POLL: Mild vs. Severe PCOS & Symptoms

[sliz]

I got my diagnosis last year and wanted to see where I fit in - and what my chances are of conceiving without IVF. I am now going on 29, but did not have any symptoms of anovulation or amenorrhea until I turned 27. Even the year I was diagnosed, I still had about 6-7 unmedicated cycles where I got my period. This may have been done before but here goes my poll:

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 27
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 27 (had normal cycles from age 13-27)

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - sometimes
c. Insulin resistance - no signs so far, but have family history of
diabetes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - no high cholesterol, but high
triglycerides which I am trying to bring down (had only one high test).
f. Hair in unwanted places: a little
g. Hair loss - had a patch last year but it grew back
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - no,
but I get larger size cysts sometimes.

4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? No
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? never yet
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
metformin (upping to 2000 mg/day), a little more exercise, dieting (but cheated horribly this week), inositol, omega-3, will try clomid if no bfp this month (and my cysts have cleared)

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? No - and no one yet seemed to think that it was a big deal or would stop me from having children (yet)...however I am terrified that I will have to undergo all kits of treatment....


Thank you all for the replies!

[stacey88]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 13
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 13

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - i AM a thin cyster but i fluctuate ALOT.
b. Acne - not much
c. Insulin resistance - my last GTT came back borderline/not god
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - after charting 2 cycles at the start of this year before i was put on clomid, we saw that i WAS ovulating, but my cycles were 60+ days apart, so it didnt mean alot.
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - not that i'm awre of
f. Hair in unwanted places: a fair bit
g. Hair loss - male pattern baldness which was also caused by iron defiiency aneamia.my hair sheds alot.
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts)-definatey yes.at ever u/s.

4. Do you have children? no
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? not one ever
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? never yet
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
i have tried most of the natural treatments ladies speak of on here,vitex,cinnamon,apple cider vinegar,green tea ect.
i'm currently on my 3rd round of clomid.

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? my bloodwork comes back "good" for PCOS, but i have alot! of the bad symptoms of it and in 6 years of unprotected sex i have never once had a BFP.

hth.

[newfiecyster]

. At what age were you diagnosed: 16
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 13

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne -yes
c. Insulin resistance -yes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - yes
f. Hair in unwanted places: yes
g. Hair loss -not really
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - yes
4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? No
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? don't do them
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
metformin 1500mgs a day

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? yes my dr said i got severe pcos

[Maryny]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 19
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: At 9 I started a period, and it lasted for 35 days. I went on to have no periods or very few and far between. Never normal. I was put on BCPs by age 13.

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - sometimes
c. Insulin resistance - yes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - not at the present
f. Hair in unwanted places: yup
g. Hair loss - I lose hair easier than most.
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - Yes

4. Do you have children? Not yet.
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? No I have not.
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? never yet
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
BCPs which really isnt "treatment" and healthy diet and LOTS of excersice.

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? Yes

[one-hit_wonder]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 23

2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 13

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes - when I was put on bcp to regulate my periods (before I knew I had PCOS)
b. Acne - used to have it bad, but not anymore
c. Insulin resistance - nothing so far, but have family history of
diabetes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - I really don't know. Cycles were wonky until I started eating better and exercising. Now, my cycle lasts around 35 days. Don't really know if I'm truly ovulatory or not: think I have LUFS (where the egg doesn't get released from the follicle, but I get signs of ovulation).
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - not that I know of
f. Hair in unwanted places: a little
g. Hair loss - no, although i used to lose quite a bit when a was a teen
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - Yes, but my last ultrasound indicated no cysts (so who knows what's going on with me?).

4. Do you have children? No

5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? No, although I am pretty sure that I had a chemical pregnancy once.

6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? yes

7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
Glumetza, Clomid, injectables/IUI, Chinese medicine, natural remedies, exercise, diet

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? No one has ever treated it as though it's a big deal.

[srugg]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 25
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: never had normal cycles

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - yes
c. Insulin resistance - yes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - borderline
f. Hair in unwanted places: a little, on my tummy
g. Hair loss - no
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - YES!!!
4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? Three, but two were m/c, third pg is still very early right now
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? never use them
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
metformin, a little more exercise, dieting, clomid, femara, gonal f, IUI
8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? Neither? But they say I'm "clomid resistant"

[mrsb1979]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 28
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: When I was 18-20 I wouldn't have a period for months at a time, but my doctor said that was due to my low body fat (12% at that time). So he put me on birth control pills to regulate my cycles. When I stopped taking birth control pills 7 yrs later, my cycles were irregular again (and my body fat is at 23% now).

