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What Causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is indicated by many small cysts in the ovaries. Health care professionals may also call it polycystic ovary disease, polycystic ovaries, Stein-Leventhal syndrome, or polyfollicular ovarian disease.

PCOS affects about 5 percent to 10 percent of women of childbearing age and occurs among all races and nationalities. It is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age and is a leading cause of infertility. It is estimated that as many as 30% of women have some characteristics of the syndrome.

The ovaries of women with PCOS produce higher than normal amounts of androgens (male hormones) which can interfere with the development and release of eggs. Normally when an egg matures, the follicle (sac within the ovary that contains eggs) releases the egg so it can travel to the uterus for fertilization. With PCOS, the eggs in these follicles may not mature or in some case egg maturation is altered. Instead of being released during the menstrual cycle, the follicles build up in the ovaries and form cysts. Because they are not ovulating and releasing an egg each month it is common for women with PCOS to have irregular or missed periods.

What Causes PCOS?

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is called a syndrome rather than a disease because it has many possible causes or characteristics, rather than one known cause. Although the ovaries of women with this syndrome contain a number of small cysts, women without PCOS may also have a similar number of cysts. For this reason, researchers believe the cysts themselves may not be causing the problem.

It is believed the leading cause of PCOS could be insulin resistance. Women with PCOS are often found to have a malfunction of insulin production, formation, or action. Too much insulin signals the ovaries to release higher-than-normal levels of androgens. Elevated insulin levels are unhealthy and may eventually increase your risk not only for infertility but also for diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease.

PCOS may also have a genetic predisposition and run in families. However, there is not yet enough scientific evidence to prove the condition is inherited.

If you have PCOS-related infertility it is probably due to the inability of the ovaries to release an egg, or the ovaries are releasing eggs that are not fully developed. However, not all women with PCOS have difficulty becoming pregnant. To learn more about PCOS, visit Fertility Authority's PCOS Channel.

Watch these videos about PCOS:

What Causes PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

To connect with other women with PCOS, please join our PCOS Support Group.

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im so glad to find out im

Permalink Submitted by glenda on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 4:14pm

im so glad to find out im not alone with this struggle! it all started when i started at age 10. my periods have always been messed up, few and far between, cysts that would rupture and drop me to my knees, cramps so bad i couldnt stand up. bleeding for 3 months straight,skipping for months at a time and huge bloodclots, flooding so much i couldnt go to work. also sex would make me bleed talk about embarrassing! now im lucky if i have 2 periods a year. now im scared cuz im 32 and ready to try for a baby. my boyfriend and i have been ttc since january cuz i actually had a normal period and im actually having one right now. thats a good sign right? the thing that gives me hope is that my sister also has pcos and she did clomid for 6 months then along came my neice emma! so lets keep our chins up and good luck to us all!

when i was a little girl,

Permalink Submitted by susan pratt on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 9:00pm

when i was a little girl, all I ever thought about was when I grew up I wanted to be a mother. After I got married, we started planning having a family. Well, after years of not having a period, I knew I was going to be challenged. After all the tests, I was told that I had polycystic ovarian disease. I went into depression, for I had 4 sisters who all had children, one who had twins boys. I took the clomid thinking that I might have a chance, but not. After all the surgeries, tests and all the negative pregnancy tests, the doctor knew all along that I could not have children. My husband told him not to tell me in fear that I might hurt myself for I wanted children more than life. I ended up having a hysterectomy at 28. To this day, to which I am now fighting Multiple Sclerosis, diag. in 1999, I still wish that it had been possible for me to have children. It saddens me when we all get together and everybody has their families there, I feel lonely and left out so I stopped going to baby showers, and anything to do with babies. My husband is now in the final stage of heart disease, so if anything were to happen to him, I would be alone to fight my MS alone. My husband had 2 children from a previous marriage, but their mother is alive and I don't get the same respect that she does. I feel for those that get this disease and I am glad to know that there is a support group for this for no one who has children doesn't understand how one feels to someone that can't. God Bless all those out there fighting this disease and good luck.

I to have polystic ovarion

Permalink Submitted by wanda on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 8:37am

I to have polystic ovarion syndrom, It's crazy to see that so many other women have this problem also,so has anyone else found it hard to loose weight, i hear if you try and loose some weight it mite help you with trying to get pregnant.

