How did you find out you had PCOS?

Question

First of all, baby dust and happy ttc to all of you. I have a friend who got pregnant on her wedding night (the loss of her virginity) and now almost 4 years later she still has not conceived again despite their lack of birth control usage. She recently went to the doctor only to have them tell her she has PCOS and her daughter is a miracle! I have a few questions because I am doing research to help make women more aware and who better to ask than you? Thanks for your help!

Were there any signs or symptoms? 
Have you conceived on your own despite having PCOS? 
How were you diagnosed? 
Are you doing anything to increase your chances of being pregnant and if so, what? 
Do you believe that PCOS effects more than just you and your partner?

Answer

I had BAD periods. Like 21 day long periods. And they thought I might have endometriosis or fibroids. My hormones were out of whack so they started me on bc. I was 15. Skin ahead to 21. Periods are mostly normal. Still heavy flow and bad cramping, but they put me on the highest dose available to try and help with that. And I get an excruciating pain. Like think I'm dying. I go to the doctor and they sent me to the ER for appendicitis.

15 hours later I have a baseball sized cyst on one ovary and a golf ball sized one on the other one. And they send it to my gyno who diagnosed me withPCOS.

We haven't had a much trouble GETTING pregnant. But I miscarried at 11 weeks.

Answer

I had super regular periods up until I was 18. Out of nowhere I had continual bleeding for 5 months straight. At the same time I began gaining weight quickly and for no apparent reason. After the continual bleeding stopped I missed a couple of months, had one or two regular periods and then had another continual period for 3 months. I had a fear of doctors and didn't talk to anyone about it so I just let it go.

At this point I was 19 and had very infrequent periods but was able to get my weight back under control and I didn't have another extended period until 21 which lasted 8 months (yeah, that was awful ... ). Around that time I again began to gain weight which I tried to control but couldn't. I have again gotten my weight under control since then.

I am 26 now and haven't had another extended bleeding period but my periods remain infrequent (3-6 a year) and when I do have them I have heavy bleeding with clots and very painful cramps that last several days.

I didn't go to the doctor to review my symptoms until this year because my husband and I wanted to have a family. I began using OPKs to find out when I ovulated but after 37 days of testing I never had a positive. My sister is a nurse and has PCOS. She suggested I go based on my symptoms and to find a doctor that had PCOS listed on their website so I could be sure that they were familiar with the condition and would take appropriate steps.

After reviewing my symptoms I had an ultrasound done and blood work that came back consistent with PCOS. My glucose and insulin were high so I was prescribed Metformin to help with my insulin resistance. This is what contributed to my weight problems in the past. Luckily my testosterone wasn't too high and I don't suffer from excess body hair, hair loss, bad acne, darkening of the skin ... Etc.

Within 4 weeks of taking Metformin I ovulated for the first time in about 6 months and then my doctor put me on Clomid to speed up out TTC process.

How did you find out you had PCOS?

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