1. I was once diagnosed with PCOS.
2. I have had regular periods for the last 3-4 years.
3. I have also had EXTREME EXTREME EXTREME facial hair for the last 4-5 years. I'm talking... I'm a peanut butter colored African American, and my facial hair is JET BLACK... HELLO! Can you say problems! I used to wax, but now I just shave using those little tiny shavers that are supposed to be used for eyebrow clean up.
4. I actually have a 3 year old daughter and am about 4 months pregnant now. I have been pregnant 3 times, in the last 5 years.
5. I even have acanthosis nigricans...which goes hand in hand with PCOS and it is horrible and ugly and just...a nightmare. It is between my cleavage, which ruins my chances of ever wearing sexy clothing up top (Grrrrr), underarms, on my cheeks, and neck. *Yeah, life kinda sucks sometime, huh*
6. Of course my testoserone levels are HIGH as heck.
7. My mother is freaking out because she thinks my shaving is going to RUIN my skin by the time I am 35 (I am 28).
So... how is this possible?!?! That I am able to get pregnant and carry a child to term, but yet I grow facial hair like crazy with CRAZY amounts of testosterone? Maybe I should just thank God and not even question it. Thank God for my DH who is accepting of my problem, although I catch him staring at my chin while we are inthe car sometime> i hate that!
1. I was once diagnosed with PCOS.
2. I have had regular periods for the last 3-4 years.
3. I have also had EXTREME EXTREME EXTREME facial hair for the last 4-5 years. I'm talking... I'm a peanut butter colored African American, and my facial hair is JET BLACK... HELLO! Can you say problems! I used to wax, but now I just shave using those little tiny shavers that are supposed to be used for eyebrow clean up.
4. I actually have a 3 year old daughter and am about 4 months pregnant now. I have been pregnant 3 times, in the last 5 years.
5. I even have acanthosis nigricans...which goes hand in hand with PCOS and it is horrible and ugly and just...a nightmare. It is between my cleavage, which ruins my chances of ever wearing sexy clothing up top (Grrrrr), underarms, on my cheeks, and neck. *Yeah, life kinda sucks sometime, huh*
6. Of course my testoserone levels are HIGH as heck.
7. My mother is freaking out because she thinks my shaving is going to RUIN my skin by the time I am 35 (I am 28).
So... how is this possible?!?! That I am able to get pregnant and carry a child to term, but yet I grow facial hair like crazy with CRAZY amounts of testosterone? Maybe I should just thank God and not even question it. Thank God for my DH who is accepting of my problem, although I catch him staring at my chin while we are inthe car sometime> i hate that!
No, you're not the only one. I've also been able to get pregnant very easily and repeatedly. Yet
* my periods have never been regular or anything like as frequent as most women's
* as a teenager I was so masculine-looking I would have been taken for a boy if I hadn't worn my hair long and worn skirts
* I have moustache and beard growth of male proportions other than on the sides of my face where it's somewhat lighter. I shave at least once every day.
* Other than when I've been pregnant or "breast" feeding, I don't have breasts. No chance of showing a cleavage because I don't have the breasts to make one.
I think we've just got to realize that PCOS affects different people in different ways.
As far as your DH staring at your chin in the car, I personally wouldn't worry about it. My DH will nuzzle my chin in the morning before I shave. He actually enjoys the fact that he's got a wife who's different. He loves the fact that I've got very high testosterone levels because it makes me keener for a physical relationship. My lack of breasts has never upset him either -- he simply focuses his attention on my nipples instead.
Incidentally, I could never get by with one of these eyebrow trimmers -- I use a proper men's-type electric razor because the growth on my moustache and chin really is as tough as a man's beard growth.
So... how is this possible?!?! That I am able to get pregnant and carry a child to term, but yet I grow facial hair like crazy with CRAZY amounts of testosterone?
PCOS doesn't mean you can't get pregnant and carry a child to term. While some have difficulty, others, like you, have no problems with it.
Re: Hair
Once you're done breastfeeding, and not ttc, you can talk to your doctor about various anti-androgen Rx's, or consider laser treatments to get rid of the hair you have. Fortunately prices have dropped considerably, so it's much more affordable than it is now. Even one or two treatments can make a WORLD of difference. Many af-am cysters are treated with Gentle-yag laser, and it works great.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Oh cool! Thanks for the information! I will def. look into it. I was always hesitant because I heard it does not have as good of an outcome on Af Am. Women (Because of the color of hair/color of skin) but I will ask about the Gentle Yag system. I was watching Tyra and saw a young lady whose face was so burnt by laser treatment.... so sad. Just added more fear within me. ..
JoyBlack - your DH sounds awesome. I'm completely jealous. I think mine is still trying to come to terms with it all...as am I. It was not this bad when we got together. But during pregnancy, it always gets worse. Terribly worse.
Oh cool! Thanks for the information! I will def. look into it. I was always hesitant because I heard it does not have as good of an outcome on Af Am. Women (Because of the color of hair/color of skin) .
Plenty of 'sister' cysters here at SC have had it with great success. Back in the day, laser wasn't for everyone, but now, I don't think the same concerns exist in the hands of a skilled technician.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I have excess hair problems that are pretty bad too and I had not problems conceiving! It wasn't but i'm pretty sure if i tried to get pregnant i'd manage it fine as my AF is very regular!! It was irregular in my teens when my hormones went whacky first. I was about 15 when acne started to get pretty bad and facial hair appeared! My periods would always arirve but were anything from 28 - 45 days but last few years they are always 28 - 32 days.
The excess hair drives me potty too. I'm not comfortable going on meds for it as i'm sensitive to meds and seem to get every possible side effect plus from talking to others and reading here ; meds don't seem like any easy fix. I am doing alternative things in hope to help the PCOS overall and my health in general.
I have talked abou tlaser here and was going to start it lately but am waiting till the autumn so that my skin isn't tanned. I tan easily and I dont' like wearing strong SPF on my skin the whole time and even if i did i tan so easily it would be impossible to avoid a tan totally. So the plan is to go get laser in the autumn. I'm starting with my chin area which drives me mental!! I pluck daily and it takes a good hour! Sounds madness i bet but i have tried shaving and it isn't for me....and it makes the removal of excess hair far too obvious. I am hoping to get rid of as much facial hair as possible as it would make a huge difference to my life! I'm currently trying to balance hormones with alternatives means so that at least when I get the laser it will increase it's chances of hair staying away as much as possible.
The excress hair has had an awful effect on my self confidence the last few years. I will probably be very nervous getting the laser done as i've never let anyone(including my fiance!!!) see me fully without makeup!!! I find it the most disgusting thing ever and just know others do too- i've got enough remarks over the years to stint my self confidence so it's affected me alot. I know I shouldnt leave it affect me but bloody society can be cruel!!
Anyway that's my story best of luck to you!!
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DX with PCOS May '06. Suspect I have it since '94. I also have DX's of Multiple Sclerosis, Depression, Anxiety, & IBS.
SX- Excess facial and body hair is my biggest problem. Also weight maintenance. My BMI is currently 28.4 and i'm working on that. I am also prone to moods and depression!! No AF problems!
Current Treatments: Low GI Diet , multivitamin, Vit D3, Probiotics, Fish Oil, chromium, exercise, psychotherapy. !
I just wish there was some magical, medical, pill that could just RID my body of the excess testosterone! I guess after I finish having my baby and breastfeeding, I will go back on Spiraldactone. I have never used it long enough to see if there was a good outcome. I always get pregnant while taking it LOL
Ummm... am I the only one??? 