4 kids later

Permalink Submitted by Maz80 on Thu, 05/10/2012 - 11:26pm

In my teens i got really bad period pains, i use to have long soaks in the bath at 2am because of the pain, I'm now 32 years old, Happily married with 4 children, of my own. In my early 20s I was told I have pcos after trying to get pregnant for a year, I was given clomid for 2 cycles and metformin, I had my son now aged 5yrs, i decided not to go on birth control, because we wanted another child and what's the chance of getting pregnant naturally, I went to the doctor to refer me for fertility treatment and he put me on metformin while I was waiting, 2 months later I got pregnant with triplets now aged 2 1/2, I'm taking no more chances, it's the implant for me, I still have to shave and suffer with acne but I haven't had a period/ period pains since the triplets were born. You can get pregnant on pcos losing weight does help , my problem now is what next, I remember the doc saying my cyst were large and a lot when I was in the operating room have the triplets delivered, but that's it no other advise should I be concerned with the cysts, should I have them removed.

i was diagnosed with with

Permalink Submitted by Em Em on Sun, 04/18/2010 - 3:26pm

i was diagnosed with with pcos just this month...i have always had irrregular periods and i have had 3 miscarriages in the past few years i am only 21..me and my dr talked and he put me on the implanon to help with the pcos and to also help with my high chlorestorol and elevated sugars, but he also put me on the metformin to help me lose weight. i have been on it for 11 days and have already lost 9 pounds. im so worried about not being able to carry on full preganancy, me and my husband want kids so bad. im only 21 thats why i agreed to the implanon(since it lasts three years) so that gives me time to get my weight under control and my dr says he is going to help me with the right meds to hopefully have a baby...reading this page really helped me, gave me siome different insights from all of you..thanks it helped! wish u all good luck incuding myself :)...Emily

hello im 27 now years old I

Permalink Submitted by ke'Aria on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 9:17pm

hello im 27 now years old I have been diagnosed with pcos around 2004 its been 6yrs now i havent concieved yet!.......... I Been trying too... no..... success i went to the the Dr. a couple of months ago he prescribed me some metformin and some clomid 50mg. I have taken them all..... he told me to come back to his office in 30 days but i went a month after.... and he prescribed me some clomid only this time and he told me to come in 30 more days to check my insulan and blood level to make sure eveything is on track...... i PRAY to GOD it is.........and it will determan if im able to bear kids or not or i might have to travel to a fetility specialist....if the pills dont work........WHICH ME BLESSING AND I WILL TRULY appriciate IT

Hi...im 22 years old and i

Permalink Submitted by wondering... on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 6:34pm

Hi...im 22 years old and i found out that i had pcos at age 13 so 9 years ago. My mother insisted on getting me into the doctor after i had not yet started my period. They did many tests on me and even sent me to a speciaist. It was confirmed that i had pcos. In the past 9 years i have had many symptoms. At a very young age i was tired alot and severly overweight. The doctors gave me a script to a medicine called provera to jumpstart my period. Ever since my first period i have had to take provera for every period i have ever had. My body does not produce one of its own without the medicine. When i do have one it is extremely painful sometimes puttin me on the couch in a fetal position for days. I have had horrible migrane headaches that the doctors relate to my hormone levels being so out of whack which they believe is caused by the pcos. In the past few years my hair has thinned out very bad. No bald spots yet but i am definately in fear of that happening in the next several years. I also at about age 16 began to grow facial hair on my chin, upper lip, underneath my chin on my neck, and sideburns which for me is extremely embarrassing and i do have to take care of this problem daily. And above all i have never been able to concieve a baby. I am about to get married in a few months and we so desperately want to have a baby but we have tried for 2 yrs and no luck yet not even a pregnancy scare. So my question is has anyone had similar symptoms and what have any of you done to help your symptoms? Has doctors given and good advice?

