Polycystic Ovarian Synrome (PCOS)

What is PCOS and how is it treated?

Polycystic Ovarian Synrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, otherwise known as PCOS, is a problem that affects approximately 5-10 percent of women. On each side of a woman's uterus, there are two small organs called ovaries. Both ovaries have tiny sacs with fluid that holds the eggs. These sacs are also called cysts. Every month, several eggs begin to mature and only becomes dominant. The egg grows and sac collects fluid inside of it. When the egg is matured, the sac bursts open and releases the egg. This is when ovulation occurs. However, in women with PCOS, the ovary does not make all of the hormones that the eggs need to completely mature. The eggs might begin to grow, but none of the eggs become big enough and remain as cysts. Because no egg grew large enough to be released, ovulation does not occur.

The condition affects monthly menstrual cycles, fertility, hormones, insulin production, blood vessels, appearance and the heart. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common reproductive hormonal problem in women of childbearing age. Many women that experience PCOS have high levels of male hormones, which leads to increased amounts of facial hair and hair on the chest, stomach, back, thumbs and toes. Women can also experience an irregular or missed menstrual cycle and may have small cysts on their ovaries. Women that experience PCOS are likely to be infertile and are unable to get pregnant because they do not ovulate. Other symptoms of the condition are weight gain or obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, skin tags, thinning hair and sleep apnea/snoring.

The causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome are unknown. Even though there is no definite link to describe the condition as genetic, sometimes women that have the condition find out that other people in their family also suffer from the condition. Many women that have PCOS are overweight and researchers continue to look into the relationship of PCOS and the inability to make insulin. Because some women with PCOS make too much insulin, it is a possibility that the ovaries react and make male hormones. Acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain and ovulation problems can all be linked to this.

When diagnosing PCOS, doctors will usually perform a thorough physical exam to see if you are producing too many male hormones. Your doctor might perform ultrasound tests, check hormone levels, measure glucose levels, check hair growth and most likely perform a vaginal exam.

There is no cure for PCOS. Treatments are based on an individual need and can include birth control pills to regulate menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels and clear acne. Some types of diabetes medications can help with PCOS symptoms. Fertility medications are often prescribed to allow a woman to become pregnant if she wishes to do so. Maintaining a healthy weight can help with the condition. Surgery is an alternative but should not be used as a first course of treatment.

It is possible to have a healthy pregnancy and have PCOS. However, there is a higher rate of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and premature delivery. Research is ongoing about possible medications that are safe to use during pregnancy.

Comments: Polycystic Ovarian Synrome (PCOS)

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KristinaS2010 - 4 days ago.
TLC - Good luck this month. Sending lots of baby dust your way!

sarah7693 - 4 days ago.
I wanted to offer some encouragement. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years ago. We have been TTC for 5 years. Anyway, I have had 2 miscarriages, but I think I finally found my miracle drug. I NEVER ovulated on my own...ever. But finally a combination of metformin and femara has been the trick. Every month that I took Femara, I ovulated. Clomid never worked for me, but this has been great. If Clomid hasn't worked for you, you may want to ask your dr. about Femara. Feel free to ask me any questions!

TLC85635 - 7 days ago.
I was just diagnosed with PCOS in Dec. It has been 2 years of BFN and I am feeling overwhelmed. I finished a round of clomid this past month, am supposed to start today. Nothing yet! YEAH! but the HPT I took Thursday was another BFN. My friends say its too early, need to wait a few more days. Have been taking metformin since early January, and a round of clomid. Hopefully this is the month. :) I need baby dust ladies!

em2 stewarts wife - 8 days ago.
Wise, I asked my dr the same thing. I have insulin resistant PCOS and the options are either take Metformin to get my insulin and sugars under control OR go on a very strick no white carb (bread/pasta.. veggies and fruit are good because they are complex carbs) and no refined sugar. Most of the women I have talked to who went the diet route concieved no problem. I have had reccurent miscarriages so the dr told me my best option would be to go on Metformin. I am glad I did as I am now one day away from being 8 weeks. I go to the dr again tomorrow for another ultrasound (I have had 2 already and twice have seen the heart beat) Each time I was careful about what I ate I concieved (though like I said I m/ced each time) I wish you the best of luck! Your daughter is beautiful by the way!

