Kinda Newbie Questions...

littlenova · 06-14-2008, 11:02 AM

Hi guys,

My hubby and I have been married for 12 years in November and I am 31 years old. We never really ttc until recently--now that we are finished with grad school and are getting settled. I am off the pill for 2 years and was diagnosed clinically with PCOS a few times. (My TV and TA sonograms were clear of cysts, though? )

We have been "trying" for a few months now...(DTD on my fertile days, using a thermometer,etc.) DH was tested last month and is fine.

I ovulate fine on my own without help, but am overweight with some hair issues. (I could stand to lose about 50lbs...
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)

Here are some of my blood test results from a recent visit:
FSH:5.6
LH:9.1
TSH: 1.47
Testosterone:86 ng/dl

My questions are:
Are these blood test results horrible? Testosterone/LH seem way off.
Should I start taking Glucophage or Metaformin or something? My pcp told me it was not necessary yet???
and the biggest one: If I get pregnant, is there a huge chance of miscarriage...? Is there anyway after a BFP to go on medication to prevent one?

Sorry if this may have been discussed before or if I sound clueless...
Thanks for your responses!
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sarahjean · 06-15-2008, 12:25 PM

Hmmm, I'm so sorry, I can't help you with the numbers... but I would ask my doc if I were you about whether or not you should go on Met. I've read that Metformin can help prevent m/c. Since you are able to ovulate on your own, you may not need to take the Metformin. How long are your cycles?

splashsmama · 06-15-2008, 02:37 PM

I'm confused how you can be diagnosed with PCOS when you have no cysts on your ovaries and you ovulate on your own without meds.
PCOS is named that because of the signature numerous cysts on the woman's ovaries. Without that, how can you be diagnosed with having it.

I'd question whether you really had it or not. I think drs throw that term around to loosely when a woman may be overweight and isn't conceiving right away.

A huge percentage of us have the cysts and nearly all of us can't ovulate on our own without being on some kind of med or supplement.

Just my two cents though.

littlenova · 06-15-2008, 04:09 PM

Hi...Thanks so much for responding...
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A few years back I would skip a period occasionally. I now get a regular period and ovulate---but, apparently not every cycle like most women. (just shedding old lining??) I have hair growth,weight and slight IR. The only "flag" if you wanna call it that is that I have high testosterone and my LH and FSH are almost 2:1. Not huge but, enough to warrant a star on my blood test. I dunno...

They said they were ready to diagnose, but didn't want to give me meds yet. My average cycle is about 34 days. From what I hear, many women have the diagnosis without cysts:
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SM-interesting idea that I might be misdiagnosed. I am going to a new RE to possibly run more tests. I don't think they ever ran a Progesterone---and I have waited to do a lap as well.

SJ-Maybe a low dosage of Met until I ovulate every month? I am going to look into it.

I also think losing a few pounds will help me!!

AnotherDreamer · 06-16-2008, 01:48 AM

If you are IR you may be able to benefit from the Met since it's for IR and diabetes. If you feel it maybe help you than discuss it further with your doctor.
Also, I recommend charting BBT to see if you are Ov'ing or not.

As far as your numbers I am not really sure, you can try googling them you might find something there to see what they should be....

And being worried about m/c with PCOS, well they say there is a slightly increased risk of m/c. But it's not that much more than the general population.

And the losing weight. Some woman can restore Ov by losing 5-10% of their weight. So give it a try if you feel it can help you. It definitely won't hurt. I have seen woman have success with this.
But there are some it didn't help, like me. About 6 years ago I lost major weight and got down to the advised BMI for my height and build, but it sadly didn't help me with AF (I've since gained all of the weight back, and then some. I'm working on losing it again. *Sigh*)

Good luck with everything. I hope you can get the answers you're looking for and move forward.

amanda112903 · 06-16-2008, 02:24 AM

Seeing an RE is the best thing you can do. Your testosterone is a bit high, like mine. My RE said it was due to my adrenal gland. He put me on Dexamethasone for it(which you have to stop as soon as you are pregnant because it causes birth defects).

There is a new study out (according to my RE) saying that the miscarriage rate for women with untreated PCOS is as high as 50%. The same study shows that low dose aspirin (used only while under dr. supervision) can significantly lower it(down to 15%). Metformin lowers it as well in women who are IR. With those two medications the risk of miscarriage is only a few percent higher than the national average.

As far as diagnosis you have to have 2 of the following 3:
1) elevated androgen levels
2) physical signs; annovulation, facial hair, brown patches of skin... etc
3) the 'string of pearls' (cyst formation) on your ovaries.

HTH dear! Good Luck!

littlenova · 06-16-2008, 08:07 PM

Thanks for the great feedback, guys!

I am going to try to find a decent RE like you all mentioned. I need to nip this in the bud, before it's too late.

