Anyone else with PCOS?

I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome when I was approximatly 13. The struggles with the condition...the facial hair, the wacked-out hormones, the abnormal periods, the sleep problems, the weight issues...have plagued me since my diagnosis. The worst, however, was last year when I became pregnant unexpectedly (which was a total shock because I didn't think I was able to become pregnant!) and lost the baby 12 weeks later, being told by the doctor that miscarriages are "normal" for women with this condition. The failure that I felt as a woman and a person was overwhelming.

For those who have it, how do you manage your PCOS? How do you cope?

I was diagnosed at age 19 officially (hadn't gotten a period yet.) My case was pretty bad apparently- FSH/LH ratio was 4:1.

It took me many years to figure it out but now with regular exercise (I run), a lower carb, plant based diet, low dose of metformin and spironolactone, it's pretty much under control. My cycle is still irregular, but much better than before- I used to go years without getting a period! Now sometimes I'll just skip a month. I still have depression and anxiety, which I'm not sure if it's due to the PCOS or just my psych issues. Probably the PCOS makes my mood more unstable. I'm able to maintain a healthy weight now by following my healthy diet and counting calories. At one point I was close to 40lbs more than I am now. BMI is 22.9 now, so I'm happy with that.

I have PCOS and was diagnosed when I was 16, I am now 46. You can get pregnant with PCOS as you discovered. I also had a loss at about 12 weeks (baby died at 8 weeks) but I don't think that my PCOS was the cause. I have seen many doctors and they never mentioned anything about miscarriages and PCOS. I keep things under control now by BCP, when I was trying to get pregnant my periods were very wonky - I was on day 82 when I found out I was pregnant with my son, he will be 11 in a month.

I kept my symptoms under control with BCP for many years, though now I am off them and hoping a low carb diet will work.

I was diagnosis in my 30's and was Depro Provera shots for 1-2 years. I stop taking it. I have facial hair on my neck and chin. I have to plunk them every few days. Now I'm in menopause and still get the facial hair. I hate it but what can we do? Unless we get a laser thing to stop them for a few months.

Have you tried spironolactone?

What is that a pill or cream? I've never heard of it. Can you explain a little bit more about Spironolactone.

It's a pill. Most people take 100mg I only take 25mg because it lowers blood pressure. Basically it's a diuretic and it binds to androgens so you get rid of excess androgens (testosterone), making you grow less hair. It also helps with gaining weight in the stomache, as well as acne.

Spironolactone in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: effects on clinical features, insulin sensitivity and lipid profile. - PubMed - NCBI

((HUGS)) Tsukiko
I do not have this disorder but i wanted to let you know that i think your dr was very awful to tell you that you miscarried bc of PCOS. Although, it may put you at higher risk for miscarriage, truthfully almost all miscarriges b4 15wks are due to chromosomal abnormalities that occur without any rhyme or reason at the point of conception and there is nothing that can be done to change the outcome regardles of other risk factors existing or not. It is difficult enough to deal with the grief and loss of a pregnancy, no one needs the added weight of being told that it is your body's fault, when there is no 100% way of knowing so early the percise reason. Its just cruel and im so sorry you had to go thru that.

I am 31 and I was not told I had this at my last gyn-ob appointment. I was looking at something and found out by reading my records. I talked to my primary and he said that yes I do have it and with my diabetes it would be RARE and Dangerous if I ended up pregnant. All I have ever wanted is to have my OWN child. I know that the government would never let me adopt nor let me keep a baby that I have. I would have to go off of a lot of my meds and that would be terrible. I get really bad cramps in my back and when and if I get my period I bleed very heavy. I wish I had some answers for you but I have no ideas of how to take care of it. I have questions but am too afraid to ask people...So Thank you for posting this.