Does she have PCOS?
Question:
She is now off the pill and her periods appear to again occur around the 35-45 day mark.
Is it possible she does not have PCOS? And if she does is it possible to conceive without drugs?
Many thanks for your responses.
Answers:
Oh the joy of PCOS. I have been diagnosed and it is a horrible thing to manage. Why her doctor put her on the pill is beyond me. That would be like putting a band-aid on a gun wound. You don't have to have the actual cysts on the ovaries to be diagnosed so that might be why she was not internally checked. But heres the scoop. Insulin is a hormone that controls the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy right? For many women with PCOS, their bodies have problems using insulin so that too much insulin is in the body. Excess insulin appears to increase production of androgens. (testosterone) This hormone is made in fat cells, the ovaries, and the adrenal gland. Now the levels of androgen are higher than normal and leads to acne, excessive hair growth on face, weight gain, stopped periods, and infertility. My doctor put me on a diabetic medicine called Glucophage to balance my insulin levels out. Glucophage may be enough to straighten her out. Next step is a fertility drug called Clomid. Oh BOY, and girl and boy, and another boy and girl, 2 more boys.....
Typical PCOS sufferers are overweight and have excess hair. But that is not always the case (I was thought to have it and I am normal weight etc) Did she have an ultrasound and have cysts? Are her periods abnormally heavy? I think you should get another opinion at a different doctor, like an obgyn or an endocrinologist. Hope this helps!
WOW...
It sounds to me like she has periods that normally occur at 35-45 day intervals. Everyone is different and not everyone has 28 day cycles. So that is not actually an irregular period. I dont know her age or anything but acne can be a premenstrual nuisance and some ppl just have more acne than others. I have a friend that always had such a prob. with it when we were in HS and now we are in our 40s and she still has probs and has to use special soaps etc.. I am confused as to why this Dr diagnosed her with that. I know we are always taught to ask our DR and the Dr's words are "IT" but in this case I think this Dr is wrong..
My daughter has PCOS and is 23. And I am a nurse and have mostly worked in Womens Health my entire career-20 yrs. PCOS is irregular periods (like my daughters--she may have a normal period for 2 months then skip 5 months and have one for 2 weeks, then next one in 3 months then next in 3 weeks etc.), bad acne, severe cramps with periods and cramping and pain other than during period which is times when the cysts are bulging out on the ovary and sometimes erupting--this causes severe pain. Also, most women with PCOS are overwt no matter what they do to lose. Abnormal hair growth-like on face, etc.. Also produce too much testosterone. Also, abnormal darkening and thickening of the skin in folds like on the neck esp back of neck, inner thighs, etc. depression, mood swings. And they do treat it with hormones like the pill or depo or patch.. which regulates the hormones, causes normal periods, decreasing the cysts and therefore pain and other symptoms.
PCOS sufferers normally have a difficult time conceiving. My daughter was told that she would need fertility drugs to help her conceive and possibly IVF, etc.. She has been married almost 6 yrs and never used any BC and never conceived as of yet.
I really dont think your wife has PCOS from what you said here and I dont know how in the world a dr diagnosed that without an internal exam to look for cysts--I mean, come on, PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome... means many cysts on ovaries.. how could you know that if you dont See the cysts??
OK.. off that... The only trouble I see you guys having is since she has a longer menstrual cycle this means she doesnt ovulate as often as someone with a shorter cycle. But she IS having a cycle so she IS ovulating so she IS able to conceive..
This is my opinion only and I do not claim to be a dr but merely a lil' ol' nurse.... My advice is if you dont want children yet.. get on some BC, if you do.. well... y'all know what to do... ;) lol & Have Fun & Good Luck!!
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