Re: PCOS? - What should I ask my dr. to do?
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Tue, 23 Sep 2003 14:54:59 -0500 (CDT)
My first suggestion would be to go to an Endocrinologist (depending on
your insurance you may need a referral from your PCP), not to put down
OBGYN's as I know that there are many who know about PCOS but I have had
no luck
with any that I have seen. I went through several years and several
OBGYN's and fertility specialists with no luck. Many people who are TTC
think that it is best to go to an OBGYN or fertility specialist but this
is an endocrine disorder not a fertility disorder (infertility is just
one of the many symptoms).
That said, the following is a list of tests that my Endo ran to
determine my case...
Lab Tests:
FSH, LH, LH/FSH ratio,Prolactin,Testosterone, total and/or
free,DHEAS,17-ketosteroids,Estrogens,Sex hormone binding
globulin,Androstenedione,Lipid profile,Glucose, fasting or a glucose
tolerance,Insulin,TSH
Non-Laboratory Tests:
transvaginalUltrasound
Joy
At Tue, 23 Sep 2003, C wrote:
>
>I'm 32, 5'10" and 155 lbs. and trying to get pregnant for the first
>time. Approx. 10 years ago my old OB/GYN did bloodwork and determined
>from that that I had PCOS. He told me not to worry, that all I'd need
>is a "shot" when I wanted to get pregnant. I subsequently switched
>OB/GYN's after that, and the next one told me - again from bloodwork
>only (no ultrasound) -that I did have screwed up hormones, but not PCOS.
>She attributed it to stress. Now it's 10 years later. I've been off
>the pill for 4 months. Had a period at 28 days, then 31, then 33, and
>now it's day 36 and no signs of anything. I've taken 2 pregnancy tests
>and have been taking my BBT. The tests are negative and the BBT shows
>fluctuations in temp that would indicate to me an anovulatory cycle for
>sure this month. (I've only been charting for 2 weeks, so I don't know
>what happened prior to that)
>I'm going into my PCP tomorrow to discuss this history as it is in my
>file and want to get a referral to an ob/gyn.
>My question is . . . what specific bloodwork should I ask her to do.
>I want to do an insulin test and a thyroid, as well as progesterone,
>estrogen, LH, and FSH. Is there anything else I'm missing. . . and
>any advice on how to approach this so that I can get as prepared as
>possible should this turn out to truly be PCOS and a possible fertility
>question.
>Thanks for any help and advice you can provide!
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