The exam for PCOS: (please help!!!) - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Message Board

Melissa765 · 05-18-2006, 05:26 PM

Hi everyone!

I think that I may have PCOS.

I'm not sure though -- the main thing that I have is excessive hair growth. It's not on my face though (aside from a small amount of upperlip hair, but I'm Spanish and Italian, so what can you expect??? lol). It's not thick, and it's not course... just DARK! It's almost like I have the normal "peach fuzz," but it's just darker than normal. I've also had a small amount of hair thinning on my head. Anyway, I'm under 16, I have very regular periods, I'm not overweight, I don't have skin tags, I don't have acne, etc., etc., etc., BUT both my mother and my aunt have had cysts on their ovaries! (Not officially PCOS though.)

This brings me to my question: I'm going for a visit with an endocrinologist that specializes in pediactric hormone imbalances, and I'd like to know what the exam will entail. I absolutely, 100%, without a doubt REFUSE to have any pelvic exam, internal outrasound, and/or genital examination... especially since this is a "teaching hospital" and there will be between 3 and 5 doctors present in the room.

They can see all the hair they want, and take as much blood as I have to offer, but they're staying the heck away from below the belt. I read that if the patient is a virgin, they commonly opt to NOT do any sort of internal exams... is this true? I'm definitely a virgin, and I mean I'm not trying to be too descriptive here, but even using tampons can be painful for me, so I don't even know how they could physically fit an outrasound metal thing inside of me.

Is it a waste of time to even go (because this is all that the exam would consist of), or are there other ways to test for PCOS and other hormone imbalances? Also, have any of you had similar hesitancies about going to a doctor about this sort of thing? To say that I'm modest would officially qualify as the understatement of the century.

Thanks for any help or advice!

Lor123 · 05-18-2006, 07:41 PM

Just relax

, I don't think you will need a pelvic exam and I'm pretty sure the doctor will not need to look at your genitals, since there is really no way of detecting PCOS with a pelvic exam.
Normally PCOS is detected by doing a blood test to check your hormone levels.
Some doctors do like to do an abdominal ultrasound to check for cysts on the ovaries but I don't think you will need an internal one.
You may want to have your mom or someone your close to come in the room with you. Most doctors won't have a problem with that, especially in dealing with people your age.
I also wanted to tell you that you do not have to have all of the symptoms to have PCOS. In some woman PCOS only shows up in thier hormones and they don't have any of the classic signs.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor about feeling uncomfortable with certain exams I'm sure she will understand since she is probably used to working with young people.
Good luck with your appointment.

Melissa765 · 05-22-2006, 02:31 PM

THANKS!

Anti Social · 05-22-2006, 06:47 PM

Lori...I just wanted to respond to your comment about 'diagnosing' PCOS through blood results..I was tested for this after telling my GYN I have about 2 periods a year,I do NOT have any other sympton of this condition,im skinny,not overweight,no excessive hair and no acne..she tested and my hormone results came back 'suggestive' of PCOS.had a vaginal ultrasound and there were no cysts found...fast foward months later & a new GYN-she reviewed my history and said my last GYN was wrong & that I dont have PCOS & doesnt know why she would have diagnosed w/ me that,my hormones could have been out of whack at that particular time b/c I may have been ovulating or it could have been around that time of the month,so that would throw the results off track a bit..so my point is,you cant really go by blood work..there is no def' way to diagnose this so it makes it a whole lot harder..esp' for women like me who have been misdiagnosed

Lor123 · 05-23-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti Social

Lori...I just wanted to respond to your comment about 'diagnosing' PCOS through blood results..I was tested for this after telling my GYN I have about 2 periods a year,I do NOT have any other sympton of this condition,im skinny,not overweight,no excessive hair and no acne..she tested and my hormone results came back 'suggestive' of PCOS.had a vaginal ultrasound and there were no cysts found...fast foward months later & a new GYN-she reviewed my history and said my last GYN was wrong & that I dont have PCOS & doesnt know why she would have diagnosed w/ me that,my hormones could have been out of whack at that particular time b/c I may have been ovulating or it could have been around that time of the month,so that would throw the results off track a bit..so my point is,you cant really go by blood work..there is no def' way to diagnose this so it makes it a whole lot harder..esp' for women like me who have been misdiagnosed

Yes I agree, there is not always a way to tell definitly that you do or do not have PCOS because many different woman have many different symptoms.
I have spoke to woman who have had the same problem as you. There are many woman who are diagnosed, undiagnosed and diagnosed again.
Also, there are many woman with PCOS who at any given time may not have cysts on thier ovaries at all, so an ultrasound alone can not diagnose the syndrome.
There are also alot of other conditions that can have many of the same symptoms of PCOS and that is why it is important to see an endocrinologist for a diagnosis.
I also wanted to add: I am not overweight, I do not have acne or excess hair but I do have PCOS.