Just diagnosed with PCOS. Please help!

[Pooley]

Hi all,

Just been diagnosed with PCOS. This is the story so far. I'm after guidance as to what to do next.I was having a check up on a cyst that I had on an ovary when the ultrasound came back that I have PCO.

When the U.S tech said that my original cyst seemed to have resolved itself I was relieved. But the doc called me to see me about the multiple small cysts that were found on both my ovaries and told me PCOS.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not challenging the docs diagnosis but I am really confused about it. I recently had my Implanon taken out in June to ttc and have not had a period yet. I was regular when i used BCP's at about 19 until I decided on the Implanon. I wasn't concerned about missing periods because I knew that this was a possible side affect of the implant.

When I got my first one out, I decided to give my body a break and I got a period in the first month. Wasn't ttc then so I went back on Implanon and hence no AF again. Now the doctor is relating this symptom to PCOS yet the only other symptoms I have is the hormone imbalance and the cysts. I am not overweight and don't have facial hair etc so I was hoping that the implant was the reason for no AF yet.

So, dilusioned as I am, before the diagnosis I assumed my body was still recovering from 4 1/2 years of the Implant hormones and that my cycle would start in the first month or 2, but no.

The doc told me that he won't be concerned until after 12 months of trying, and I get that, but because I haven't had my first cycle and have no idea when it's coming, I'm not sure what I should be doing? I feel like I need to be doing something!

If PCOS stops you from ovulating regularly and getting AF, how am I suppose to chart/ keep track of anything that is happening in my body if I'm constantly waiting for my first AF to arrive?

We can just try and DTD every day and cross our fingers but then it seems like we're wasting our time?

I have read so many conflicting arguments about whether Implanon interrupts the functioning of your fertilty clock. I would hate to think my choice of contraception has messed up my body.

Please help, I'm extremely stressed atm and not sure what the next step is.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Big hugs for you

I was told that Implanon can affect your cycle for up to 12 months after removal. And just because you have PCOS, doesn't mean you'll have trouble with your periods. For me, I can't chart my cycle, because I only get periods 3 or 4 times a year.

There's a lot of great websites with info on PCOS, one of the best organisations is the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia (POSAA). I don't think I'm supposed to post links, but if you check them out you can get all you answers!

[[M]umma[M]ia]

hugs! dont worry hun PCOS isnt the end of the world and atleast u have a name for something that is happening to u atm. I agree.. implanon can stuff ur cycles for a while.

btw, i too have PCOS and am pregnant with my first child... never say never!

good luck sweety xxo

[Pooley]

Congratulations, I hope you weren't trying for too long!

I know it's not the end of the world but I just feel like I should be doing something apart from DTD every day and waiting for things to happen.

Did you concieve naturally or did you need medication?

[Pooley]

Big hugs for you

I was told that Implanon can affect your cycle for up to 12 months after removal. And just because you have PCOS, doesn't mean you'll have trouble with your periods. For me, I can't chart my cycle, because I only get periods 3 or 4 times a year.

There's a lot of great websites with info on PCOS, one of the best organisations is the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia (POSAA). I don't think I'm supposed to post links, but if you check them out you can get all you answers!

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, so if you can't chart your cycles, how are you actively helping yourself ttc? Are you doing something else? Temp or monitoring CM?

[[M]umma[M]ia]

yep i needed medication. Tried Metformin but did nothing for me. then my OB gave me a drug to bring on my period and clean everything out in there and then i started on Clomid. I fell pregnant my first cycle on clomid

[Hansie]

I too have PCOS but mine comes with all the extras pimples, weight gain from looking at a slice bread, insulin resistant and I am pretty sure I have the thicker hair except I am fair so one thing in my favour . I had my first child back in December and I concieved him naturally.

PCO/S symptoms are different for everyone. The one piece of advice that I was given that always sticks in my mind is that doing excercise can lower insulin levels by 20% which in turn gives your ovaries the environment they need to release the egg. I am not sure if this advice will help/apply to you but I found that walking to work and back (5kms there and back) made a huge difference to me I didn't loose any weight but my cycles became regular or as regular as they can be with PCOS say 3 in a row and then none for a month.

