5 replies to this topic

[FSAS]

I was reading up on the symptoms regarding pcos because i don't know if i have it, I mean I have hormonal issues pretty bad and on birth control and spiro so it make be masking the situation. but one of the symptoms was weight gain. Is it excessive weight gain. I've stayed the same weight all my life (skinny for my height, kinda runs in the fam though - also female). so im wondering if a lot of woman who have it are just a bit extra overweight or badly?
Also is it possible to even lose that weight?

Another question is..can you give yourself PCOS? I mean i highly dont think it runs in our fam as even the only person that has been known to have acne was my dads cousin, mum never had an issue AT all with anything like that or my grandma. And only one of my sisters (twin) has a similar case to me *hormonal acne - spiro and diane helped).

[hotburrito]

If you're worried, get tested? I'm a bit overweight, have very irregular periods, and now have acne (although I didn't back when I did my test), so I was very worried... but as it stands, I (luckily) don't have PCOS. I don't think there's any medical consensus as to what causes PCOS exactly, though I think it's supposed to be linked to genetic factors more than environmental ones.

A lot of women who have PCOS are overweight, yes, but not all. I think it is supposed to be possible to lose that weight if you take the right medication (and obviously eat right/exercise), but I don't know the details. Again if you're worried, get yourself tested - PCOS is linked to a host of other ills, including infertility... so it's probably a good idea.

[Prettywords]

Hotburrito,

How did they determine you don't have it? With all the things you listed it sounds like you do have it. It's very undiagnosed.

To the OP: I have it and I am not overweight and no one in my family has it.

Symptoms (and the diagnosis is based on symptoms, because it's a syndrome).

Acne
irregular periods
Excess hair on face and body
Loss of hair on head
Overweight
Insulin resistance
Cysts in ovaries
High testosterone/androgens


If I remember correctly, my endocrinologist said you need 3 of the above to be diagnosed. The person most qualified to make the diagnosis is a reproductive endocrinologist.

I have completely regular periods and normal testosterone which made me doubt my diagnosis, but I have acne, excess hair and slight hair loss, and cysts on ovary.

Edited by Prettywords, 22 October 2011 - 03:50 PM.

[dreamer003]

I'm getting tested for cysts in my ovaries.. I have acne, irregular periods, hair loss and quite a lot of hair on my arms and legs for a female
I don't think you necessarily need to be overweight..
Also, nobody in my family has acne, nor hair loss or other things. I guess it has to start somewhere

[FSAS]

can people with pcos have clear skin or clear up their skin completely with things like diet?

[Prettywords]

FSAS, on 22 October 2011 - 06:17 PM, said:

can people with pcos have clear skin or clear up their skin completely with things like diet?

Some people with pcos have no acne. They have IR and are overweight and hair loss, as an example.

Diet can help if their acne is caused by IR and/or if they're overweight and lose a lot of weight, because in addition to the ovaries, fat makes hormones too. But I've noticed that with skinny PCOS people, diet doesn't really help their symptoms, probably nc the fat isn't making hormones, but idk really, I've just noticed that with the skinny pcos people vs the overweight pcos people.

Edited by Prettywords, 22 October 2011 - 07:37 PM.