility. I think the hardest thing about PCOS for me is that things that should come so easily are so much harder... of course child-bearing and weight loss aren't really easy for any women, but it just feels like this is yet another obstacle.
It looks like we're not the only ones though. And we all have similar struggles.
Hey! I am 19 as well. I have gone through what many people have been talking about throughout this thread. I was misdiagnosed with several different things, lived in misery of not knowing what was wrong with me and people thinking there was nothing wrong with me...when I knew something was wrong. Finally, my parents were so worried they sent me to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona this past summer 2008. I was seen there for 2 weeks by all sorts of different doctors, and was finally diagnosed. I have I think every sypmtom plus some.
I was in a very serious relationship and once I was diagnosed and told about how I may never be able to lose the sudden weight gain, hunger, moodiness, infertility, headaches, ect, ect, ect. I thought that would be the end of my life.
When I was a kid people used to talk about becoming superstars and firefighters, and models...but I always said that I wanted to be a Mom. I still do. I was so upset that my chances for a baby were not as good as I had hoped.
My boyfriend who is now my fiance is very suportive as is my family. I have tried a lot of different medictions and drs and have not had luck...leading to even deaper depression as time went on, the worst I have ever been depressed I am expierencing right now. However, I have heard an insulite from some of the girls on this site, and I am going to try it. I want to feel better. My fiance disserves for me to feel better and I want to get on the track to healthy so when I am ready I can become pregnant and start the family I have always wanted.
This support group is really helpful. I just joined this month and I already feel better about PCOS.
Yes, I am having a horrible time with my health right now, but it's good to become apart of this support group and see what other's suggest.
Good Luck, if you need help please let me know! I am here for you, I understand how you feel. We can get through this...I know we can.
Hey, I'm 20 and about a month ago my primary care dr told me she thought I had it so i made an appt with an endo but thats still like 5 weeks away. but i'm pretty much completely positive that i do have pcos.
I undersatnd the heartbreak, the questions, and frustrations. more than anything I want a loving husband and a baby. i've always wanted children and the thought of possibly never having one has sent me into bouts of depression and crying times. its hard, but there are always other options. plus, it doens't mean you'll never be able to, just makes it harder.
and i totally get just wanting to be normal. i understand. welcome to this board, you'll meet some great women that will help and give you advice and encouragement. so hang in there
I was 20 when diagnosed also. I went on the pill when I was 15 to sort out my irregular periods and came off the pill when I was 18, I only had my period once every 9 months so they were very erratic. I also put on weight very easily. When I gained 20 kilo's for no reason I was worried and went to the docs and got the diagnosis after having an ultrasound.
I understand how upset you must feel. I found out just after I got married so I thought to myself 'what's the point in being married if I cant have a family'...But seriously there is so much help available for conceiving that you shouldn't worry. My Husband and I tried to get pregnant the natural way for 3 years (I wasn't panicking because I'm still so young) but eventually we went and sought help. I was referred to a fantastic OBGYN that also ran what they call and 'ovulation clinic'. I was put on tablets to induce a period and then given clomid and then monitored by ultrasound to check for ovulation. I got pregnant on the third cycle and now have a 10 month old gorgeous daughter.
Getting pregnant is more difficult when you have PCOS but definately not impossible so try not to be too upset because it's not the end of the world.
aw, i just wrote this long thing and hit spell check....my browser refreshed and all my typing.....gone. and it was so insightful. *sigh* haha.
I was your age when I was officially diagnosed, although I had my suspicisions before. I was newly married and felt that with the diagnosis and possible difficulty conceiving, we should start TTC immediatly. So, we started. I spent so much time at home being depressed about not being about to get pregnant. I wasted 2 years being sad about possibly not being able to have children and another 2 years being sad about not being able to concieve. Those years should of been spent with my family, husband and freinds, doing the normal 19, 20, 21 and 22 year old things.
I know the diagnosis can hit hard when you're not expecting it, but try to stay positive. Stay up to date with new research and treatments. Ask your doctor questions (write them down when you think of them and take them to your next appointment), and focus on getting healthy mentally and physically.
PCOS is different for each women. You may not have the same symptoms that someone else does. You'll have to find out what medications, diets, and exercise regimines work for you and your lifestyle. I get weak on high doses of metformin, but need the high doses to keep my cycle regular, so I'm going to try glucophage extended release next month. So, keep in mind that each person is different.
I think that being scared that your boyfriend may leave you is completely normal. I thought the same thing when I was diagnosed. But if he does, he was not the man you need by your side anyways, because there are soooo many different ways to have a child....some paths just take longer than others.
Hi Lindsay! I have recently been diagnosed as well and my DH and I have decided to TTC. My OB/GYN has put me of a prenatal vitamin, metformin, and then clomid to help with fertility. She seems very confident that I will get pregnant and says that she has helped A LOT of women with PCOS get pregnant. I am a teacher, love children, and ever since I can remember all I wanted was to be a mom and wife. It was devastating at first for me as well. This site has been very helpful and informative. Good luck in your journey!
I've just been diagnosed and I'm very upset.. 
welcome
you will so love this site, you will learn so much and everyone is so friendly. i have a son, who is nearly 12
It'll be okay! 