ok im twenty years old and

Permalink Submitted by wright0828 on Wed, 05/19/2010 - 6:40pm

ok im twenty years old and my dr suggested that i might have pcos but told me that there was no test to actually diagnose it. iv been trying for two years to have a baby but with no luck at all. i have all the symptoms no periods very hairy and im always tired i live in jersey and i need a better dr. i cry alot because my only sister and most of my friends have children and i feel that it will never happen for me. but a month ago my moms best friend that has the same problem suggested that i start takin the herb dong qua. so i did and ever since i would bleed clot and then stop the same day and its been doing this for the last month everyday and it gives my constent headaches but deep in my heart i feel like its jump startin my period wat do u thiink? and thanks for the story cause its really giving me hope i just want to be a mom so bad thats wat ive been born to do someone please HELP

hi im sarah and about 6

Permalink Submitted by sarah on Fri, 05/28/2010 - 8:53pm

hi im sarah and about 6 months ago i found out i have pcos me and my husband have been tryin to have a baby for 4 yrs with no luck.. we couldnt figure out why we wasnt havin any luck i was so depressed over the fact that i may never have children... i was taking clomid and when it didnt work i never went back to get it filled again because i was so depressed i never have periods maybe once a year. Im trying to find some comfort somewere some happy stories of women in my condition having children.. i want to have the faith and drive but nobody in my famly has this condition that i know of so i cant go to them nobody understands. I need some incourgement i hope there is someone out there that feels the pain i feel and has had success.

hey girls im 21 now but was

Permalink Submitted by victoria on Sat, 06/12/2010 - 11:50am

hey girls im 21 now but was told i have pcos when i was 16 I hated the weight gain and all the crap that made growing up even harder any ways my major problem is that i dont have medical ive been trying to get pregnent for about 2years now and have had 2 losses I was just wondering if any one knows if there is any groups that help with the costs or if there is a cheep way to get a handle on this the weight alone just kills me i live a really active life and just cant seem to get the weight off and just end up giving up with no results

hey everyone I'm a 24 year

Permalink Submitted by Angela on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 2:23am

hey everyone I'm a 24 year old I was told by ny doctor 4yrs ago that i have pcos when she told me i din't take her serious in really didn't care due to i didn't want kids but when i met the love of my life i changed my mind i started take the medicine that she gave me but i couldn't handle it it felt like it was making me sickly then last year as i was useing the bath room days later i found out i was losing a baby it hurted me so bad i have been depress since i never know so many people in the owwrld are like me and reading all the stories really make me wanna try again i wanna thank all of you guys for given me hope n faith ok i have to end this because the tears start to make my eyes burn

Last year (a few months shy

Permalink Submitted by Elisabeth on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 3:42pm

Last year (a few months shy of my 27th birthday), I had an abdominal CT scan done for a diagnosis of appendicitis, and the NP (who specialized in OBGYN) said it appeared I had cysts on my ovaries and fibroids. She recommended that once I recovered from my appendectimy, I should talk to my GYNO about PCOS. Later that year I found a GYNO I was comfortable with and told him what she said. He asked some questions and made a CLINICAL diagnosis of PCOS. Obviously I was not convinced. Yes, I would skip a period here and there, but my periods where never overly heavy nor extremely light. They lasted 4 to 6 days depending if I skipped a period the month before. He put me on the BC pill Mononessa. For the first 5 cycles, my period was terribly heavy--I had to leave work or call in sick around day 2 or 3 because I had to sit on the toilet pretty much the whole day. He did blood tests for anemia and always said this was normal since my PCOS kept me from properly shedding my uterine lining--essentially my heavy bleeding on BC was due to a buildup of lining. Finally I was frustrated and asked him to refer me for ultrasounds. I had a pelvic utlrasound AND a trans-vaginal ultrasound. Everything came back negative....no cysts on my ovaries, no fibroids in my uterus, no fluid or any thing else that would have kept me from getting pregnant. I'm beginning to wonder if it's just my weight keeping me from properly ovulating. Obviously on BC I don't feel ovulation. I haven't gone off BC to try to concieve because I'm afraid that I may fall back into that previous pattern mentioned and develop a thickening of lining that could turn into fibroids. Should I go to a different GYNO or is this a normal pattern of thought for a doctor to have??? I need some thoughts on this. Please reply!

