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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

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goodtoknow says: As many as 1 in 10 women have polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS. It causes small cysts in your ovaries that can stop your periods. You may become overweight with it and produce a lot of the male hormone, testosterone triggering facial hair growth, acne and thinning hair. But symptoms vary. It's not really known why you get PCOS but raised levels of insulin and low levels of the hormone lutein could cause it. It runs in families too. A blood test and ultrasound scan can confirm if you have PCOS and medication can control your symptoms.

For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of polycystic ovary syndrome from patient.co.uk, PCOS, read on.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common. It can cause period problems, reduced fertility, excess hair growth, and acne. Many women with PCOS are also overweight. Treatment includes weight loss (if you are overweight), and lifestyle changes in addition to treating the individual symptoms.

Understanding ovaries and ovulation >

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All pages in this article

1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
2. Understanding ovaries and ovulation
3. What is PCOS?
4. What causes PCOS?
5. What are the symptoms and problems of PCOS?

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Tasneem Vallie

1:41 PM on 3 October, 2009

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hi, im tasneem and i have been suffering from this disease for about 15 yrs but was only diagnosed 3 yrs ago after i had my son. It is true that it affects fertility, causes weight gain, terrible mood swings, facial hair, depression, cloudy thinking, back ache etc, etc all of which i have suffered from. I refused to believe that i was going to live like this forever and went to every related medical specialist with no help except the advice that i have to to loose weight. Now anyone with pcos knows that loosing weight is virtualy impossible. But why? In a nut shell your body cannot convert stored energy (fat) into useful energy and with the extreme sugar highs and lows all the body wants to do is store. As you become oldere you muscle mass will decrease and you fat mass will increase faster than someone without pcos. Why? As a pcos sufferer you have a diminished progesterone (hormone) level. Progesterone is produced in the corpus luetium (whomb lining responsible for period and or after birth). Now if you're not getting a period you have no progesterone in your system. The only safe way to get progesterone in your body is by applying it to the skin and allowing it to absorb. Now there are many creams available but the only ones you really should be using is a natural cream with no petro chemical ingredients or preservatives in it. I have been using the cream for the past 5 months. In the first month i noticed that my ankles where not as swollen but when i got my period, it was the worse one ever. I am told that that is consequence of the body reaching homeostasis. Subsequently i have had my period every month that resembles a cycle and i can actually count out my cycle which i could never do before. My pms has disappeared: ie no sugar/chocolate cravings, not a single acne spot infact my skin is glowing with health and the mood swings have lifted. Admittedly i still have facial hair and i am still overweight. However i was told that this takes alot longer to regulate that your period, so i still use the cream. I must admit that i have started gyming again and have started to loose weight - slowly. I live in S.A. And the cream that i use is called naturone. For interest sake please google oestrogen dominance and check how this can wreak havoc with your system.

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Courtney Pitts

10:36 AM on 11 June, 2009

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Hi, I'm Courtney. I am in my early teens and ive only had my period for nealy 2 years. I went to my gp yesturday, and i got told i have a possible PCOS. My mother tells me its not too bad, but im worried about the fertility side. I've always had the dream of being a mother. My periods were fine up until January and then they went down hill from there. I got my last period in April, and i got it really bad. I normally get them every month until April. Ive been anxious and observant, waiting for my periods. I'm getting really worried now. I'll mention that I have lost 6 kilos just after January. My mother had PCOS and then a historectamy. I hope Someone can help me. I've been worrying about my periods for awhile. Cheers, Courtney.

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Louise Riley

11:25 AM on 13 May, 2009

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My sister was diagnosed with pcos after not starting her periods, I am 24 now and have just been told I have pcos too, but I had a daughter when I was 17 and a son at 19....my periods became less and less frequent over the 5 years after I had my son and now don't have them for up to 8 months at a time. I am very overweight and have been struggling for years to lose weight but haven't got very far, the doctor told me all i need to do is lose weight, I thought most people (including my sister) are given some sort of medication to help, including moeformin or the pill....I don't understand why she woiuldn't give me anything, including no help to lose weight, i feel very downheartened from my docs visit!!