Interesting about MC...I am going to look into the aspirin therapy. I know I really need to drop the weight,too. I am a few points shy of being IR enough for medicine, but I am going to look into it if it means it will help me ovulate more frequently. Treadmill here I come~~

You guys rock.
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ruth0071 · 06-17-2008, 01:22 PM

Wishing you the best of luck. It might be a good idea to join in on a buddy support thread...theres alot of wisdom that goes through them...

mcoreen · 06-17-2008, 02:26 PM

You don't need to have cysts to have PCOS!!! The name is really deceiving and doesn't mean anything at all - it is a historic one and unfortunately it has stuck, and no one has come up with anything better! To be diagnosed with PCOS you need 2/3 of the following:
1. signs of excess androgens: either visible or in lab results
2. infrequent or absent ovulation
3. cysts on the ovaries
plus they have to rule out any other cause for the above problems.
You don't have to be fat, hairy, or full of cysts!!!! Trust me.

As far as m/c goes:
We're probably at increased risk of m/c due to:
1. poor environment for embryo because of hormones being out of whack
2. Delayed ovulation can mean the egg is "poor quality"
Plus m/c occurs in up to like 25% of pregnancies anyway even without PCOS.
Preventing miscarriage usually involves making your uterus environment optimal - so metformin might help androgen levels, aspirin might help if blood flow to uterus is a problem, progesterone if it's not high enough... but nothing is guarunteed. Unfortunately m/c is a fact of life.

lluv · 06-17-2008, 02:53 PM

Thanks mcoreen for clarifying. I *thought* I had read that too.

splashsmama · 06-17-2008, 02:59 PM

OK, following that logic, Mcoreen. Littlenova is still only exhibiting 1 out of the 3 symptoms you just listed as being "diagnosable" PCOS symptoms. She has no cysts and she's ovulating on her own. That rules out your #2 and #3 listed symptoms.
I still question whether she has PCOS or not. I think her doctor needs to investigate further.

splashsmama · 06-17-2008, 03:12 PM

Here's an awesome link I just came across that will pretty much answer anyone's question about PCOS and treatment and infertility.

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Regarding miscarriages, this site states that according to some studies, the risk of miscarriage in women with PCOS is 45 percent or more than a woman who doesn't have PCOS. So it's not just a slight increase, it's a considerable increase compared to a non-PCOS woman.

littlenova · 06-17-2008, 08:53 PM

Mcoreen: I Didn't know that about m/c. I know it's a fear I need to get over...I have also heard about progesterone cream for helping in the first trimester...I'll have to ask when I see the doc. Androgens, I take it, are Testosterone? They didn't do a Progesterone test on me yet.

I hope SM is right! I'd love for this to be something less serious, or resolved with some weight loss or maybe even light meds---if it is just hormonal,etc. I am definitely going to request more tests and find a specialist that cares enough to help me manage this.

My friend has a more severe case. She is not heavy at all...but, she had EXTREME pain and ruptured cysts before. I never had that---thank goodness. She went through a harder time than I have so far. My biggest symptom is some "face fuzz" and the unexplained "slow" fertility. (I don't want to call it in-fertility yet!)

R,
I was reading some of your blog...I will be in prayer for you!

This struggle to conceive...It's thrown us for a loop. But...
Everything in my life has happened in its own weird time. I finished college almost a decade late, I married when I was super young...My timetable is all over the place. But, I would not change how God has worked in my life. His timing is best. So it looks like I might be a Mom later than I thought.

I'm not giving up yet!

mcoreen · 06-18-2008, 10:14 AM

splashmomma: I agree, it appears that she only has 1/3... although I question the ovulation thing...

LittleNova: do you ovulate every cycle? How do you know you ovulate? Even if you don't have 2/3 they might class you under PCOS if they can't think of any other reason. An RE might be helpful if you're not already seeing one.

I think the INCIID site is amazing. They also have medical bulletin boards, with one specific to PCOS, where you can ask an RE any questions you might have. If you keep the questions a bit generalized the dr will give his opinion, I found it helpful. Androgens include testosterone and several other hormones that are "masculine"... My dr didn't check my testosterone level, but my DHEAS was elvated. DHEA is an androgen.

CRISTINACEC · 06-18-2008, 10:40 AM

You can have POCS and not have cysts and still ovulate. I don't have cysts and do ovulate. Once in a while I have a month of not oing. I have all the other signs of it ance, slight ir, obesity and hair. I feel that if I had waited to go to a doctor I would have gotten worse. In 10years of being with my hubby and never using pertection I never got pregnant. Six months after being on metformin I was pregnant with my son.
Littlenova your lh/fsh is off and your testosterone is high. Met may help you with it. My testosterone is in the normal range now. Still have hair on my chin
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but the rest of my body it has decreased.