Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS

At the age of 21 when I was newly engaged and happy, a trip to the Doctors changed my life….At that time I had never worried about the fact that I barely had periods…. I never worried about not conceiving or losing my thick hair….

So I was off to an ultrasound and to a skin specialist (dermatologist)…. The skin specialist took a couple of samples of my scalp…she took a core sample and a horizontal sliver that she had analyzed…. These came back saying that I had a high level of androgens (male hormones and as a result I had male pattern baldness… Being only 21 and female my whole world crumbles cause suddenly I feel like I was meant to be a man. I was broken…. But it wasn’t the end cause I still had an ultrasound to get through. The results for the ultrasound showed a right ovary that was 4 times larger than it should be and a left that was also swollen… the ovaries were filled with little bubbles or what they all called cysts…To me cysts meant cancer… and as I had gone without my mum I didn’t have anyone to turn too… The specialist then told me I would find it impossible to get pregnant without help. That was the nail on the coffin for me…. Everything that made me female had been ripped away or so it felt.

The Doctor later explained to me my results meant that I had Polycystic ovarian syndrome, (also called Stein–Leventhal syndrome). It is a hormone problem that means little cysts (or old eggs stay locked in the ovaries like a little chain of pearls) …. Most people find out about this condition when they are in their late teens up until they go through menopause and 10% of women do have PCOS…The symptoms include

• Acne.
• Weight gain and have trouble losing weight.
• Male pattern baldness or thinning hair on the scalp.
• Hair growth on the face, back, or chest.
• High blood sugar > hyperglycaemia
• No periods or irregular periods.
• Trouble getting pregnant.
• Repeat miscarriages
• Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy.
• Dandruff
• Oily skin
• High cholesterol

Once I found out about my condition I was affected emotionally…I ended my engagement due to feelings of inadequacy and I went thru severe depression (hmm what do I mean with went. I’m still there). I was told that I don’t release an egg every month (actually back then I was releasing maybe 3 a year and right now I release none at all). It took 3 years for me to become pregnant with my son and my Doctor couldn’t believe it when we actually got the results (I was over 3 months before I went to the GP cause I thought I had a virus)…. I almost went into premature labour, got gest diabetes, had high blood pressure and went off work at 30 weeks due to illness. Being pregnant wasn’t fun.

For some having a child will help with other pregnancies…After having my first son I was able to fall pregnant with my daughter quicker as my body was cleared out for a while … I have a friend who had to have a D&C to help with falling pregnant the second time…. Every woman is different in what symptoms they have. I have a friend, who has excess hair, thyroid problems, and weight gain with her PCOS. I have high androgen, dandruff, hair growth on my chest, no periods, etc The one symptom that is a definite though With PCOS is the lack of  or irregular periods. Because we don’t release eggs every month other problems can occur such as heavy menstrual bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial, breast or uterine cancer. Research says there is a higher risk for heart attack and cardiac disease.

There is no one test that can be run that’s says you have PCOS… It’s decided after a you submit to a physical exam, ultrasound, and blood tests. It is treated by exercise, and diet changes. If you want to get pregnant Doctors will prescribe medications to encourage ovulation. If you don’t want to get pregnant then the birth control pill helps keep your body working the best way it can…. For me this is a No No as my body doesn't cope with the pill at all. To help with my hair loss I was prescribed Aldactone (which i stopped taking as it doesn't seem to work...my hair follicles have closed up now)… At present I am having problems like severe bloating and abdomen pain. I have a lot of friends ask how far I am along when they haven’t seen me for a while… It does damage to my self esteem and at times I hate dressing up…. 

If you are at all worried about any of these symptoms then you need to see a doctor to discuss your concerns....