Hi. I was told on Monday that I have polycystic ovaries. I was seeing my OB as he had advised me to have a CD3 ultrasound of my ovaries and wow, they looked like bubbles or grapes or something (he counted at least 12 cysts on each ovary). My doctor was really nonchalant about it. "oh yes, you have polycystic ovaries, we going start you on this med. don't worry. Oh and we'll draw some hormone levels" Now I will say that I occassionally work with this guy and I'm in healthcare, so maybe he didn't feel the need to explain too much or was just relaxed due to our friendship.
So I think ok, well now I know why we haven't gotten pregnant. But then I start to look up PCOS and I'm like holy carp! This isn't great! But I don't really have the symptoms (I'm not that overweight, 26 BMI, I don't have acne, I do not have abnormal hair growth, and I have periods--they're pretty light, but they come every 26 to 36 days.) So....
Question #1: Can you have polycystic ovaries and not have PCOS??
Question #2: My OB gyn wants to start me on Femara, skipping Clomid which he says he doesn't like. Any info you ladies have on Femara would be appreciated.
Question #3: **Warning...TMI** Ok I do have 1 symptom that I have attributed to hormones, but no MD has been able to tell me exactly what is causing it and I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem. I have pain with intercourse, it's more after ejaculation, although I still get a little bit of pain even if ejaculation isn't present. The pain is primarily to my external genitalia and partly in my vagina. It's a burning pain, made worse by urinating and lasts for 30 mins to hours. Anyone else???? I've felt like I've been going insane for the last 6 years that this has been going on and I would love to know if these ovarian cysts, or hormone disruptions are the root of all my problems.
TIA for helping me out. I've been lurking here since I found out on Monday and I'm eagerly awaiting my hormone levels.
WOW sorry that was such a long introduction, I'm normally not so verbose! THanks everyone!
Sorry I don't have any input regarding you symptoms. I also don't have many of the symptoms but on the ultrasound I had many cysts. I am interested to know what else you find out. My doctor started me on Metformin and I would have rather tried Clomid. However, after reading alot on the subject, I learned that Metformin is a place a lot of doctors start with...who knows. Good luck to yow anyway.
thanks for your reply. Where in OK are you? I'm in the Tulsa area.
my doctor called yesterday to tell me my lab results had come back mostly normal. so I said "maybe I don't have PCOS then." he said, "oh no, you do."
he didn't want to start me on metformin. I don't really know why he didn't or why he wants to skip clomid. I'm anxios to see how u do with metformin only since we have similar stories.
__________________ J (30) married to C (31) for 5 Years!!!
Hi dipi. You are right once you start researching PCOS it is like WOW!!! Not good,why did the doctor act so nonchalant....Let me see if I can help you on what I have learned in the last 7 years after visiting 8 different doctors. You can have what is known as PCO instead of PCOS yet. PCO is basically the beginning of PCOS w/o the other factors,excess weight,facial hair,acne,lack of periods.So maybe you are just at the PCO part.The great thing about that is if you can change your diet and lifesyle before you get to PCOS you have a great chance of not even getting to PCOS(am I making any sense?).Unfortunately alot of doctos don't tell women that they just say oh you have PCOS,they don't imform you that you are on the start of PCOS and it can be helped if you change lifestyle habits.For me I just learned in the last 2years that there is PCO.So had I of been told that from the start my PCOS might not be where it is today.
I have never heard of Femera.So I can't help you there. I was on clomid and for me it did help me ovulate regularly but they had to combine it with avandia,and then HCG shots.Sorry I can't help with the Fememra.
On your TMI: I have not personally experienced that. It could be due to the hormones.As I have learned personally with my hormones being so out of wack in my body alot of things go out of wack too. Us as females when our hormones are crazy our whole body will go crazy.
I hope I was able to help. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.Sometimes I feel like I could be a doctor just from everything I have learned,tried,and experienced the last 7 years.HEHEHHEHE!!
Talk soon,
Ella831
1) Yes, you can have polycystic ovaries and NOT have PCOS. The reverse is also true.
2) I don't know a lot about Femara except that it is a drug used to treat breast cancer, but it is frequently used off-label to help cause ovulation. It works very similarly to Clomid in that it tricks your brain into producing the hormones necessary for ovulation. It is supposed to have fewer side effects than Clomid.
3) Sorry...I can't help you there. You shouldn't have to suffer, though, so I would keep talking to doctors until you find one who can help.
The thing to remember about PCOS is that it is a syndrome; that means that it is a condition characterized by the presence of various symptoms. Not every woman with PCOS has every symptom; we're all very different, in fact. And, yes, you can still have PCOS with hormone levels that are in the "normal" range. There are still some key hormonal issues (like LH/FSH ratio) to consider, though.