wise2luv21 - 8 days ago.
Wow I read everyones stories and begin to get overwhelmed I have a 7 yr old princess that we conceived naturally well I didn't even know I had PCOS til 1.5 yrs ago and we've been trying since before that I am a bit overweight which I gained all after having my princess. I want to conceive naturally with no meds because in my mind if it happened once it can happen again. So what I would like to know from those that conceived naturally what did you do to raise your chances. of conceiving. Our infertility has taken a big toll on our relationship and I hope that God blesses us soon with a miracle baby.

KristinaS2010 - 15 days ago.
sharonh - my husband and I also tried for 10 years before doing a cycle of IVF, and it working the first time. I was told I had PCOS about 3 or 4 years ago. We saw a high risk dr before the cycle and he gave us the ok and told us of a few risks (some due to the PCOS, others with my weight and pre pregnancy problems). So far so good. I started week 27 today and other than being uncofortable and a little anemic we have had a pretty good pregnancy. I hope the rest of your pregnancy is better. Good luck and keep us informed on how you and baby are doing.

sharonh - 16 days ago.
I've had PCOS for several years. We tried off and on for about 10 years to get pregnant. Ended up going to IVF, worked the 1st time...we're due in August. Right now I'm 17 weeks along, on strict bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. What nobody tells you is some risks that come with PCOS pregnancies....I'm overweight but had lost about 50 pounds before pregnancy. I still have about 50 more to go. What I've experienced so far during preg is: Placenta previa, CRAZY high blood pressure, out of control glucose levels, racing heart rate and acne. I'm seeing 4 different doctors to control everything and will be put in hospital around week 24 for constant monitoring. Please make sure when you guys get pregnant you see an OB that is for high risk patients and has alot of experience with PCOS. My doc said that these things happen with severe cases of PCOS..not necessarily just because of extra weight. Good luck to everyone who's trying...I know how it feels!

mrsgaylonj - 16 days ago.
I have PCOS and am 23 1/2 weeks pregnant. I'm overweight and my doctor has never put me on birth control because it is made of synthetic hormones, instead he put me on natural progesterone and metformin. I stopped taking the metformin, no reason, it wasn't doing anything, the progesterone itself gave my back my period. Hubby and I started to try and get pregnant in Jan 09, I lost about 20 lbs and still nothing, but a miscarriage in June, so doc put me on clomid with estradiol for my september cycle, we came up preggers in October, 1st rounder! I've had no problems so far in this pregnancy except low lying placenta, doc said this has nothing to do with weight or PCOS and it is moving more each week. My biggest complaint is that my facial hair is nasty, I have to pluck some every other day on my chin!! Thanks PCOS!!! haha. We're due in June with a baby boy. I'm telling y'all this as another encouragement that you can be pregnant and healthy and still be overweight and have PCOS. My doc feels he has more success with women to take natural progesterone than bc pills when not trying because the synthetics whack out your body even more than our normal hormones! Just a thought.

Leisl - 28 days ago.
Do any of you ladies with PCOS and little ones battle to breast feed? There has been research that links the two. The reason I ask is that I am a type I Diabetic with PCOS and a week old baby and my milk supply is almost non-existent.

em2 stewarts wife - 28 days ago.
Selenia, I started Metformin in the middle of January... I would recomend that you try basal body temping now while you arent trying so you can see what goes on in your body during a normal cycle. I typically get AF ever 35 days. I have been tracking my cycles for a few months and after a couple months of that it because easy to figure out my normal pattern. Good luck!

selenia - 29 days ago.
my doctor diganosed me with pcos in sept 2009, i have a 2 yr old son before him i got a monthly period after having him i went on the depo shot for a lil over a yr it stopped my period and i gained weight , so i went off it march 2009 i didnt get my period so i went to my doctor and she thought i should have my insulin level tested and it came back a lil high for fasting. so she put me on metformin and 2 weeks after i got my period and since then i get my period every other month so i never know what day it is comming. i dont know if i really have pcos and if i decide to have another how can i know when im ovulating?

