Worried about PCOS

[in need of advice]

About 10 years ago, I was having lower abdominal pains quite frequently and my periods were extremely heavy.  The doctor ordered an ultrasound, which confirmed that I had "a cyst in the right ovary that measures about 2.5 cm in size".  I had a follow up ultrasound which showed "a 2.1 cm question of multiple small fluid filled space in the right ovary as well as several small cysts in the left ovary, the largest in the left ovary being 1.3 cm in diameter".  He put me on the birth control pill in order to shrink the cysts.  Also during this time, I noticed I was seeing hair growth in certain areas, such as my breasts, stomach and face.  I did not connect the two at all.  A few years later, I read an article about PCOS.  I asked my doctor about it, and he didn't think it was likely I had it.  I did get laser hair removal for the excessive hair growth thinking this would solve my problems.  My periods were very normal on the pill.  My husband and I recently decided we wanted to start trying for a family.  So, I went off the birth control pill.  It seems that my problems from before are starting again.  I had pretty bad abdominal pain for two days this week and I'm starting to see hair come back in areas.  I have a new doctor now.  Should I voice my concerns to him?  Do you think it is likely I have PCOS?  Also, I have been diagnosed with HPV.  I don't know if these could affect my fertility.  Please help.

[Forum-M.D.-SP]

You should address your concerns with your physician. Hair growth by itself is not sufficient to be diagnosed with PCOS. You also need to have either irregular periods, or ovaries that have a PCOS-appearance on ultrasound. Usually, the cysts of PCOS are < 1 cm, not 2.1 cm and 1.3 cm. In fact, it is normal physiology to have a cyst about 2 cm every month - this is called a follicle and the egg that is released every month is in the follicle. Most women think of cysts and being 'bad' but this is only true of large cysts > 5cm, or solid cysts. What really counts if you are trying to get pregnant is whether or not your periods, off the pill, are regular. If they are, while the hair growth is unpleasant and undesirable, it should not effect you ability to conceive.

[Want2BeMama]

hey i went tru the same thing..with the laser hair removal my periods would last 14 days at a time heavy ...gain like 50 lbs in matter of months..when i got married in sept. rite away me and my dh deciced we wanted a baby in Dec. i ended up in the er due to obnormal bleeding after some test and lab work my ob came to the cunclusion that i have PCOS..in jan. i had surgery due to polyps blocking my ures ever since i have been on medication taking metforming to help me regulate my period and to ovulate i had a normal period in feb and this month but dint ovulate..he updozed my metformin for this month..if i dont ovulate he will put me on clomid too...so i would really talk to your doc. theres medication to help you with PCOS..and by the way ive lost 10 lbs now with eating heathier and excising! good luck and keep me posted!!

[purr]

I just got diagnosed with PCOS and it never did anything to my fertility.. I have 3 kids - got pregnant each time the first shot.  But, I do have the atypical side of PCOS.  Some women w/o PCOS have trouble conceiving.

If you go to www.soulcysters.net you'll me a lot of us who have PCOS.  Some with fertility issues, some without.  

[LaTash]

I found out a year ago that I have PCOS and just recently me and my husband decided that we wanted to try to conceive. My doctor put me on prenatal vitamins, metformin, and prometrium and I was just wondering has anyone conceived on these drugs?and what are the side effects of these drugs?