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Home >> Diet Forums >> Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome

Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome

cvalh said: "Has anyone been diagnosed with this? I haven't officially, because my hormones and ultrasound didn't match up with what are required for diagnosis, but my doc suspects that this is my problem. Around my 17th birthday, I started gaining significant weight, and when I was 19, I started not having periods. I also got some (very mild) facial hair around that time (the only reason it was noticable was because i'm dark haired and light skinned). Since then, I've only had periods when on birth control (which has also managed my acne and facial hair). All of these things are indications of high androgen levels (which is basically what PCOS is, along with insulin-resistance). Diabetes runs in my family, but I've never had any signs of that. PCOS is also characterized by over-weight-ness and more difficulty than normal losing weight (and I thought I was just crazy), as well as an apple shape (of course, my mother is EXTREMELY apple shaped, and I'm less so than her, so in some ways that doesn't apply to me too much). Because breast cancer runs in my family, I'm really hesitant to continue with hormone therapy, but I also want to have periods and not have facial hair... Furthermore, PCOS is a prime cause of infertility (which I've never been tested for), but that would be kind of depressing. She says we'll talk again in March (right now, I'm not taking anything) to see if I want to try a different kind of hormone control. I guess on some level I'm hoping that, since I HAVE been able to lose 30 lbs recently, that I'll continue losing weight and get my period back. I also read that Depakote (which is the seizure med I'm on) has been linked to increased risk of PCOS..."

cvalh said: "Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I've been out of town, or I would've gotten back to y'all. I won't hear much "officially" from my doc untill March. I've continued to lose weight, and I'm hoping that will trigger a return to "normalcy" before then. If not, she and I will further discuss what to do at that point. One of my thoughts is to ask her about the connection between Valproic Acid and PCOS... It seems like if there IS a connection (and starting that med is when my initial weight gain started), then there might be a different medication for me to take for the epilepsy."

cvalh said: "Hmmm... we've read really different things, then. From everything I'VE read, it usually starts in late puberty. Those risks that are associated with it show up later in life, due to the long-term increase in androgens (except the infertility and weight gain, which can be present from the beginning)."

cvalh said: "Check out the write-up on it on Web-MD. I know that's not always the best source, but untill I can get you some more concrete articles, there's actually an abundance of info there."

cvalh said: "Lol, the symptoms you described are the ones I DON'T have - sugar cravings, diabetes, or moodswings :-P"

cvalh said: "Wellll, so here's the deal. Since I've been off the BC, my acne has come back worse than I ever had it before (like worse than before I went on the pill). I also have facial hair now. And, I still don't have a period. However, my mood has continued to improve. Over the last, I dunno, two months, I feel like I've PMS'd even though I didn't get a period. I dunno if that's good or bad (I wish I had thought to better track what the days/weeks were). March... uhm... 19? 20? Gotta double check that... Is my next doc's appointment. I'm preparing to do battle with her over the BC thing. I don't want to do hormones, but obviously it's important that we get the period thing happening again :th_thumbsdownsmiley"

spectrachic311 said: "I had a roommate who had that. The cysts on your ovaries cause your hormones to become really imbalanced. It does cause weight gain, but if you do lose weight, the disease can almost go into remission. My roommate had lost a lot of weight after being diagnosed and most of her symptoms went away fairly quickly. She still had to be on the pill to regulate her cycle, but most of her other symptoms went away. And if you are losing weight, being on the pill won't cause too much of a hormone problem for you, especially if you are on a progestin-only formula. Have you talked to your doctor about that option? As far as the infertility goes, you'd probably be ok if you use an ovulation monitoring test. Since your ovulation is sporadic, you just have to be able to know when you're ovulating and take advantage of it."

DBrew said: "My OBGYN suggested once that I may have that , but I never followed through with the tests. I have bad acne and facial hair (I manage acne with Murad products, and I wax once a week). I refuse to manage these problems with any kind of hormones, but everybody is different. As I said in another post, my mom has terminal cancer due to hormone replacement AND birth control pills and it is seriously not worth it to me. I have to eat VERY low calories to lose weight and I have to keep very careful track of my calories in maintaining, too. I did have a cyst which I was told "erupted" on my ovaries years ago, so it is highly possible I have this condition.I have just learned to deal with it as my regular life."

Cassandra said: "I have this!! I was diagnosed last year after having it since around puberty [10 years ago] and i'm on Metformin which is used to treat diabetes. It helps a lot with the sugar cravings, but only a little with the moodswings. It's supposed to help tons with weight loss too..since being on it, i've lost 15kg."

Cassandra said: "I dont have diabetes either..i had pre-diabetes though."

Diamond said: "Have you heard anything back from your doc, Cvalh?"

lakelady said: "I just want to say I'm following these posts with interest. The reason I've said nothing is because that's what I know about this subject...NOTHING."

lakelady said: "welcome back Cvalh, I want to hear how all the drama went between your two broken up buddies. I hope you didn't let it wreck your whole trip! I've been researching polycystic ovary syndrome on the 'net. Didn't your doc say anything about your age? According to nearly everything I've read, you are both too young to have a confirmed diagnosis of this AND too young to have any of the risk factors assosciated with contracting it,(i.e. a number of years on artificial hormones, the pill. as it's better known) From everything I've read HORMONE THERAPY is contraindicated. Of course, you're living through it, I just want you to make certain your doc is up on things. GOOD LUCK!"

lakelady said: "GOD! I have 2 daughters! How can I be so woefully uninformed about this! I feel really ignorant and I don't LIKE feeling really ignorant. Could you recommend some reading material for me Cvalh. I clearly can't choose my own, but I do know my way around the university library, including the medical one. I've only read stuff on the 'net up until now, and that apparently has taught me NOTHING! I'm the one that's always gotten on my soapbox with my girls that, as women, they need to keep themselves informed and up-to-date on women's health issues and just look at ME!"