ultrasound

[Jen27]

Hi
I have been experiencing midcycle bleeding (lots of spotting, 10 days, followed by AF)

My doctor has asked that I go and get an ultrasound... incase I have PCO (or pcos?) will it show up on the ultrasound? what does an ultrasound involve?
The doctor also did a blood test to check FBE (??), oestrogen, fsh (?), LH (?), serum testosterone.

I'm hoping that I don't have pcos but I do have some symptoms, heavy bleeding, acne. (also I need to 'wee' alot, I had heavy and very painful periods as a teenager, skintags etc but not sure if these 'symptoms' are related). I was on the pill for 2 yrs and came of it about 8 months ago. We have been ttc ever since (but DF works away). My periods aren't as painful these days, though I still get bad backache and aches down my legs.

[tan32]

PCOS will show up on an ultrasound depending on how bad it is, mine showed up in one ovary more then the other. The ultrasound was nothing to worry about, you lay down they place a cold gel on your belly then they use a hand held scanner and move it around on your belly to try and get a good look at your ovaries.
I have PCOS but never had heavy bleeding or painful periods or acne, i have irregular cycles, skin tags , weight problems and excessive hair growth. My testostrone levels also came back high.

I hope you get good results and they help you on your TTC journey

[Kema]

Hey Jen,

Your symptoms sound alot like mine did about 7 years ago. I don't have PCO or PCOS, but I did have a really bad case of endometriosis. The two can tend to run hand in hand, so get your doc to check for that too.

The ultrasound will probably just be as tan explained, however I would prepare yourself that all the ultrasounds I had also included an internal scan. These aren't too painful, but can feel a bit intrusive.

I also just wanted to tell you that all the ultrasounds I've had over the years have shown nothing! So dont let your doc make you feel like its all in your head, its not. And there are other things the can do, to diagnose you.

FBE?? I believe this is iron studies, if your bleeding mid cycle then your iron may be low.

Sorry, if this has freaked you out, not my intention at all, but when I was where you are I wish I had have know about things like BellyBelly because it can feel like your sometimes.

Hope all goes well.

[HotI]

Hi

My ultrasound also included an internal, and i hadn't been told beforehand that this might happen.

Drink lots of water (i think they tell you how much to drink) at the right time (an hour before?). This can help them get a better view, and you might be able to avoid the internal.

take care,

K

[briggsy's girl]

my u/s for PCOS was only the internal pelvic exam - they asked me to empty my bladder, and did the internal exam that way. it's not painful, but as the others mentioned, if can feel very intrusive.

with the blood tests, FBE is a full blood examination - so the basic count to check your normal red and white cell counts. the others are hormone studies - FSH is follicle stimulating hormone, LH is lutenising hormone - PCOS (the actual syndrome) cannot be diagnosed just by visualising the polycystic appearance of ovaries (a lot of people have PCO without having PCOS) - the syndrome is a combination of the PCO and the unbalanced hormones. make sure, if your doctor hasn't marked it down already, that you go for your BT aware of when your last AF was - hormone levels fluctuate throughout a cycle - and what may be "normal" one day of your cycle will be way out of whack on another!

you may find that, if PCOS is confirmed, you'll have additional testing. i've had a full glucose tolerance test, with insulin level testing, as a lot of people have insulin resistance with PCOS - was then placed on metformin, which, for some, is enough to help them to become pregnant by controlling the blood insulin levels.

good luck with your testin - and hope it's not PCOS for you (although sometimes having a diagnosis makes it easier to deal with long term cos you know what you're up against!)