PCOS Messages for June, 2000: Re: need help

Re: need help

From: Belle (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:23:46 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: laura: "need help"

I am going to post here so that everyone can get the benefit of the answer and so that they can correct me if any of this information is incorrect.

1st, there is probably no link between PCOS and endometriosis. There are many women who have both but there are also many women who have one or the other. The symptoms can be similar: infertility, pain before menstruation, no menstruation, etc. It is quite possible that your mom has PCOS in addition to endometriosis.

If you are of average weight, your periods should have regulated within 12 months of the time you had your first period. During the first 12 months, it is not uncommon for the periods to be highly unregular. After this time, you should have regular periods. If you do not, then you need to find out why. Your gynecologist is not being helpful to you if she dismisses irregular periods after 5 years. By putting you on the pill, she did help minimize your risk of endometrial cancer. When we go without a period for a long time, the uterine lining can build up and this puts us at risk for cancer. The pill helps us shed this lining and helps us reduce this risk. This is why you had heavy dark periods with large clots, your uterus had built up a thick lining and there was a lot that had to be removed. If you are not having a period and you are taking the pill correctly (one each day at the same time each day), the pill may not be strong enough for you. Your dr may want you to stay on the pill for 6 months before she will make any changes. She may want you to be on them for three months (it depends on the dr.). If she wanted you to be on them for 3 months, then you should call the office and let them know that you did not have a period this month.

A LH level by itself is not very helpful. You need to know what your FSH level is as well. The LH level can be within normal range and still the ratio between the LH & FSH reading can be off. This is especially true if you have been having irregular periods. The tests for LH and FSH are dependant on the time of the month for you. There is a different "normal" for the first week, the middle of the cycle and for the end of the cycle.

I am also concerned about your high sugar levels and the fact that your mom has diabetes. There seems to be a definate link between parents (or family members) with diabetes and children with PCOS. Your insulin levels need to be checked out. I suspect that your insulin is not able to keep your glucose in check and this is why you are having problems. You will learn that it is suspected that the insulin problem is the cause of PCOS (this could be your mom's problem also). You are at a much higher risk of developing full blown diabetes and all of the problems that go along with it. Moany of us take the diabetic drug metformin (Glucophage). This has helped correct the insulin problem. As a result, we now expect regular periods, weight loss, decreased PCOS symptoms including mood swings and facial hair. We are hoping that this will reduce the problems of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. We know that it helps women ovulate so that they can conceive [something you may be concerned about later -- like *after* college (hint, hint)] :-)

At Thu, 1 Jun 2000, laura wrote: >
>I am 17 years old and I think I may have pcos. I started my period when
>I was 12 got it regular for 2 months and then missed 4 months. It went
>on like this for 2 years and then i only got 2 times a year. I have
>been to a gynocologist but she thinks it is all in my head. My dr did
>put me on birth control pills. I have been on them 3 months and my
>period came regularly, although very heavy and big dark blood clots,
>this month it didnt come. Has this happened to anyone else?
>I had some blood work done (check lh levels) and they came back normal.
>However, my blood sugars run quite high-between 120 and 170-. My mom is
>a diabetic and thinks that she may have had pcos before it got to the
>point of being endometriosis. Is there a link between these.
>please help me any info would be greatly appreciated
>thanx
>laura
>ps please send to my email
>
>--
>laura_folla_83@yahoo.com
>

-- Hope this helps,

Belle

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Previous message: Lori: "Re: If Normal Test Results are NOT a Good Indicator? CONFUSED!"
In reply to: laura: "need help"

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