I'm pretty sure that I have PCOS

[Megl_89]

Hi, My name is Megan. I am eighteen years old and I am almost positive that I have PCOS. My symptoms started when I was 12 but worsened when I was about 14. My menstrual cycle in more than a year and a half as come to a complete stop. I have what I call "man hair" growing on the side of my face, upper lip, chin and neck. I also have hair growth on my chest, breasts and stomach. My leg and arm hair is thicker then it used to be, the hair on my legs grows unbelievably fast. I shave all parts of my body on a daily bases just so I can appear normal. I am horribly embarrassed and often turn away when some one tries to touch my face. I have dark areas under my armpits and on the back of my neck, that almost look like i'm dirty. Everyone I try to talk to about these problems don't understand how embarrassing and dibilitating it is for me. I constantly think everyday when I wake up is that I need to get rid of the hair before anyone can see it. I know I need to go to the doctor but I am just so embarrassed to let anyone look at my body. I just came on to this site to see if I could talk and relate to other that deal with this syndrome. Thank you.

[Eva37]

welcome to sc you will sooo love it here
eva

[Iove2Iuvya]

I have really bad cramps every month, high testosterone levels, hair on my face, oily skin and hair, skin tags, acne, extra hair all over my body...but I don't have any cysts on my ovaries. Wonder if I could still have PCOS??

[sarai8687]

Welcome. Im new too. I know how you feel. I started getting the facial hair when I was 16 and the hair on my arms and legs is thick. It helps that I am blonde, but even so... When shaving my legs I HAVE to do it everyday, but thats not even enough, it grows fast. And the dark spots? I feel ya. I don't like to wear tanks cause if I lift my arms, not only has the hair prob already grown since shaving, but them spots... Hang in there. Find a good Dr. And don't let people tell you its just in your head if you really feel there is something that doesn't feel quite right. Use this site to the full. It is great, as you probably have already discovered.

[reignstayr]

Hi Megan, I definitely understand how you feel. I've always been a beach bum but haven't been in years due to the hair growth and darker looking spots. I never really new this was all part of this disease until today reading these posts and links. I definitely think you should visit your doctor and make him understand how this makes you feel so he will not put your fears aside. It's important to get diagnosed. I'm glad you are part of the board.

[drama queen]

Welcome Megan - I know how hard it is to be young and have all that unwanted hair!! Finding a good doctor is a first step. Its like my doc tells me, "Trust me, they've all seen worse, no matter what it is!"

[Leopassion7]

Oh my goodness dear, well you need to get to a doc's office asap to get it dx to be sure, but it definitely sounds like the resurrection of PCOS to me. As I have all of those things and more and have suffered since I was 12 when I first began menstruating and have had irregular cycles, goatee, moustache, side burns, chin hairs, extra body hair in weird places, hair around breast nipples, thinning hair on head as well as the oily skin, overweight issues, and cystic acne. As for the 'dark areas' you speak of they are known as agracans nigrans or something to that affect and is a result of insulin resistance. As I have those also and wondered for years what the devil was wrong with my neck and underarms...but mainly on my neck. Anyway, get to that doc soon and keep us posted.

[Leopassion7]

I have really bad cramps every month, high testosterone levels, hair on my face, oily skin and hair, skin tags, acne, extra hair all over my body...but I don't have any cysts on my ovaries. Wonder if I could still have PCOS??

Yes you can still have pcos. It's different for each woman, but actually having the cysts on the ovaries is just a very common side effect of the disorder. It's a combination of disorders that actually defines PCOS. The name is popular because it is common to find cysts on the ovaries, but the cysts are not the CAUSE of this disorder.

[vwjettachik]

Megan,
It sounds like you have some symptoms. My suggestion is that you make an appointment with an OBGYN to confirm diagnosis.

I knew I had it for about 10 plus years, but was diagnosed officially on July of this past year.