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liz

1:22 PM on 18 May, 2008

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Hi Lisa. I fully understand that you are anxious about being diagonosed with polysystic syndrome. There is honestly nothing to worry about. No extreme tests. As you are still young you should try to get it sorted out as you may have problems in conceiving later in life. if you are able to nip it in the bud now so to speak then you will be fully prepared. I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my late 20's now 42. My husband and I sat down and worked it out I probably had this since I was 13 years old when I started my periods or lack of them. I so wish it was more understandeable then as it is today. I was very sporty and still go to the gym and lead a very active life having 2 children to look after plus a menagerie of animals, husband, yet I am classed as very over weight. I have had tremendous problems to lose the weight. Lack of will power doesn't help. I also have just read that pcos sufferers also suffer depression which is something I am prone to as well. I am also in the process of watching my daughters in case they should have the same problems as me with weight. My eldest daughter is 13 years old is very very sporty but even she has a lot of muscle which could potentially turn to fat should she stop the sport. I wouldn't hesitate for my girls to have a test early to diagnose if they have it. As it will make their lives much easier in the long run as I wouldn't want them to be restricted in doing what they want in life due to being over weight. Or even the potential health implications or potential fertility problems. Lisa I would recomment you definitely go to the GP and get it diagnosed sooner that later. I promise it is so straight forward. Good luck Liz

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Lisa

8:08 PM on 20 April, 2008

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Hi, Im 17 and feel rele embarassed about this whole PCOS thing. I reckon I have it as I fit the symptoms Im embarased about going to the doc's about it, and some way a tad scared What are the tests that are done to determine whether we have this?? And also, I've been consistently overweight, something that is so annoying, But I've been dieting and have had some results... Is it just harder for us (PCOS Sufferers) to loose the weight or impossible?? Love a response as this is something that is kinda upsetting me the more i think abou it, and i try to put it at the back of my mind. None of my family or friends know of this, and I dont know how to approach the whole situation!! FRUSTRATED! Lx

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ROSELYNN OWEN

6:37 PM on 15 April, 2008

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hello my name is roz.i have had pcos for a very long time now and the doctors just keep telling me to lose weight and that will help and i have not had any periods for years now andi get back pain and leg pains like you get when you are going to have one but i do not have one and feeling really bad because everyone around you is having a baby and you can not have one yet.do not let the doctors tell you the problem is your weight or any thing else because they will keep telling you that.which they are doing to me.push as hard as you can for what you want and you will get there.from roz

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Kala

2:53 AM on 14 March, 2008

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Okay im 17 and I just got diagnosed with PCOS two days ago. I am on Medforbin and birth control to help my periods along. I have to watch what I eat and excise alot. And my doctor did tell me that if I didn't lose wight I would not be able to have kids further in life. And I really want to have one later on. is there anything that I could do to help me over come this? Does anybody have any answers for me? thank you very much

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SUZANNE

10:43 PM on 9 February, 2008

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I found out I have PCOS last year after the hospital investigated pain that I was having in my stomach area etc. They believe looking back over my history I probably have had it since the age of 15/16. Whilst sat in the doctors office they told me it was very unlikely that I could go on to have children... the doctor was astonished when she looked at my notes again to find that I had a son of 2 years old. All of you out there don't give up hope it can happen.

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Toni

4:55 PM on 5 January, 2008

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Im 24 yrs old i was diagnosed at 19 with pcos and was told i wouldn't be able to have children when in fact a couple of months later i found out i was 7 weeks preganat and now i have a healthy 4 yr old, then after having him i had to have some tests done and the pcos had gone with much delight i was happy to think it had gone. Two years ago we thought we would try for another baby then i started to get irregular periods back so i went to the doctors who run tests and found i have a much worse case of pcos then i did before so now im under fertility treatment who have told me i could have tablets to help to concieve only to found when we went back that im going to need IVF sometimes life can be so wicked

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nadeane

12:29 AM on 3 January, 2008

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Hi im nadeane im 26 and have been diognosed with pcos 12 months ago after a lot of wrong diognosing, the doctor has put me on metofurmin so i have been on those tablets for three months now i sometimes get tummy pain but cant realy feel any difference, im trying to have a baby and i have two months left on these tablets befor i go to see the specialist at hospital im not too sure what happens then, the young ladies on here try not to worry too much i know its hard but there are creams and potions to help with the excessive hair and i have friends who have hair growth beleive me its not just us ladies with pcos.

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