PCOS girls, advice please!

[channy3232]

I have a few questions. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm seeing more and more symptoms in myself. Since I think high school, I've always had little coarse hairs on my chin. They've increased in number over the years, especially after I had my son. And especially lately. I've always had skin tags. Just a few. But they run in my family so I never thought anything about them. Dandruff off and on, but I always thought it was just from dry winters. I've always been overweight, but again it runs in my family, as does bad skin. My periods have pretty much always been normal, with the exception of maybe 3 total months scattered throughout my life that they were late. Right before I got pregnant with my son, I noticed my cycle got longer, about 35 days. After, it was averaging 38 days. Now this past cycle was 45. It might just be a fluke, but I'm scared with all these symptoms that I might have PCOS. I know they say everyone is different and will have different symptoms, but all women with PCOS will have irregular periods. Could that just mean long cycles?? And I know not all women with it will actually have cysts, but I know I don't have cysts at least. Or as of my c section. My doctor actually told me my ovaries were "nice and healthy" I remember feeling queasy when he said that. Lol So could this be PCOS? What would be the chances of me getting pregnant so quickly like I did with my son if I did have it? Is it something that can just start all of a sudden? Sorry so many questions. I'm just so scared we won't be able to have another baby because there's something wrong with me!
Oh yeah I forgot! No one in my family was ever diagnosed with PCOS but my great aunt had issues (this was in the 30's and 40's so who knows what was wrong), she had 9 miscarriages. My Mom, aunt (mom's sister), and sister all had hysterectomies because of fibroids. I know they're different than cysts, but could it all be related?

 

[MariaF]

Try not to worry, hun.

Your symptoms may be from elevated androgens (testosterone, etc) but they are probably not affecting your ovulation and shouldn't affect your ability to conceive (just like they didn't with your son)! So yes, you may have PCOS but it's affecting your cycles. Ill give you 2 examples:

I have PCOS, but except for acne don't have any other physical symptom. However, I do not ovulate and don't get periods (almost at all). Yet if you just looked at me, you couldn't tell I had PCOS.

My friend also has PCOS - she has lots of symptoms like facial hair (very dark), bad acne, patches, etc. Yet she has a regular cycle and conceived almost right away.

PCOS affects everyone soooo differently. To me it sounds like you are one of the lucky ladies that has regular (relatively!) periods so you should be fine!!

If you are worried - why don't you have a blood test for androgens?

 

[channy3232]

Thank you so much!! I never realized you could have it but still ovulate!!! I'm actually calling my doctor right now to make an appointment. I'm due for my yearly anywa. Thanks again!