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - no
b. Acne - no
c. Insulin resistance - no
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - no
f. Hair in unwanted places: no
g. Hair loss - no
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - yes

4. Do you have children? no
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? no
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? only when I'm on medicine that induces ovulation (Menopur, Clomid). So I guess that doesn't count.
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried? I'm currently taking 2000 mg of Metformin, and had 2 cycles of injections along w/Clomid, a trigger, and 2 IUIs.


8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? mild

[bushwicks_nena_19]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 14
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: At 14... They'd been regular for the past 4 yrs. But last cycle was an exceptionally long cycle for me.

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - Yes
b. Acne - Yup
c. Insulin resistance - Yup
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - No
f. Hair in unwanted places: Kinda
g. Hair loss - No
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - Not recently

4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? No
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? No
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried? I'll be starting femara with iui in october.

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? Mild

[Shejayd]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 21
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: Always had AF (started at age 6), but was very irregular, btw 20-90 days.

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - sometimes
c. Insulin resistance - Yes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes/no
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - high cholesterol/ not triglycerides
f. Hair in unwanted places: barely
g. Hair loss - sevear
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - occasionally i have them or i don't
4. Do you have children? I had a baby @ 17, placed for adoption. 10 early miscarriages btwn 2004-2008. Am now pregnant
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? 12 of them
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? once while on clomid.
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
Metformin @ 1700mg a day, asa, folic and prenatal vitamins, 2 cycles of Clomid, progesterone, B12, 6 months of BCPs.

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? My Fam. Dr didnt know i had it till i got diagnosed as a second opinion, and still second guesses it. My RE said it was mild because the only indicators was high testosteron, high androgen levels, low LH and estrogen and the string of pearls.

[sue_trask]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 28
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 12

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - 11
b. Acne - only when i have period or close to one
c. Insulin resistance - yes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - i have too low chol. and normal high and trigs always been abnormal
f. Hair in unwanted places: yes
g. Hair loss - no one can notice cause i have thick hair
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - yes
4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? no
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? no
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
metformin and actos but couldnt take it, a little more exercise, dieting, different bcp and now cant handle the hormones, spiro, lupron for cyst, laser for hair

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? yes it is severe by all doctors who has seen me.

[JustMe26]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 26
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 26
3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - sometimes
c. Insulin resistance - yes
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - not anymore
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - no
f. Hair in unwanted places: yes, and it is getting worse
g. Hair loss - yes, but not sure if it was related to hypothyroidism or PCOS
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - not that I know of (never had an ultrasound to check)
4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? Yes, 3
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? never tried
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
metformin, a little more exercise, dieting (South Beach Diet), Vitex.
8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? No

[Sarah223]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 18
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: 12

3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - sometimes, its not bad but my skin isnt perfect
c. Insulin resistance - no
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - not sure yet
f. Hair in unwanted places: yes
g. Hair loss - definantly not, my hair is super thick
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries (these are multiple small cysts) - yes
4. Do you have children? No
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? not yet, but trying!!!!
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? yes, just recently
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried? clomid 50mg and metformin
8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? nope, just that i have PCOS

[Melvin'sWifey]

1. At what age were you diagnosed: 23
2. At what age did you start showing signs of having no period or no ovulation: I had normal cycles until starting/stopping the pill, so I know that was my trigger. I was about 20 when I started missing my periods.
3. Which of the following symptoms do you have: Yes or no
a. Weight gain - yes
b. Acne - yes
c. Insulin resistance - dr said not yet, but probably inevitable
d. Anovulation/Amenorrhea - yes
e. High cholesterol/triglycerides - high cholesterol
f. Hair in unwanted places: a little, but not bad
g. Hair loss - nope. fingers crossed.
h. "String of pearl" cysts on ovaries : Yes I have the lovely pearls

4. Do you have children? No, but TTC!
5. Have you ever had a BFP (feel free to not answer if this is too sensitive)? No, but I know I will soon.
6. Do you get positives on ovulation predictor kits? yes but sometimes I get positives but don't actually ovulate.
7. What treatments are you on or have you tried?
metformin 1500mg a day, 3 clomid cycles from 50-150mg, and currently I'm on my first soy cycle. I ovulated!

8. Have you ever been labeled as mild or severe PCOS by your doctors? No, they have never said whether it was mild or severe but they seem pretty confidant that my being on the younger side is a plus and I will definitely get pregnant.