Re: pcos but not insulin resistant- lots of questions!
From: sally (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 27 Nov 2002 19:36:18 -0600 (CST)
Hi,
Welcome. I will answer most of your questions.
At Wed, 27 Nov 2002, ksbdca wrote:
>
>I am 24 and I was just diagnosed with PCOS. However, according to my
>doctor who has admitted that she doesn't really know very much about
>PCOS, I am not insulin-resistant; But I am overweight and I menstruate
>only about 3 or 4 times a year, have ovarian cysts, moderate/mild acne,
>moderate facial hair growth, etc. So I have major questions:
>
>1. Should I still push to go on met/glucophage? I understand that it
>may help anyway, regardless of what the blood tests say. There was a
>study released in June that said it could very well help. Is this
>generally known? In other word, will my doctor think I'm crazy if I ask
>for this?
YES - you should still try glucophage. It is currently considered first
line treatment (along with diet and exercise). Not all doctors know
this, but if you do some research and present it to your doctor she
should be helpful. If you generally find that she is a good doctor -
maybe you and she can learn together..... if not, you may wish to be
referred to a reproductive endocrinologist.
>2. In the case that glucophage has the effect of weight loss, and in
>turn, restoration of normal hormone levels and periods, is it possible
>to get pregnant normally with out any fertility drug or other
>intervention? Has anyone had this happen? Are the positive effects of
>glucophage long-term?
For Some people glucophage can normalise everything. Not everyone gets
maximum effects. I pressume that the positive effects of gluc continue
as long as you take the drug. There is not yet research (that I know
about) to discuss the long-term benefits for women with PCOS. But for
those that it helps, there are obvious short term benefits.
>I'm not looking to get pregnant right now, but I am very freaked out by
>the high? probability that I will not be able to get pregnant when I
>want to. So my whole thing is that I want to do whatever it takes to
>prepare for the time when I do want to.
Very likely you can get preganant.
>
>3. It really scares me that my doctor (a very new general practitioner
>doctor) says she doesn't know much about PCOS. She said she will refer
>me to a ob/gyn. But so many people seem to have such bad experiences--
>how can you 'screen' your doctor to know if s/he is knowledgable about
>and sensitive to PCOS?
Refer to my answer to q.1
>
>4. How common are miscarriages and other pregnancy complications with
>PCOS? I keep reading stories in which this occurs, but I want an overall
>picture-- maybe statistics or something?
Quite common. But not all women with PCOS have miscarriages. Sorry I
don't have the stats.
>
>5. Finally, PCOS 101 question: I cannot seem to get a grasp on the
>difference between eggs and cysts. The ovum become cysts, right? What
>does that mean for my physical health? Are you supposed to remove the
>cysts? Can the cysts rupture or cause other damage? Do all of my ovum
>become cysts?
Sorry, can't answer this one. Maybe smoeone else.
--
Sally
>This is all so overwhelming! Sorry to post so many questions at once.
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