Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Community

I appoligize I didnt make a part clear. the part about "At this point, you shouldnt really worry about the fertility part, but the future self health part of PCOS."

I was refering to those that are worrying about their future children. Those that wish to try now, of course should continue with trying.

Very good info, Vicki, for the young and those of us young at heart!

hannah- we're looking into adoption, would you mind telling me the story about getting Gabriel? you can email me at fiannakyn (at) gmail (dot) com. or find me on FB as Victoria Vicky Wiggs

oh and if anyone has any questions - you can all always reach me at the above email and FB. I may not have all the answers, but I have a simpathetic and understanding ear

Sure...it may be a couple days but I'll get it to you!

Hi Vicky,

I just want to remind community members that the WebMD community boards are public and searchable so please be cautious when sharing personal information online.

- Annie

Thank you so very much for posting this fiannakyn, I was recently diagnosed with PCOS, and will be 20 years old in march. I myself started my cycle when I was 12, my mother started hers at age 9 (she also has type 2 diabetes, will that heighten my chances of getting it even more?) For the first couple of years my cycle was pretty decently regular, once or twice it would skip. To regulate it I started a birth control, which I found out I was allergic too, we tried searching and searching for one I was able to take just fine but I'v had no luck. Only recently has my cycle been so irregular that it would skip for 6 months, start again for a couple and then leave for a year. iv gone to all kinds of doctors to figure out why my body is acting this way. Finally my doctor helped me figure out that I have PCOS, the irregular periods, the acne (iv always had a clear complexion until recently) the darker, thicker more noticeable body hair (luckily no facial hair as of yet) weight gain (and the struggle to lose the weight) were all symptoms of PCOS. I had no clue that it could happen to me, no offence but I thought it only happens to older women. Right now I am only 20 years old, definitely not ready to have children yet, but I found out that my ability to conceive children will be hard as well. But we will cross that bridge when I get there.

Hey Alyssa! I just wanted to say that I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17/18. I never had a cycle on my own ever without it being induced with either bcp or provera. Has your doctor talked to you at all about metformin? I am pretty sure that PCOS puts you at a higher risk for diabetes anyway and then on top of that i do know your at an even higher risk if you have family history. Even if you aren't insulin resistant now its not a bad idea to at the least talk with your doctor about it. The more and the better you understand PCOS and your body the easier managing the symptoms will be. Read as much as you can ask your doctor lost of questions, they arent there to judge. Sorry if this sounds preachy, but it is definately something that I wish someone would have talked to me about when I was first going through my PCOS journey. If you ever wanna talk about anything feel free to contact me!

Thanks mabeline! right now i dont have medical insurance, but i will be getting it back in a couple of months since I started a new job. then i can talk to a doctor about my PCOS and seeing if i can start on any medications to help regulate it. so why exactly is it that PCOS puts you at a higher risk for diabetes? is it just because of the weight gain or something else as well? Ill also check about the diabetes risk factor as well. and no worries, you dont sound preachy. thanks for the advice!

What are hormones, and what happens in PCOS?Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger many different processes, including growth and energy production. Often, the job of one hormone is to signal the release of another hormone.
For reasons that are not well understood, in PCOS the hormones get out of balance. One hormone change triggers another, which changes another. For example:

• The sex hormones get out of balance. Normally, the ovaries make a tiny amount of male sex hormones (androgens ). In PCOS, they start making slightly more androgens. This may cause you to stop ovulating , get acne, and grow extra facial and body hair.
• The body may have a problem using insulin , called insulin resistance . When the body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar levels go up. Over time, this increases your chance of getting diabetes .

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The way I understand it, its in part because of the weight, but in some cases women with PCOS can be insulin resistant. Thats the thing about PCOS its so different for everyone there are different degrees of it and some people have some symptoms and not others. I think thats what makes it so hard for doctors to know whats going to work, because it is different for everyone. I think that is why its so important to know your own body and ready as much as you can about PCOS. I also recomend keeping track yourself of all test reslutsand different medications, doses and days taken. You may find you have to change doctors to get the kind of care you feel like you deserve.I have had 4 different doctors and 2 different REs and sometimes the information just gets lost in the shuffle. Even if you dont change doctors you got to figure a typical doctor sees tons of people so for them to remember exactly what they said to you is almost impossible. I always take paper and pen with me to my visits. Sometimes I dont need it, but if I get any results or I feel there is anything that is important I write it down so I have record and I can remember.

So aside from the Metformin there is also this drug called Glumetza. From what I understand Metfromin is taken more frequently (a few times a day) and the Glumetza is pretty much the same thing except it is timed release so you take less of it a day (once). I know they both have some pretty major side effect, but they usually subside over time.

Ive always had many questions and concerns about PCOS when I read what you wrote, it truly sounded as if I wrote it myself. Thank you so much for the information and for understanding this frustrating situation.

thanks!
but i actually was put on metphormin a while back early from 14-16 then i got off, it gave me permanent gastro problems. My stomach is never the same, its very irritable. That's why I'm scared to go back on it, it seems like its helped you all, has anyone been on and left it? and is trying to get back at it?

@Vicky: how do you deal with the emotional trauma? your life with PCOC up until 20 is just like mine, so im wondering how did you deal with the emotional issues if u had any?