I'm 23/f/Philadelphia and just this year have been diagnosed with PCOS.
I still do not know that much about it, but find it rediculous that I have been to GYN for years now and GP's and they have not diagnosed it. I have the classic symptoms of exess hair, chin/face, darker colored skin around neck, underarms and genital area, irregular menstral cycles, going months at a time without my period ect.
I was put on Yasmin 28 to help regulate my cycle and help with feeling a bit down around my cycle. Also I hear it's suppposed to help with the PCOS, but I am not sure how or why.
I was just wondering if I could have a little more basic info on this and about the Birthcontrol helping the PCOS and what other methods they are using to treat it ect ect.
I appreciate all help and comments.
Nice to meet you all
I am 22 and just this year was diagnosed with PCOS. I see my gyn every 4 weeks (I have another apointment today actually) and I'm still pretty confused. I have excess hair on my chin and neck, skin tags on my neck, and irregular cycle. Last month the good doc put me on Provera to induce a bleed and it worked like magic. Only now I've been bleeding for 3 weeks and I don't think i can take much more of this!! My doc also put me on birthcontrol and glucophage. Many people on here will tell you that the birthcontrol will mask PCOS. I really don't have much info for you, I just wanted you to know that I'm in the same boat as you are. Hopefully I'll get some good news today or some new information at least! Do you have problems with your weight? I've been heavy all my life and I'm pretty sure some of my problems stem from this.
I wish you the best of luck!!
Sara
Hi Steph........well it does sound like your diagnosis was correct. I will say however that you should be seeing a specialist. OB/GYN's and GP's do NOT specialize in hormonal disorders such as PCOS, which is most likely why it took you so long to get a diagnosis. I would suggest that you see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. They not only specialize in hormonal disorders like PCOS, but they also specialize in infertility.........and if children are a part of your future........the PCOS may or may not cause you to experience infertility.
There are an assortment of treatment methods out there. It really depends on what symptoms you have, and your doctor. It seems like all doctors treat it differently. The only thing that birth control pills do is regulate the period. Oftentimes, doctors prescribe birth control and nothing else. That will do absolutely nothing for you, besides regulate your period. It will not help regulate your hormones or anything. Unfortunately, there is no single med out there to treat PCOS. You may have to experiment with different meds til you find the best treatment for you. For instance, you will see docs prescribe Metformin or Spironolactone in conjunction with bcp. Often bcps are prescribed to help keep the cycles regular because some of the other meds precribed to combat your hormones may cause menstrual irregularities, which is where the bcp would come in.
For instance, Metformin is being prescribed now because they've found that it can work wonders for some PCOS women. It helps regulate the hormones and it controls Insulin Resistance, which often runs hand in hand with PCOS............and if IR is left untreated, it can lead to Diabetes! Many have had great success with Metformin.......weight loss, slowing of facial/body hair, and sometimes those suffering from infertility find themselves pregnant. So, it seems to be doing good for some people.
The best thing you can do is research PCOS so that you know what you are up against; see a specialist rather than a regular OB/GYN so that you can be sure to receive the right treatment.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I was diagnosed with PCOS 5 years ago and I have researched it to death so that I could learn to help control it. Good luck to you!!!
Thank you so much for such an educated and researched reply. Right now I am dealing with my depression, so I suppose between the craziness of life, then my depression came on I have not really been able to do as much as I would normally do, ie research, drs, ect.
I really appreciate your feed back and will look into this. Would you suggest another appoint with my GYN first to get a referral or go through my PCP?
I would personally like to thank you so much because I have saught out a Repro. Endo. and am getting the help I need. He is a WONDERFUL doctor, and I feel safe in his care. I appreciate your help and hope you continue to help others!!!!
Thank you again so sosososooooooooooo much!
-Steph
I actually have a question in relation to this as well. I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistanace and PCOS approximately three years ago. My gyno actually found it and referred me to a regular endochrinologist. For reasons I will not bore you all with I could not see her anymore since all she did was degrade me and state it was all my fault since I was overweight and I needed psychiatric help. Well, I stopped seeing her and took the metformin I was given until I ran out of refills. I found another regular endochrinologist which he is alright but I am working if I should not go to a reproductive endochrinologist. Would they be better suited for this?