I would like to ask if you know that you aren't ovulating...If you are ovulating regularly (your cycles seem to be within normal range), then I wonder why your doctor wants to start you on Femara and not on Met (Met tends to help regulate the hormone issues that PCOS patients have and helps to reduce our higher-than-normal risk of miscarriage if continued through at least the first trimester). Also, one last thing: Don't be afraid to change doctors. It's really, really important to have a doctor in whom you have confidence and who is well-versed in PCOS.
Hi all. I'm also a newbie and confused as to whether or not I have PCOS. I have the opposite - most of the wonderful symptoms (acne, facial hair, losing tons of hair on my head) but don't show polycystic ovaries and get my period on my own (but don't know if they're ovulatory). My RE said he didn't think I had the "telltale signs" of PCOS, but another medical endocrinologist thought I do. The RE said not to go on Metformin, but now I'm seeing that it can help with my symptoms (which are getting me really depressed). I was told that I had PCOS in my mid 20's and was on ortho-tri-cyclen and Spironolactone. Back then I also stopped getting my period, but I was too thin and my father had also just passed away suddenly. I stopped the medications about 5 plus years ago and all the sudden the symptoms started returning about 5-6 months ago and they are getting really bad.
Can anyone offer some advice? I'm 36 and also want to have a baby - been married for 4 years but haven't really tried as I have other medical issues which were interfering with us trying. I'm just getting so down and could really use some feedback. My husband is trying to be patient but seems to also be feeling this, too. I don't even look like me anymore.
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the advice, info and support.
And also to say hello to monkeybaby if she happens to check back and see this. I'm sorry that you're going through a rough time and I wish I could offer something else, but just know that you're not alone. I know i'm just some random person on an internet bulletin board, but I'm thinking of you and sending some positive vibes your way. Keep looking for the right doctor. Be open and communicate with them. Tell them your fears and concerns and you will find someone that can help you. GL
__________________ J (30) married to C (31) for 5 Years!!!
Thank you, dipi, I really appreciate your kind thoughts. It is very helpful knowing that I am not alone, although I am the only one in my family with PCOS and no one understands. I am so thankful that SC exists and hope that we can chat again.
Thanks again and I wish you the very best as well.
Welcome dipi and monkeybaby. I'm relatively new to PCOS too. I know how confusing and scary it is at first! Hang in there and know that there are many nice people who are more than willing to help on this website. Take care!
__________________ Jess - age 30
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Just wanted to say hi and thank you all for your warm welcomes. It is so reassuring to know that others understand - although I wish no one had to go through this! Especially when those closest to you just don't get it, having this website is so important!
Question - does metformin help with the significant acne, hirsutism and extreme and consistent hair loss? I also have significant rosacea and nothing topically is helping my skin. I didn't want to start metformin unless I was having trouble conceiving (which we are about to start TTC soon). I do get monthly periods, but have no idea if I am ovulating or not. Also, I'm not overweight, so weight loss is not an issue right now. My RE gave me a prescription for met, but I am reluctant. Would appreciate your thoughts/advice - my face is scarring badly from the acne and pretty soon I'm going to look like a man between the hirsutism (on cheeks, chin, etc...) and my balding head!
My understanding is that met may help a little with those symptoms. If you weren't ttc, spiro would be a good option for the hair issues. I haven't been on it long enough to tell you from personal experience (other than the fact it makes you pee a lot), but I've been reading that a lot of people have good results with both spiro and met.
Don't be scared to take the meds. The worst that can happen is you have some side effects and have to change dosage. It's worth giving it a shot.
Thanks for getting back to me. I am a bit nervous about the met - wish I could take spiro and BCP for the acne and hair problems, but obviously can't at this time. I hope the spiro starts working for you. This is such fun, huh! Are you taking anything else besides spiro? Also, what do you do about the facial hair? I was thinking about eloctrolysis, but don't know anything about lasers. Are you balding or thinning, too?
My Introduction and questions! 
I was told on Monday that I have polycystic ovaries. I was seeing my OB as he had advised me to have a CD3 ultrasound of my ovaries and wow, they looked like bubbles or grapes or something (he counted at least 12 cysts on each ovary). My doctor was really nonchalant about it. "oh yes, you have polycystic ovaries, we going start you on this med. don't worry. Oh and we'll draw some hormone levels" Now I will say that I occassionally work with this guy and I'm in healthcare, so maybe he didn't feel the need to explain too much or was just relaxed due to our friendship.
my blood test always come back 'normal' now, but i m definately a pcos girl 