Since getting my cycles back after having DS (last 2mths) I can say they have been clock work back to being 35day cycles. Just to back track slightly I started taking the pill at 18 and came off it at 21 and my cycles didn't return I was diagnosed on NYE with PCOS. Don't be disheartened I know it feels like you have a mountain to climb and don't feel you have the tools to do it, but it is about finding out what works for your body. I am again on this mountain after gaining the standard 15kgs with DS I only lost 5kgs after he was born and 9mths later still trying to loose the 10kgs

to you.

Sorry for the long post. I hope some of it helps you.
Hansie

[Pooley]

I too have PCOS but mine comes with all the extras pimples, weight gain from looking at a slice bread, insulin resistant and I am pretty sure I have the thicker hair except I am fair so one thing in my favour . I had my first child back in December and I concieved him naturally.

PCO/S symptoms are different for everyone. The one piece of advice that I was given that always sticks in my mind is that doing excercise can lower insulin levels by 20% which in turn gives your ovaries the environment they need to release the egg. I am not sure if this advice will help/apply to you but I found that walking to work and back (5kms there and back) made a huge difference to me I didn't loose any weight but my cycles became regular or as regular as they can be with PCOS say 3 in a row and then none for a month.

Since getting my cycles back after having DS (last 2mths) I can say they have been clock work back to being 35day cycles. Just to back track slightly I started taking the pill at 18 and came off it at 21 and my cycles didn't return I was diagnosed on NYE with PCOS. Don't be disheartened I know it feels like you have a mountain to climb and don't feel you have the tools to do it, but it is about finding out what works for your body. I am again on this mountain after gaining the standard 15kgs with DS I only lost 5kgs after he was born and 9mths later still trying to loose the 10kgs

to you.

Sorry for the long post. I hope some of it helps you.
Hansie

Thanks for the info, my blood sugar came back normal, I don't have high blood pressure so I'm not sure the excercise thing would relate to me. I am active and go to the gym 3 times a week and have just trimmed down a couple of kilos since '06 but that was just for my sake.

I think that I am still under the impression that the Implanon has screwed up my cycles and it's gonna be awhile til I even get my first AF.

It really starts to f*%k with my head, the longer I go without having one, I start telling myself I may be pregnant already, and I know that's ridiculous!

I have been getting dull pains in my abdomen on both sides but the doc said that this is not related at all. I'm hoping this is my body trying to get things moving again.

Thanks for everyone's feedback, I think my hubby's going crazy listening to me talk about this stuff.

[mummy of many]

Pooley,no words of wisdom from me but just hang in there and try not to stress to much,things will work out for you soon hun,good luck to you heres a big cheers.

[Aphrael]

It sucks hey!

My sister and I both have PCOS. She conceived her 2 girls naturally (found out she was pg 4 months into her preg lol) and has a beautiful figure! The main thing was she wasn't having ANY AF's, so she thought she couldn't get pg HA!

I, on the other hand, have weight issue's and for a while there I couldn't fall pg (I did manage to fall pg naturally twice but I lost the babies). I fell pg with my 2 DD's with the help of Metformin and with this current bun in the oven I fell pg naturally after losing 30kg's.

I hope that all makes sense lol but PCOS really does affect everyone differently.

Are you temping at all? Might be a good idea even tho you haven't had an AF yet, might give you an idea of what your temps are like.

Cheers,

Beck

[Razzberry]

Hi Pooley,
I got diagnosed with pcos end on July 08. My gyn is starting my on clomid (ovulating inducing drug) to try and get things happening! He said I have a very good chance of it working as Im only 25 and ok weight. We have only been ttc since april 08 but because I also had endo removed in 07 my doc and the gyn were quick to act! It wouldnt hurt to ask your doc for a referral to a gyn to discuss clomid or some other treatment as if your not ovulating (like me) then not a lot can hapen no matter how hard you try! believe me, weve tried hard!
Good luck, Ill be thinking bout you!

