I am so bummed...

TRINI_RN · Mar 26, 2009

I'm so sorry to hear that, I truly am. I also have PCOS, and I can tell you that for most women it is very manageable. Also, the fact that you found out so early on is good because now you know what the problem is and can work toward correcting it. There are many great resources available on the net. Check out soulcysters.com. Good luck to you.

Prettyladie · Mar 26, 2009

what is pcos? can somebody tell me. im sorry that you have to go through this.

Adams_Mommy_07 · Mar 26, 2009

Amazingly, this can be relavent to Nursing. Especially those going into Women's Health.

PCOS= Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, e.g. mutliple cysts growing on the ovaries. My understanding is that it results from frequent inability to ovulate. As I understand it the anterior pituitary fails to properly communicate with the ovary so LH (lutenizing hormone) is in excess so the surge prior to ovulation doesn't happen monthly and no surge=no ovulation. The follicle stays trapped in the ovary hence the cysts.

I have found the symptoms online to include overweight, infrequent or irregular periods, unwanted body hair, insulin resistance, increased androgen levels.

Funny thing is, I am 110 lbs at 5'2", and do not suffer from unwanted body hair, and my periods are regular, every month right about day 30--whether or not I am always ovulating each month I don't know, but obviously not because I actually SAW my ultrasound pictures and they are indentical to the google PCOS pictures. I'm still getting a second opinion though especially since the doctor I saw did not do bloodwork to confirm and I don't have any other symptoms. In case you're wondering, they look like a ringlet of ice cubes (or pearls) around the edge of the inside of the ovary.

Now here's a good question for us Anatomy and Physio people, what in the world would cause my Pituitary to do this?

Libra_8 · Mar 26, 2009

I have it too.... i was diagonsed when i was 16 or 17. I worry about not being able to have children also. I have a boyfriend of two years and i havent told him. I afraid to. how do you tell someone something like that? we haven't discussed having them together or anything but i know that he wants them. Am i wrong for not telling him????? OH and another down side of PCOS is weight control. an alarming percentage of us are overweight or obese. when you add my family history of hypertension and diabetes, it seams like i don't have a fighting chance....

Libra_8 · Mar 26, 2009

The pitutary gland sits in the sella turcica of the brain. Its under the brain in a little crevest. its called that because it resembles the thingie that you sit on when you ride a horse.

Libra_8 · Mar 26, 2009

Oh sorry i thought that you asked WHERE it was... Lolz, sorry! I can't answer that one yet, but at least you know where the little bugger is!

AirforceRN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I have it too.... i was diagonsed when i was 16 or 17. I worry about not being able to have children also. I have a boyfriend of two years and i havent told him. I afraid to. how do you tell someone something like that? we haven't discussed having them together or anything but i know that he wants them. Am i wrong for not telling him????? OH and another down side of PCOS is weight control. an alarming percentage of us are overweight or obese. when you add my family history of hypertension and diabetes, it seams like i don't have a fighting chance....

Please tell him. I'm not saying that you have to tell everyone you meet or that its a first date conversation...but two years is a long time. Long enough for him to start thinking about his future with you and developing wishes/dreams/goals. I don't think its fair to him (not that the disease is fair to you) to not know something like that. I've been dating my girlfriend for about the same length of time and I'd be upset if she saved this information for now.

Just my opinion

Adams_Mommy_07 · Mar 26, 2009

Well, I don't know how severe yours is and whatnot but there is no telling how long I have had this condition and I have a 19 month old who I conceived on my first try. I definitely want more children, and so I have read online that there are various "procedures" they can do for us to increase the liklihood of getting pregnant. I would tell him what I have and qualify it by saying it makes it harder to conceive children, but that many women with the condition go on to have children although they may need medical intervention to do so.

***Edit: Since PCOS does not mean you are infertile, I don't see why he would be terribly upset. The doctor told me that for most women with PCOS it takes about 6 mos-1 year of actively trying to conceive***

BellasMommyOBRN · Mar 26, 2009

i have a friend with pcos, who is the exact same age and has a 3 yr old daughter. she didnt find out she had it until she tried conceiving again. i'm not sure why this happens to a woman's body but, my friend is about ready to give birth to a boy in another month!!! :yeah: it took some time but, doctors really know how to manipulate the body, to get it to do what they want it too! :) i know it's hard to hear someone say ,"try not to worry about it", especially from someone like me but, try not to. don't let it consume you. maybe find a friend or a close relative to vent with once in awhile or, if depression develops, find a professional to talk too.

good luck!!

CBsMommy · Mar 26, 2009

I have PCOS that was diagnosed when one of the cysts burst and I had to go to the ER. It's not fun at times but I had a baby at the age of 27 taking progesterone pills and it only took about 2 months to conceive. It was no biggie. My son was born with cleft lip and palate though so I'm wondering if that had something to do with the quality of my eggs but he is smart and happy and healthy otherwise and the JOY of my life!

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 26, 2009

I went to the doctor today and the news was so depressing that I can't do anything but think about it!!!! She diagnosed me with PCOS and I am only 23 (and have no symptoms whatsoever!) Anyways, I am so bummed about it (the prospect of possibly becoming infertile is terrifying!) that I can't concentrate on homework at all, which is what I should be doing right now. Please keep me in your thoughts, as I have to wait some time for a second opinion and the whole thing will likely distract me the rest of the semester and I have quite a courseload A&P II, General Chem I, and College Algebra!!!!

if you had no symptoms, what was the cause of the exam???