How is PCOS diagnosed? - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Message Board

r_bis · 02-28-2003, 03:06 PM

I have read a lot of posts where many girls are stating that they have PCOS. I am curious to know how PCOS can be diagnosed as none of my doctors have ever mentioned about PCOS.I am planning to put this up to my doctor on my next visit.Meanwhile can anybody having PCOS throw some light on its symptoms and how it was detected.I have read that u/s and blood test can detect.I have done u/s and FSH,LH test and the dr.said it is fine though mentioned nothing about PCOS.
Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

dknees · 02-28-2003, 03:19 PM

When I first moved to MN from CA, I had to change health plans and get a new dr. I had my first visit and explained that I never had periods, hadn't had one without meds since I was 18. She was alarmed and decided to have some blood tests run to check for hormone levels. What she found was that my cholesterol was SKY HIGH. Actually, it was the "good" cholesterol that was off the charts and the "bad" cholesterol was very low. She told me she would run more tests and verify results with a colleague.

When she called back, all she said was "I'm referring you to an endocrinolgist, we believe he can help you." Around the same time, one of my best friends, who's an editor for the American College of OB/GYN (ACOG), told me I sounded like I had PCOS and sent me a pamphlet on it.

I had a lot more blood work done, including fasting glucose tests and other fasting tests. The RE brought me in and explained about the PCOS and how it was noticed through the abnormal blood test results. He gave me more info. and I've been doing research on the net ever since.

As I said ACOG has pamphlets on this sort of thing. A really good one on PCOS and a couple of others that you might find helpful. Go to [url="http://www.acog.org"]www.acog.org[/url] and click on "patient education" off the left hand column. Do a search for PCOS and I came up with 3 results. You can order these directly from ACOG for no feel, though they will only send up to 5.

Hope this helps!

JodyC · 02-28-2003, 06:32 PM

Here are my symptoms of PCOS - 38 day cycles, no ovulation (or so says the ovulation predictor kits I was taking), infertility, high testosterone levels (diagnosed through blood test), and through the u/s, they could see the little cysts all over my ovaries. Other symptoms, which I don't have, include overweight, insulin intolerence (test through a glucose tolerance test), facial hair, and acne. You really only need to have like three of these symptoms for them to diagnose you with PCOS. The doctor diagnosed me with the 38 day cycles, infertility, and high testosterone (before he even saw my ovaries). He said you only need three to be diagnosed. I would ask your RE if you are experiencing any of these. They can put you on glucophage (metformin generic) to help quality of eggs and ovulation. Good luck this cycle

wantbabyfor8yrs · 03-02-2003, 07:03 PM

Some of the most common symptoms are:
facial or body hair,skin tags,weightgain or loss or in my case can't do either,brown patches on nape of neck,no periods,infertility, and along with the above symptoms mentioned in replies. Good Luck.

r_bis · 03-03-2003, 08:41 AM

Thanks a lot for the information. It was of great help.