[*Twinkle*]

I have pcos and have 2 beautiful daughters thanks to clomid. I would suggest that you ask for a blood test to find out whether or not you are ovulating, cause if your not theres no point ttc without help.

Goodluck hun.

[Pooley]

Thanks guys for all your feedback, it's slowly making me less obsessed about ttc and less panicky about rushing the process, specially since most of you are PCOS success stories.

I'm kinda surprised at how PCOS has such different affects on different people.

Aphrael, I haven't started temping at all yet was going to try and give it ago, but as Twinkle said if I'm not ovulating then it wouldn't be telling me much, would it? Plus, did your family have a history of PCOS? No one in my fam has it and was just curious.

Erybery - thanks for the advice about seeing a gyno. If not to ask about medication then at least to explain to me properly what is happening to my body. I would love to conceive naturally and I'm really trying not to think so negatively about everything especially with the no AF and everything.

Twinkle- Thank you for giving me hope because atm all I see is that my body is a failure and that this is my fault somehow. Congratulations on your beautiful daughters. How many cycles on Clomid before concieving?
What would they be looking for in the blood test? LH or FSH levels or is there another indicator of ovulation?

[mollycat]

Hi,

Just thought I would add my bit.

I conceived naturally with DS1 back in 1991. When he was 15mo, we decided to ttc #2. Little did I know what was ahead, after many tests, three years and clomid I finally fell pg. I never went back on the pill (which I had been on before DS1) and decided seeing as though DS2 was so hard to get we would try straight away for #3. After more ops, clomid, etc, we decided to take a break. I then heard about PCOS and thought "that's me", went to my GP and asked him about it - his reply "you're just overweight". I've never seen him since, I went to another GP in the same office a couple of years ago because we wanted to ttc again before I got too much older, he referred me to a gyno.
I walked into the gyno's office, he took one look at me and said "I think you have PCOS, I'll send you for some tests". They came back PCOS with insulin resistance, he also sent me to a dietician, gave me metformin and did a laproscopy, which came back with endo, pcos and blocked tubes. I was then sent off for a hysteroscopy - the x-ray where they pump dye through to try and remove blockages - it was so amazing watching this process - the dye just ran through the first tube so it was unblocked and a few seconds later went through the second tube. They did find a polyp at that point.
So back to the gyno for another op to remove the polyp (by this time I had lost about 10kg). Still on the metformin and clomid but didn't seem to make a difference to conceiving.
Also had the stress of almost losing my father at this time and ended up having an argument with the gyno and cancelling all appointments about ttc. Not long after this our close friend was murdered and that was unbelievable (it still is). DS1 and DS2 were like grandchildren to her so we needed to support them through that (as well as ourselves). Four weeks after her death AF was late (for the third time in my life), I had sore bb and thought I had to be pg. Turns out I was, no clomid, all that stress, talk about bad timing, it took us about two weeks to actually believe it. Sadly I m/c at 8w2d. So here I am almost twelve months later and still TTC. I've been back on metformin and the gyno also tried tamoxifen. For personal reasons we won't go the IVF path (I have nothing against it), and at the moment I am at a real loss as to where to next.

I'm back to walking (hidden agenda here - I was asked to be a bridesmaid for my brother-in-law and his fiance), but I'm hoping that if I lose a little more weight I will fall pg again (long before the wedding at the end of next year).

So yes, you can fall pg naturally, but sometimes you just need help along the way. I think I've had PCOS for a long time and can't quite believe that some other specialist along the way hadn't picked it up (I've seen many gyno's for infertility over the last 14 years).

All the best with your journey.

[*Twinkle*]

I conceived after 2 cycles with my eldest daughter and the first cycle with my second daughter. I also saw my body as a total failure. It took me quite a few months to come to terms with my diagnosis before we started on clomid.

I had b/t's to see if I was ovulating, then I had other b/t's to check my hormone levels, testosterone levels, insulin levels and thyroid levels. I had basically no pogesterone, high testosterone, ok insulin levels and borderline thyroid issues. All pointed to PCOS then I had a ultrasound to check my ovaries and I had heaps of little cysts all over them both.

