Any ladies have experience with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

I texted my best friend because she has it. She just found out a few months ago, but it went undiagnosed for years. Her only symptom was a struggle with weight and she says it can’t be diagnosed without bloodwork. She takes Metformin 3 times a day to regulate insulin, and if you don’t have insurance, she says it costs about $600 for a three month supply.

Thank you for doing that! That’s similar to my experience…I’m just wondering how long I’ve had it. I had a sonogram to diagnose it.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in October of this past year. From what I understand usually symptoms lie with irregular periods and/or incredibly painful ones, and a difficulty getting pregnant. Many people miss a lot of periods and that is there irregularity (from what I’ve read on the subject) I on the other hand have periods that can last for a month at a time and are incredibly painful and tend to leave me on the couch or in bed barely able to move. I’ve been having my symptoms since I started having periods when I was 13 (I’m now 19) but I didn’t have a month long period until my freshman year of high school and then not again until my freshman year of college. But in between those times my periods usually lasted about 2 weeks rather than the normal 5–7 days. So mine went undiagnosed for quite some time.

My understanding is that there are only two treatments to help the problem (but the don’t fix the problem); those being: Birth control, or a medication that diabetics take (at the moment I’m lost for what it is called). I personally tried the birth control and all of those extra hormones just made me feel worse in a different way so it didn’t work for me. But it may very well be helpful for you. Diet and exercise are also helpful, from what I’ve heard.

I would continue researching and talking with your doctor about what you can be doing. But, you’re not alone! And I will definitely keep you in thoughts and prayers as I know how difficult this syndrome is.

@CrazyRedHead: It’s Metformin. I mentioned it above ;)

@poofandmook haha Thanks! I missed that!

Symptoms- missed periods, unexplained weight gain, pain
Time to get dx’d- About five years.
Treatment- Metformin (Glucophage) daily, mild exercise when I can.

I’ve had it for years and years. I diagnosed myself from, of all things, a Cosmopolitan article. The doc laughed (I bet they get a lot of people who diagnose from stupid stuff like that) but in my case, I was right.

Since it’s a syndrome, everyone gets her own special set of symptoms. Mine are irregular periods (both in terms of timing between them, and how long they last), male pattern weight gain (belly, instead of hips/thighs/breasts), excess hair (I have to work hard just to look like a normal non-shaving woman), infertility, insulin resistance, and some acne. Most of this is because of too much testosterone. (Add “increased sex drive” to the list, but for most of my life that was irrelevant because of the hair, belly, etc., heh.)

Doc has me on Metformin, but that’s fairly recent and I’m in my late 30s. Most of my life I didn’t bother to do anything about it. (I know that is Wrong, but when you don’t have insurance, there isn’t a heck of a lot you can do but try to eat right and move around a bit.) Mostly, I simply embraced it as a kind of spiritual wholeness, if that makes sense. I had male and female qualities, and it made me different. I accepted that, and I drew from it.

There is that whole “not able to make a baby” thing, but for most of my life that was a blessing. Nowadays, it’s that whole “biological clock ticking” thing that makes it bothersome. We haven’t tried any extraordinary measures to have a kid, but we haven’t tried to prevent one either. Whatever happens is fine with us. Some women really, really want a kid and feel this problem acutely – me, not so much. It’s just part of life.

Update: I know a bit more now…
It seems there are more ways than a blood test to determine it (I had an ultrasound) @poofandmook if your friend is paying that much for Metformin, which is generic…she is getting ripped off! It’s 4 dollars for a month supply at Wal Mart or Kroger. I’m taking that along with birth control (ugh) and it’s been better so far. Metformin does make me feel pretty sick at times.