Re: Dear Pat
From: Pat (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 25 Sep 2002 21:12:37 -0500 (CDT)
Wow, what a family histroy, and so much for genetics. Interesting when
you track it, and you need to get onto a genetics study. I am sure
there are some around, maybe someone has the info.
I guess I would just start working on the cycles right now. Like diet
and exercise, of course, and maybe Metformin if you want to try it. I
guess I would avoid the pill, and use some of the other methods, or just
foam and condoms or something simple like that. You sound like you
would be okay with a pregnancy, just need the right fellow. Why not lay
the groundwork and get your body as ready as you can. Metformin might
bring back ovulatory cycles. As long as you are on the pill, or other
method, you won't know. At 31, you have a lot of work to do. I guess I
am really resistant to just the birth control pill. There has gotta be
a better way. I don't like putting the hormoens on hold, as they just
might hold out too long. Did you find a good provider ? I would find a
good RE and get clear yourself about what your goals are. I know others
at your age who also want a child, but other health risks come into
play.
As we have said before, the BC Pill is like a bandaide for the problem.
Also look into some of the newer methods, like the NuvaRing. I would
like to see some research of the effect of that on PCOS women. It is
higher in progesterone as compared with the patches that are higher in
estrogeh. The patches you put one on a week X 3 weeks, the NuvaRing it
fits into your vagina, and stays in for 3 weeks. Pretty nifty. I just
wonder what effect it would have. Sorry, I don't think I am much help
here.
--
Pat Sonnenstuhl, ARNP, CNM, MS
PCOS Support
Editorial Advisor PCOS Pavilion
http://www.obgyn.net/pcos/pcos.asp
http://www.midwivesofwa.org/pcos.htm
http://www.midwivesofwa.org//pcosarticles.htm
>Dear Pat,
>Can you give me some advice?
>
>I was diagnosed due to overwhelmingly heavy, painful, prolonged, spotty,
>weird periods and cycles and unmovable belly fat, and only after I was
>"tentatively" diagnosed, did my doc ask about thinning hair and/or
>facial hair (I have both in luckily small amounts so far).
>I also have a mom with diabetes II, and grandma who died of diabetes
>complications (a double amputee, no less!) and a maternal family history
>of either many children early on with none during the 20-30s (and a few
>pregnancies that happened in their 40s). My mom's sister died (double
>mastectomy, diabetes and hep c, but had one child after 26 years of
>marriage, at age 42. Another auntie (also recently dead of diabetes and
>hep c) had 3 healthy pregnancies and one where the fetus died at 9
>months gestation (GD). My mom had GD with my brother, and had a full
>hysterectomy after he was born at age 33. I had two great maiden aunts
>(grandma's half sisters) who apparently had lots of sex, but never
>conceived (Catholics. Would have carried babies). All the men in that
>family die of heart disease. They all had whiskers, diabetes, short,
>muscled apple round peasant bodies, thin-bald hair, and big bellies and
>arm fat. they said it's because we are hungarian. I am taller (1/2
>swede), blond (so my facial hair is very pale and even though it's
>longish and fuzzy, no one thought twice about it), and my symptoms are
>mainly weird periods, fat, and alarmingly high
>cholesterol/triglycerides, even with Zocor. On my dad's side, they get
>early hypertension and have strokes and/or heart attacks. I am screwed,
>aren't I?
>
>So. I finally got diagnosed. After complaining for easily 15 years and
>having previous BCPs make me miserable.
>
>I have never had a child, am not married, not sure if the person I am
>with I would want to coparent with or marry, too soon to tell. But I do
>want babies. I've wanted them since I was 18 and made myself choose
>school.
>
>When do I need to start taking my fertility seriously?
>
>I am 31, started yasmin today for relief (after the provera kicked in a
>period earlier than expected), and am worried about not starting soon
>enough but not knowing when.
>
>--
>Amelie
>who would hit a sperm bank if there were no volunteers and the time was
>nigh...
>
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