 |
 |
 |
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Any Cysters with regular menstrual cycles???From: jodi (anonymous@obgyn.net)Sun, 10 Nov 2002 13:44:09 -0600 (CST)
At Sat, 9 Nov 2002, Shannon wrote: > >I am just curious - I was partially diagnosed with PCOS about 2 years >ago. I say that it was partially b/c I was on the pill (at that time >and for 5 years prior) and my testosterone and DHEA levels came back >relatively normal, but I had all of the outward symptoms. > >About I week ago my newest test results came back and I have high test >and VERY HIGH DHEA - so my OBGYN, at my request, put me on metformin. > OK. Why do you think metformin will help you? I am not saying it won't. BUT, the only test you really remark on is the high DHEA. If DHEA is high, this can be a sign of hormonal problems steeming from an adrenal disorder. In these cases, i don't think Met is the treatment of choice. I'm not an expert, so I will admit right off the bat that I could be wrong. But it seems to me as if you have a doc who doesn't know much about PCOS, and you yourself have fallen for the belief that met will help all women with PCOS, and rather than researching PCOS, your doc is just handing you what you ask for. I mean, you may love your OBGYN. That's fine. But realize, most OBGYNs do not know all there is to know, if they know anything, about PCOS... it's really not a gynecological problem. It manifests itself in some gynecological ways... but its root is in the endocrine system. It's sort of like going toa manicurist to diagnose why you have numbness and tingling in your hands... your hands are affected but this really isn't their realm. (I was really good at the analogy section of the SATS, heh...) PCOS is a cluster of symptoms, and we don't all have these symptoms for the same reason. Maybe most of us have the problem due to hyperinsulin issues. In these cases, insulin altering medications can help. But when the adrenals are involved... well, I think a different treatment might be needed. I forget what it's called! Some sort of steroid, I think? I HIGHLY reccomend you find a good endocrinologist or reproductive endorcinologist with PCOS knowledge. Find out first of all if your adrenals could be causing your problems. Find out second of all what treatment plan might be best for you. When the adrenals are involved, treatment is often aimed at suppressing them. Metformin will not do this, as far as I know.
>When I was younger and not on the pill you could set your watch to it, So... maybe your periods are still regular, maybe the pill is still effecting you. Hard to say, at three months. I'd say it looks good though that you're still regular. Even that you got a period after stopping the pill.
> Yes. It's technically called... well, sometimes dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Many women have regular periods without those periods being ovulatory. Many women have regular ovulatory periods but every now and then skip an ovulation. Bleeding without ovulation is not at all uncommon... but ovulation without periods very rarely, if ever, occurs (unless a woman gets pregnant.) (***)
>What are the chances of me being fertile vs "infertile"? Can't know until ya try... having regular periods is a good sign. But you gotta ovulate, too. Read "Taking CHarge of your Ferility" and learn about how to figure this out. There are signs to look for... and there are other methods, taking temperature every AM... I look for signs. I can tell to the day when I ovulate. At least, pretty darn near the day... I can at least always predict my period 14 days in advance!
> I hear ya... :-(
> Yeah... I hear gyns are quick to hand out clomid like candy. It is supposed to induce ovulation which is what you're supposed to need to get pregnant. The problem is, clomid is given based on the assumption that, well, all a woman needs to get preg is to ovulate, right? But it doesn't address the whole picture. I mean first of all, you have regular periods. This is a very good sign. Unless you are sure that you aren't ovulating... first of all, there's no need to take clomid! Next, again, if you are not ovulating, it is just one part of the big picture. WHY aren't you ovulating? Is it an adrenal problem? Well, then, correct it. Is it an insulin problem? Correct it. Merely forcing ovulation... well, that would be like putting gas in your car and trying to drive somewhere, but not putting in antifreeze or oil. You know what? That's a really bad idea! :-) The sad fact is, clomid does NOT always work. We are not ovulating because something is wrong with our bodies. If you take clomid to force ovulation, you haven't addressed everything else that is wrong with your body, and chances are, those other problems are less than conducive to a healthy pregnancy. I think the stats are something like, 80% of women will ovulate on clomid, but only 40% of those will go on to carry to full term? Really, you need to address EVERYTHING, and you need to find a doc who can do this. NOT just for the sake of getting pregnant, but for the sake of the rest of your health as well.
>Is there anyone else with PCOS that does get a period regularly? Does it There are women with PCOS who get periods regularly. They may or may not be ovulatory. The may or may not occur in conjunction with another problem, such as a progesterone deficiency which makes pregnancy unlikely to occur. It is a good sign that you have regular periods. Many of us don't even have that to start with! BUT here's the (***) part, above - just because you have periods doesn't mean you're ovulating. BUT you can't have a period without ovulating - or you normally do not, at any rate - so yeah, having periods makes a difference to your fertility. It means there's a chance you're ovulating. :-) Now get thee to an endocrinologist! If you have trouble finding one, you might want to post where you are from and maybe someone can help.
> - jodi
|
|
Return to ![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)
Technical Problems: webmaster@obgyn.net
Last Updated: Mon May 19 17:08:45 2008
Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote
home | medical professionals | women | industry | forums | international