jamjaq - 66 days ago.
Hi, I was diagnosed with PCOS in July 2007 and told by GP that I would have difficulty conceiving. I did some personal research and came across some data that links PCOS with insulin problems (no news there). I went on a very strict no sugar, no white carbs diet. I was very shocked to be pregnant within a month...!!! Healthy bundle of joy born May 2008. In August of last year I started back on my strict diet. Low and behold I'm now 14 weeks pregnant on suprise no.2. Just thought I'd add this for anyone who's worried about conceiving as my fertility obviously jumped back up once I cut out the sugar&white carbs. Do some research, give it a try.

bdoe [kaylees mommy!] - 70 days ago.
Any ladies in the Detroit area of Michigan with PCOS? Wayne State is doing a study on PCOS and infertility, if anyone is interested. They do all fertility testing, including a semen analysis on your hubs, and then they do a 5 cycle course of Clomid or a different drug (dont remember the name) to try and see which one has higher success rates. All costs are covered by them :D The drugs they're using to induce ovulation are completely randomized, not even the study coordinator knows who has been using what until the study is over. So one group of women gets one drug and the other group gets the other drug. You use the same one through the whole study. Anyways, I thought it was a good idea to share with everyone else.

praying-4-a-blessin - 84 days ago.
I'm New to this Forum as I have just been told I might have PCOS. My doc says I'm showing all the signs of it. I'm really scared and feel really bad, Me and My husband have been trying to Conceive for a year now. If anyone has any information that can give or advise it would mean alot!

tdania01 - 99 days ago.
22 YR OLD NEEDING HELP HI, I have a question to ask. When I WAS 17 my high school sweetheart and I tried to have a baby for 6 months it didn't happen. Then when I was 19 my fiance and i tried fro a year, nothing. So after that i just stop using any kind of protection but was very careful. I AM 22 now and is still trying and have been with3 different guys but not at the same time. my doctor thinks that i'm totally healthy except for my anemia. ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE.

canesgirl - 104 days ago.
Ok all you PCOS mommies, I have a few questions for you..... I have been diagnosed with PCOS for 6.5 years and am finally pregnant!!!!! All these years I have been on 1000mg of Metformin and when I moved to a new city my GP sent me to a specialist who put me on 1500mg of Metformin to see what would happen... well now I am almost 7 weeks. Here are my questions.... How many of you had gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and what week did you deliver? I am really nervous about all of these things, especially M/C which I refuse to talk about. I haven't really told anyone I am expecting because I want to be more comfortable with the thought that I will end up having this baby.... Did you guys have these same feelings or am I paranoid??? Thanks for all of your help!!!!!

canesgirl - 104 days ago.
htbaby2010- There really isn't a yes/no PCOS test. Your Dr. will (or should) ask you a load of questions about your medical history and cycles, do some blood work to check your testosterone, insulin, and a few other things, and may want a transvaginal scan to see if there are any cysts on your ovaries. With this combined information he/she can decide if you do have PCOS and what steps need to be taken to help you. Good Luck

htbaby2010 - 108 days ago.
Hello ladies. I think I may have PCOS. But I'm not sure. I have an OBGYN appt on Thursday. Will it cost me a ton of money for him to test to see if I have it? What did you have to go through (at the dr's office) to find out that you have PCOS? I have most of the symptoms, namely anovulation and long or nonexistant cycles. I don't have much hair growth and I'm not overweight, at least not by more than 5 pounds. I also don't have any dark skin patches. I'm worried though, it's only been these past 5 months that everything's just been acting out of whack. Help? Advice?

angelt - 112 days ago.
MYSURPRISE-WOW that is an amazing story. I am so sorry you had to go through that. It TOTALLY reminds me of the movie 'Baby Momma'! I mean she had all that trouble getting pregnant, and then it happened all on her own. I too have had these symptoms since I was in my early teens. But at that time I was not over weight and every so many years I'd have a sharp stabbing pain in my right side, we thought it was my appendix but it wasn't. I had that removed later. I am now married, was 50 lbs overweight but now only 20 or so lbs till my ideal weight. My symptoms are rare, but I had a vaginal ultrasound in October and sure enough I have a cyst...sigh...and I also have had no period since October 13th! It keeps my hopes up but I am fearful of getting tooo hopeful.

