Polycystic ovaries

[estrellafugaz85.livejournal.com]

Hi guys,

I just had a pelvic ultrasound and it's confirmed my ovaries are polycystic. I had been led to believe that this is common and that PCO was not necessarily PCOS but the doctor today seemed to be saying I did have PCOS. My cycle is regular and she saw from the ultrasound that I will ovulate soon which is surely a positive thing. I had acne for a long time, since I was 10 and am quite hairy but not abnormally so. The doctor today said that it's more likely my Italian genes than the PCOS, as many women who have it are extremely hairy, have a hairy chest, full beard etc and I don't have that. So overall I'm not the typical PCOS patient. I went to the hospital a few weeks back and got my fasting glucose checked, that was totally normal and all the other tests I had were also normal.So no insulin resistance. I asked about fertility and was told there was no reason I shouldn't get pregnant just like any other woman, that if my periods became irregular, I should go back to the doctor but right now, everything looks good.

What do I do now? Just accept that there's nothing more I can do? Is it important to follow a low GI diet even if I'm not IR? What about birth control? I was on Cerazette which stopped my periods completely but I'm afraid to go back on it in case it messes up my ovaries even more...

Comments

[edge-ofthe-sea.livejournal.com]

I have PCOS...and I don't have extreme hairiness (full beard, etc), though I am more hairy than most of my friends. You don't have to have all the symptoms of PCOS to have PCOS, though I'm wondering what else your doctor is basing the diagnosis on, since women can have PCO without PCOS.

HBC is actually one of the main treatments of PCOS, unless you're trying to get preggers (then they usually put you on Metformin), as those with PCOS are likely to have a hormone imbalance/irregularity and HBC helps even that out. For instance, my T level is in the "normal" range, but on the high end (likely why I'm hairy, have bad cystic acne, etc) and the ratio of my LH and FSH is more than 1:1 (LH and FSH are hormones that fluctuate and that fluctuation tells the body when to ovulate and when to have your period). Following a low GI diet (and/or being on Metformin), along with exercise, is important, as it seems that those with PCOS are more likely to develop diabetes/insulin resistance. If your BMI is over 25, they generally want you to lose weight, as that can help as well.

[estrellafugaz85.livejournal.com]

They're basing it on the polycystic ovaries along with the long term acne and somewhat hairiness. I also do have weight on my stomach but it's far from 'truncal obesity' - still, I don't gain wait in my breasts or my thighs or anywhere I want it, it goes straight to my middle which is weird. I guess none of this things alone made them think PCOS, but together with the polycystic ovaries, it looks much more likely.

[edge-ofthe-sea.livejournal.com]

Just double checking, since you said your doctor thought you were hairy b/c of your Italian genes.

You asked the other commenter this, but I'm going to respond - the hormone level tests are not definitive. Hormone levels can be suggestive, but are not diagnostic. History taking (mostly menstrual patterns, obesity, and hairiness) can be very accurate (70-something percent?). Not all women who have PCOS have PCO and you don't have to be insulin resistant to have PCOS - these are generally indicators (though PCO is a diagnostic symptom or whatever...but PCO's don't always show up on scans, you might not have PCO's when you get the scan, etc.).

You should also get your thyroid checked, if you haven't recently, as that can cause some symptoms that look like PCOS.

[estrellafugaz85.livejournal.com]

That's what my doctor said about the hormone tests and that was the reasons she gave for not doing them. PCOS has always been ruled out in the past, as doctors thought I wasn't hairy, spotty etc *enough* to suggest PCOS, but combined with the polycystic ovaries, but I guess combined with the ovaries, it's looking quite likely now. I got my thyroid checked a few weeks back and that was fine.

[bernthewitch.livejournal.com]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in the UK with no polycystic ovaries, no insulin resistance and only slight acne when I was on my period. The only symptoms that seemed to indicate I had PCOS was "truncal obesity" and irregular periods between the ages of 10 and 16 (at which time I started the contraceptive pill).

When I got to South Africa, I saw another doctor who completely rubbished the PCOS claim - I most certainly do not have it. Two of the main pointers (PCO and IR) are not there. The irregular periods are something that I am still looking in to, but are probably related to my weight, diet, and stress levels throughout my life.

Make sure you get a second opinion, is my point. A LOT of women in the UK in the town where I lived suddenly had "PCOS" without having any of the symptoms. As in, pretty much all my female friends who went to see that surgery ended up being diagnosed with PCOS...

[estrellafugaz85.livejournal.com]

Well, I definitely do have polycystic ovaries so along with the acne and other mildish symptoms, makes it seem fairly likely. I'm still a bit confused but I gather that hormone leveltests are quite a sure way to know if I have it or not?

[grace-is-gone.livejournal.com]

Yes. Your OB/GYN should order cycle day 3 labs to determine your LH, FSH, testosterone, and e2 levels. (I think that's all... they ordered a ton more on me because we're ttc.) As a pp mentioned, the LH:FSH ratio is usually wonky in someone who's got PCOS. Because PCOS is a syndrome, it's possible to have it without all of the markers... but the bloodwork is a good indicator. Also, you say that you're not IR. Did you have an oral glucose tolerance test? We didn't think I was IR either, until my OGTT. Now we've realized that I am, and have been put on Metformin.

[estrellafugaz85.livejournal.com]

Nope, I had a fasting glucose done. Is that not reliable? I asked and I was told they'd only do the oral glucose one if the other one came back abnormal/high. I think.