I recently visited an Ob/Gyn for the first time concerning a possibility of PCOS. He talked me through the normal hormone cycle that a woman should experience and then explained how PCOS affects that. I was expecting a pap since I've never had one (I'm a virgin). However, he said that since I was a virgin, the possibility of me having an abnormal pap was highly unlikely. He also said that based on my other symptoms, it appeared that I had PCOS, which he said is very common. He also said that since PCOS doesn't have a reliable set of symptoms, an exam wasn't needed to confirm it. He prescribed birth control and Metformin to regulate my periods.
What I'm asking is, should I request a pap or an ultrasound to confirm that there are cysts on my ovaries? The doc said ALL women will have cysts on their ovaries because that's part of ovulation, but I know that with PCOS, your ovary is covered in them. My regular doctor did blood tests to test for extra androgen and it came back normal. I'm going back to him in a few weeks to see how the meds are working for me, so maybe he's planning on doing the exam then, but I'm not sure.
I wasn't concerned that he didn't do a pap, but my friend says he should've done one based merely on the fact I've never had one before.
I find myself a bit stumped. But I'm a big fan of 'better safe than sorry'. I say request at pap, and maybe even an ultrasound. When in doubt, too much knowledge is better than guessing. If you have the slightest question, get it answered.
And welcome to SC! Regardless of your eventual diagnosis, I hope you enjoy yourself here. I also hope someone else has some answers for you
__________________ Me(31) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH(35), married since 10/7/06
Dx: Fourteen years! 01/1995 at 17
Meds:
Metformin 2000 mg, Pre-natals, Caltrate
Dx with insufficient uterine lining and very low progesterone levels.
1 month of premarin and progesterone before clomid
8/08-9/08 1st clomid cycle = no O
9/5/08 referred to RE and fertility clinic
9/16/08 first appointment with RE
October 08-April 09 worked up to 200 mg Clomid. Consistently ovulating and now praying for better timing.
My gyn had the same philosophy about ultrasounds. She said I had strong physical evidence of PCOS and not all women with PCOS have cysts, so she doesn't do ultrasounds to diagnose PCOS unless the external physical PCOS symptoms are missing.
Your gyn is correct that it is almost impossible to get cervical cancer if you are not sexually active. I don't think you can get HPV that causes cervical cancer any other way but sexual contact. I'm not sure what age you are, but I suspect that your gyn will eventually want to do a pap smear. I wouldn't worry that she didn't do one this time.
I had paps since I was 15 - and I didn't have sex until I was 19. I always just thought of them as a routine part of the exam.
But I didn't have an ultrasound to diagnose my PCOS, either. My Dr did take blood samples, though, and look at my levels of different hormones. That's how she eventually diagnosed me.
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
It is true that almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the sexually transmitted virus HPV, but the fact is that there are other causes. Cervical cancer is one of the most easily treated cancers--IF CAUGHT EARLY. For that reason, an annual PAP smear should be a part of every woman's annual exam.
In general, I would be leary of a doctor who prescribed medications (especially something like Met, which he is prescribing off-label) without performing diagnostic tests/exams. It's just a good idea to have a complete blood work-up before you get started on a med like Met.
You should really consider sharing your concerns with your doctor. There is never anything wrong with wanting more information.
If you can...try to get another doctor - one more interested in getting a CLEAR picture of what's going on in your body, rather than one interested in medicating what he/she 'thinks' might be happening 'because it's common'.
(having said that...if the doc had some other previous lab reports on you - maybe taken by another Dr - that the Dx was based, on, I take back my 'find another doc' comment )
__________________
Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I had paps since I was 15 - and I didn't have sex until I was 19. I always just thought of them as a routine part of the exam.
Me, too! I always thought a pap was part of an annual exam despite one's sexual history.
My RE Dx my PCOS based on my list of symptoms, blood work AND an ultrasound. All of my symptoms pointed to PCOS but she used the u/s to confirm what she called "the classic string of pearls"...she went on to say that my ovaries should be in a textbook for what PCOS ovaries look like. LOL! With that, she put me on Met and levothyroxine bc she found out that I was hypothyroid as well. Hope this helps. Good luck.
__________________ Me - 37
DH - 38
DS - 3
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
You said bloodwork showed that androgens were normal, but there are other markers of PCOS in bloodwork. Fasting insulin, FSH/LH ratio, and blood lipids. My androgens and fasting insulin fell within the lab's normal range, but the information at this link allowed me to understand that what the lab considers normal, may not be. http://www.soulcysters.net/guide-und...ts-pcos-63885/
It is important to have pap smears, but young women who are not sexually active often do not have their first one until they visit a gyn and tell them they plan to become sexually active.
Question About Ob/Gyn Visit 
)