mysurprise - 119 days ago.
Hi girls!!! I got diagnosed with PCOS in Sept. 2005. I've had symptoms of the disease since I was a young teen. Took all this time! But now I had a reason as to why I couldn't get pregnant for so long. My repro/endo put me on Metformin right away, 2000mg a day. I did 6 cycles on Chlomid and nothing but a hormonal fruitcake! I had 1 failed IUI in Dec. 2006 and I opted to try IVF. My first cycle was in July 2007. They put back 2 fresh embroys, and I fell pregnant with triplets! My poor baby girls were born at 21-1/2 weeks, Dec. 9, 2007 and passed shortly after birth. I then did an FET, transferred 2 embroys again, and miscarried at 5 weeks on June 5, 2008. I needed a break. Saying I was depressed really wasn't the beginning of it. I found out on July 18th, 2008 that I was pregnant. All on my own. Holy cannoli! My baby boy is now 8 months old!!!! From the time my husband and I started TTC to when my baby was born, it was 8 long years. I've been trying to conceive again from the get-go, no birth control, and still nothing. So now not only am I on the Metformin, I'm taking prenatals daily and I started taking Vitex, an herbal supplement. I want to be pregnant again by Christmas. Having my babies 17 months apart seems like a good age difference to me. My sister and I are 16 months apart and we're best of friends. I love it! Good luck to those who are suffering everyday with PCOS. It is a battle, but don't let it get the best of you. I wish you luck in TTC! :o)

nathans mamma - 145 days ago.
i suffer with pcos and am pregnant on my second child.my first child was a shock i never thought it would happen.i gain weight after his birth and my irregular periods stopped and for 21/2 year i had none.i decided to lose weight, it was hard but i really wanted to feel like a women again.i soon lost 2 stone and my period came back.then 3 months later i was pregnant i couldnt believe it.i never expected it but wanted it to happen so bad.diet is the key! and i now believe one day i will have a family as big as the waltons lol!

Baby1 - 146 days ago.
in my experience...and please remember that everyone is different...I was put on clomid and my body was doing everything it should have, but nothing worked, then my doc doubled the dose (by this time I was a hormonal wreck!) and still nothing, I was on it for 9 months and due to almost a nervous break down due to the treatment I was having my husband and I decided to stop and try IVF. So I came off them in January 2007 and in March 2007 (which was the day I called up to book m IVF consultation abroad) I found out I as pregnant!! Our little boy is now almost 2 yrs old..We've been trying for our 2nd for a year now but nothing...except one miscarriage in May..so we just keep trying, and if all else fails then we'll look into another option. Stay positive...IT IS POSSIBLE! It just takes a little longer for us. xx

amanda826 - 155 days ago.
I am currently 30 weeks pregnant and also have PCOS. I found out last December that I had it. The doctor put me on birth control pills to regulate my period, being that I stopped getting one all together 14 months prior. He decided to put me on the birth control because I was not trying to concieve at that time. Apparently the birth control had the opposite effect on me as it's supposed to and made me completely fertile. I have had a pretty normal and healthy pregnancy thus far. I was so concerned at first but everything pretty much worked itself out. The first snag i've come across is I failed my 1 hour GD test. I just took the 3 hour test 3 days ago and are currently waiting for the results. I know woman with PCOS have a higher rate of getting GD so my fingers are crossed. I know it probably feels like there is no hope and chances are so slim on concieving, but trust me, it's very possible and very possible to have a healthy pregnancy as well. I hope everybody has much luck on concieving!

abby07-18-08 - 156 days ago.
babydust, ive been on metformin for years and it has helped me lose weight and get pregnant. I am expecting my second baby in april. I have insulin resistance so the metformin helps with that. Low carb diet also helps. good luck!

babydust08 - 157 days ago.
Hi everyone! I have pcos, and the doc is talking about putting me on metformin. I was on clomid for my last pregnancy. I am overweight, and am wondering if it helps with weight loss too?? I have about 40lbs to lose. I also want another baby, so I thought, hey, its a two for one right?!?!? lol!! Anyways, I would love to hear any stories or comments. Thanks!