I am 21 years old and a new soul cyster. I have not had a period now for 10 months. Up until now i have had regular periods my whole life. I had blood tests done that showed what the doctor said high testosterone levels and what is " most likely" pcos. She put me on prometrium progesterone for ten days and said i should start my period within the next seven and i have not. There was a little spotting while i was on the progesterone but that is all. What do you recommend as my next step? i really would prefer to not have to take a bunch of medicine but if that is what i must do to get straightened out then i will. i would love to have children one day and i do not want to be at risk for cancers or infertility ect... if anyone can relate or has advice on healing spiritually, physically, or any other way, please reply. i feel lost and confused about my body. thank you- love always... boone
I'm newly diagnosed too as a thin cyster. I'm not sure what kind of doc you are seeing-if it is just a regular gyn, then definitely try and get in with a reproductive endocrinologist (best option) or at the very least a regular endocrinologist. They know a heck of a lot more about what to look for than a gyn will. Maybe you are already seeing one of them.
I'm not sure what hormones you have had tested but you want free and total testosterone tested, dheas, LH, FSH, estradiol, etc. done. Insist on a 2 or 3 hour glucose tolerance test with insulin levels if you haven't gotten one yet. 50% or more of cysters are insulin resistant, and thinnies can be too even though less knowledgeable docs don't know that. Some docs say we pcos'ers probably all are IR to some degree-increased insulin leads to increased androgen levels and our subsequent issues. PCOS is a metabolic disease, so you want to find out as much as you can about how it is affecting your body.
If you are + for IR then docs will often put you on glucophage or metformin (same thing) which is a diabetes drug they are just starting to use with pcos'ers. The newest research says it often helps those who don't test + for IR too (supporting the theory we may all be IR to some degree even if the GTT can't pick it up) Glucophage helps control the insulin levels, which for a lot of people helps regulate their cycles. I'm not sure if you are looking to get pg at all but it helps restore ovulation. The extended release is more gentle on your stomach, but GI side effects are quite common. They have to build you up to it gradually. Usually they start with like 500 mg a day and build you up to 1500 (2 850 doses or so). Apparently within a month or so the GI side effects resolve. IF you don't go carb crazy that helps too. IF your doc won't do gluc or met, some women find low carb diets help their cycles and symptoms. YOu have to find one that works for you but some popular ones are the Zone diet, Protein Power (by Eades and Eades), Atkins, CAD (carbo. addicts diet), etc. Moderate exercise also helps.
Some women try vitex (herb) to resume normal cycles or natural progesterone cream. I use provera or prometrium as your doc prescribed. I don't have bad side effects from them so I don't mind using them. If you aren't ttc, birth control pills can be helpful to minimize the androgen effects. Triphasics tend to be bad for pcos'ers because they tend to have a higher androgen content. STress can increase androgen production so yoga can be good. Some new studies on acupunture are promising. I recently read an article about a doc at Temple Univ. in Philadelphia using acupuncture and I think the results were that they restored menstruation in 5 out of the 6 women in the small study. So it can be worth a try. Some women use reflexology or reiki therapy to help heal their bodies. You have to investigate and see what works for you.
Being a thinny is difficult at times because most research is directed at the majority of cysters who aren't thin pcos'ers Apparently most docs think our metabolic issues are even more difficult to treat. Thin pcos'ers often have a tougher time getting pg from what I've heard.
HOpe that helps get you started. This is a great website-there are tons of research articles and helpful women on here. I wish you lots of luck and hope I didn't repeat a lot of what you might already know....
Beth
__________________ 25 y/o
Mama to Christopher Logan, aka "Logan" thanks to gonal-F and metformin
Born 2/15/04, 8 lbs 4 oz unmedicated delivery thanks to Hypnobirthing
"thin" cyster
Hey Boone,
I totally relate to you. I'm 23 but I've been having problems with my period for two years. I never got it after I quit the pill, and I waited 7 months and then started the pill again...then quit again, and again, I haven't had it for 6 months. The only PCOS symptom I have is mild but persistant acne. My doctor said PCOS was likely since my testosterone was in the upper normal range at 74. But like you, after I took Provera, I didn't have a withdrawal bleed. All the websites I look at says this indicates low estrogen and rules out PCOS. I'm now seeing an endocronologist who ordered more androgen testing....so maybe he'll have some ideas when the results come. I've always been lean, and I've always exercised, and I've never had a problem with hair growth or anything like that. Maybe we have hypothalmic amenhorrea? I'm getting pretty frustrated. I'm trying out Atkins to see if my period comes or my skin gets clear. Keep me posted!
just diagnosed and lost... 
newly diagnosed. 
