Hi all,
This is my first post!
I am 26 years old and have been suffering from PCOS symptoms (hair loss, overweight, avg 40 days between periods, period pains). I was wondering if you could give me some advice on my blood results and scan I had for PCOS?
First, some background info: when I was 12, my German gynaecologist said that my androgens were 3 times as high as they should be and told me to take the pill. I have been on the pill ever since then. In 2008, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. After 3 years of tinkering with thyroid meds and dosages and progressively getting worse rather than better, I mentioned to my UK GP about the PCOS. My GP didn't believe I had PCOS so sent me for a scan and blood test.
My scan said that one of my ovaries was abnormal and suggestive of PCOS while the other showed no abnormalities.
I had my blood results come back which according to my GP are all normal. They were:
SHBG 49nmol/L, premenopausal 26-110
Urea level 5mmol/L
Testosterone 1.2nmol/L
Sodium 144mmol/L
Prolactin 237mu/L, premenopausal 102-496
Progesterone 2nmol/L, follicular: 1-5, luteal: 5-86
Potassium 4.1mmol/L
Oestradiol 140pmol/L foll:46-607,lut: 161-774,ov peak:315-1828
LH 6u/L fol/lut: 1-13, ov: 14-96
FSH 8u/L fol/lut: 2-13, ov: 5-22
My GP said judging from my blood levels I don't have PCOS but my ultrasound scan needs to be repeated in 3 months time.
Now I have several questions:
1) Are my blood results really normal? Sorry I don't have ref ranges for all the
values, my GP is computer illiterate and cannot print the ranges...
2) Does the blood test have to be done at a specific time during the cycle? My test was done on day 11, but I have since read varying opinions on when the blood test should be done.
3) Can you have PCOS with cysts only on one ovary?
4) Do the excess androgens have to be measurable in the blood or can you be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms? Ever since coming off the pill (5 months now), I have terrible skin complexion, really greasy and spotty skin and a lot of hair loss, hair is thinning quite badly on my head. I don't have hirsutism. I used to shed quite a lot of hair anyway, I am also low on zinc and take zinc supplements, but ever since coming off the pill this has got considerably worse.
I'd be very glad if you could give me some answers to my questions. After I had the scan which showed the abnormal ovary I was really surprised to be told that my androgens are normal, despite having high androgen symptoms... Some more info on the side: my mom has been diagnosed with PCOS when she was my age. Not sure if it runs in families.
Thank you!
Yvonne
