I am 22 years old, and while not having been fully diagnosed with PCOS yet, it looks like it is the most likely diagnosis in my case. I have had amenorrhoea for the last 7 months and am due for an ultrasound shortly. I am not obese, do not have acne, and do not have excess hair growth, although I have been checking the mirror daily and really think the hair on my head is getting thinner by the day. I just wanted to ask if anybody else has a similar story? Should I expect my body to undergo all of these changes (weight gain etc..) if I do have PCOS? Or is it possible to retain your usual body?! Also, to what extent can women with PCOS lose the hair on their head?? Am quite scared...
Thanks!!
PS: This website is fantastic, I'm sure it provides a lot of much needed support to women with a condition that is so common yet not so commonly discussed...
First, assume nothing until you are completely diagnosed. I'm sorry to hear that you are having hair loss problems. There are many different levels to PCOS. While they are checking you for PCOS, you may want to have them check you for hypothyroidism, it also contributes to hair loss. You may want to check out the hair loss thread, but first get yourself tested, there is help for the hair loss.
Like fightin back said I wouldn't worry until you get the dx...
Also- if you do have PCOS your symptoms may not be like other cysters. I am overweight, have no periods and cysts but I do not have any acne, hair growth or hair loss..every woman is different!
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If you are not a very hairy family - you may not get facial hair at all. The best indicator are - look at men in your family, brothers, dad, uncles, grandfather.. if they have little or no facial hair (like some asians) you may not ever get any facial hair.
The same with hairloss - that is in your genes. If dad, brother, uncle, grandfather have male pattern hairloss, unfortunately you may get hair loss as having PCOS increases your free testosterone. If you follices are not sensitive you wont' get the hairloss if they are (this you inherit genetically) you will.
Just like some men never lose any scalp hair and they have the same amount of testosterone than men who lose hair. - its just about whether you scalp hair follicles are "sensitive" to free testosterone (DHT) to be exact.
The weight gain thing - a lot of PCOS sufferers are overweight or obese. You are more likely to stay slim if you exercise more than average, eat low GI and go on metformin.
I didn't start having weight problems to early 30's really but when I exercised I was ok. I started to have a lifestyle where I wasn't exercising enough and didn't know about Low GI and low carb so was eating those.
Now I know that I must exercise, eat low GI and take metformin weight can be managed. For some girls who have only a little of insulin resistance don't have big problem with weight as there are lots of slim girls on Soul cysters although a lot of them do work out a lot so they are more likely to put on weight when they stop this than the non PCOS girls.
Each person is different so the symptoms vary with every person. It took them 2 years of searching to diagnose me with PCOS because my hormone lvls were NORMAL! But I had no period for 4 years and I had the beginning of hair growth.
The hair doesn't necessarily always grow in the beginning and its not necessarily due to testosterone levels being elevated. My hormones are normal and I have the hair growth. For me it started out on my stomach and breasts. I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't been looking for it.
Don't freak about the hair issue whether its hair gain or loss because there are things out there that can and DO help with those issues.
PCOS is different in every person and some experience all the symptoms and others have none of the symptoms. The weight gain issue can be a problem, but it all depends on the Insulin Resistance that you have with your PCOS.
With some careful eating and balanced exercise it can be kept at bay.
Hi there. Not sure if this will help, but for me, missing my period was the first big symptom. It was after I'd been missing it for a couple months that I noticed a little more acne & hair than "normal" and its only in the last year that I've seen the weight gain & loss of hair first hand.
Hi Spark!
I have a similar story. Diagnosed with PCOS last year I kept waiting to spot chin hair! But I don't exhibit many of the symptoms - normal every once in a while acne, no facial hair and I'm of normal weight. The tell-tale sign for me was that my blood tests showed inverted FSH to LH hormones and an ultrasound revealed bubbly little cysts in my ovaries. and of course my periods were very irregular.
Metformin has been a blessing for me and has at least regulated my cycles. There are a lot of options out there and just because you have a diagnosis doesn't mean you have to expect your body to change overnight. I've realized everyone is very different when it comes to PCOS!
What to expect?? 