[Aphrael]

Glad to hear your doing better.

Aphrael, I haven't started temping at all yet was going to try and give it ago, but as Twinkle said if I'm not ovulating then it wouldn't be telling me much, would it? Plus, did your family have a history of PCOS? No one in my fam has it and was just curious.

You haven't had an AF so you may yet O.......the about 14 days (if your luteal phase is average) then you will get AF so it might help you see what will happen to your body. Just starting it now might give you an indication of what your pre O temps are like and how accurate you are at taking your temp.......It can take a little while before you get the hang of it properly.

My sister has it, one of my cousin's may have it but isn't in the baby making stage so hasn't had it diagnosed. I also believe my Aunt may have had it but there's really no point in testing now........My Mum might also have had it considering issues I remember her having. It has been known to be hereditary and in more than one family member, lets hope my DD's dont have it.

Cheers,

Beck

[Je$$_84]

Hi there,

1 1/2 yrs after having my DS we decided to start TTC again. i stopped the taking the pill and decided to jump straight into it. After no AF 6 weeks after stopping it we thought we were lucky and had concieved already... 2 neg HPT and i was a bit worried and upset so we went for the usually bloods... Nope not preggas. oh well we thougt we'd just wait for AF... By the 3rd months still no AF... the GP said it was ok as i was on the pil for a while it may take a while. By the 4 months and more neg HPT we decided to investigate further. We did the US and found i had PCO... After bloods the GP told me that it would be unlikly i'd concieve without some help. Me being 22 was devastated at his diagnosis.

i suffer from weight problems and hair loss but GP said bloods didnt show any signs of PCOS.
My ovaries are covered in the small cysts and blood work showed i wasnt producing any progestrone which is why i dont release any egg. i was told that i would have great difficulty having another bubs without some kind of fertillity treatment. I decided to see another GP for another opinion who suggested a round of Progesterone pills
After taking the dose (which were supposed to make me have a period) one week later i had a small amount of bleeding that lasted a few hours (very minor, didnt think anything of it) we thought it hadnt worked. we were in the process of discussing options about a month later i was severly sick (throwing up) for a week and a half and doc not knowing why tested for all causes all coming up with nothing he eventually did a preg test and came up that i was preg. Shocked and surprised my DP and i were over the moon.

Not sure what ur situation is... Have you had bloods done???

[Pooley]

Hi there,

1 1/2 yrs after having my DS we decided to start TTC again. i stopped the taking the pill and decided to jump straight into it. After no AF 6 weeks after stopping it we thought we were lucky and had concieved already... 2 neg HPT and i was a bit worried and upset so we went for the usually bloods... Nope not preggas. oh well we thougt we'd just wait for AF... By the 3rd months still no AF... the GP said it was ok as i was on the pil for a while it may take a while. By the 4 months and more neg HPT we decided to investigate further. We did the US and found i had PCO... After bloods the GP told me that it would be unlikly i'd concieve without some help. Me being 22 was devastated at his diagnosis.

i suffer from weight problems and hair loss but GP said bloods didnt show any signs of PCOS.
My ovaries are covered in the small cysts and blood work showed i wasnt producing any progestrone which is why i dont release any egg. i was told that i would have great difficulty having another bubs without some kind of fertillity treatment. I decided to see another GP for another opinion who suggested a round of Progesterone pills
After taking the dose (which were supposed to make me have a period) one week later i had a small amount of bleeding that lasted a few hours (very minor, didnt think anything of it) we thought it hadnt worked. we were in the process of discussing options about a month later i was severly sick (throwing up) for a week and a half and doc not knowing why tested for all causes all coming up with nothing he eventually did a preg test and came up that i was preg. Shocked and surprised my DP and i were over the moon.

Not sure what ur situation is... Have you had bloods done???

I don't think they got as far as testing to see whether I was ovulating?
They only checked Blood sugar, FSH and LH. My FSH = 6 and my LH was 18. That's how the doctor proved the diagnosis.

Should I see another doctor/ gyno and ask them to do these tests?