I forgot to mention that I

Permalink Submitted by Elisabeth on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 3:49pm

I forgot to mention that I have been cleared of any insulin issues by my general doctor. I also had bloodwork done prior to starting BC to look for hormone levels--the report came back as NORMAL. So, Insulin is NORMAL, BP is NORMAL, Hormone levels prior to starting BC were NORMAL. My fiance refuses to see a specialist to check sperm modality and vitality. He has a child from a previous marriage (and yes it is his), so I know he could father a child at some point in his life. We've tried for 2 years to concieve prior to my appendicitis last year.

i'm 17 and i have pcos. it

Permalink Submitted by emily on Fri, 07/02/2010 - 6:10pm

i'm 17 and i have pcos. it scares me because ive never wanted anything more than to be a mom. ive always talked about names and how exciting it would be. then i went the gyno and she told me i have pcos and didnt tell me the risk of infertility and when i read on the computer that its the leading cause i cried. i know im not alone and i have pleanty of time to think about a family but i've always known thats what i wanted. im on sugar pills but thats all and my eriods still only come about twice a year and then they are very heavy! its miserable because i have to live in tampons and pads because i never know when its about to start. i just want answers from my doctor that i never got. but more than that i want a baby someday!

I was just diagnosed today.

Permalink Submitted by Autumn on Mon, 07/12/2010 - 5:43pm

I was just diagnosed today. I am so upset at the thought that I may now have difficulty getting pregnant. Is there any success stories of women who gotten pregnant without fertility drugs and it just got corrected on its own and the woman was able to get pregnant. I am only 20 but me and my fiance are just getting ready to try and I just hope it could just go right away naturally. Someone please help me give me advice what to do.

I was told I had PCOS when

Permalink Submitted by Shameka on Mon, 07/12/2010 - 6:52pm

I was told I had PCOS when I was 16 and I am now 28 most of my day is spent in pain. I have yet to find a doc that will even try to help me with pain or other wise. Birthcontrol only makes my pain worse and my cycle will go more out of wack then it already is.... the 3 weeks I take the active pills I have a cycle and the week I am soppose to have my cycle I don't. I have been trying to lose weight because I was told that would help with the pain, but that has been unsuccesful as well. I too am wanting to have a baby but I can't get the symptoms under control so I have just givin up. I stay tired all the time and seems like I can not get enough sleep,have dizzy spells as well as nauesa and no energy. I am at wits end and don't know what to do anymore...

I was diagnosed with PCOS

Permalink Submitted by kecnklc on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 6:17pm

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2003 when I had my daughter. She was 10 days late and they ended up doing a planned/emergency c-section when I couldn't dialate past 2 cm. When they were delivering her I was informed that my ovaries were supposed to be the size of walnuts, but that my right ovary was the size of a baseball. They tried to just remove the cyst, but that didn't work, so they just removed my ovary. I have gotten pregnant once since then in April 2006 and miscarried at 5 weeks due to too much stress. I found out in November 2006 that I had cysts forming on my left ovary. However, at the time, I didn't have insurance. I finally had the cysts removed June 2009. I've been trying to get pregnant, but with no luck. If I'm lucky, my period will start on the same day 2 months in a row, but usually, it's just a hit and miss as to when it's gonna start, if it does. Just this year I've been having serious issues with my period. I went from February to this month without a period, and the dr can't tell me why. I found out last month that I have a noncancerous brain tumor that has been causing me to produce breast milk, and I thought at first that the meds the dr put me on was working on stopping that and decreasing the tumor, but have realized within the past cpl of days that the milk is coming just as much as before, which depresses me because my next option is brain surgery, which I'm not looking forward to. All I want is to have one more baby, then I wouldn't care if they took everything out, but I'm learning that with the PCOS, getting pregnant is hard. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can increase my chances of getting pregnant again, please let me know My e-mail address is:kecnklc@yahoo.com. Just put in the subject that it's about PCOS. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Kelly

Hello all I am 25 and

Permalink Submitted by RMJohnson on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 3:43am

Hello all I am 25 and married I was told about one year ago that i have PCOS and i have been on everything to get prago but nothing is working, I have given up on haven a baby and my husband has no clue on how pcos has driven me into a deep depression when it comes to kids. He keeps telling me that we dont need kids to be happy and we just need to give up. So i gave up and it kills me to know that i cant have a baby something that i have wanted my hole life i just dont know what to do. Can any one help me out on any advise on talking to the hubbie about this i am just at a loss!!!

Wow!!! To hear all of these

Permalink Submitted by Terri81 on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:03pm

Wow!!! To hear all of these stories really breaks my heart, I too am diagnosed with this as well.I try hard not to think about it because it upsets me soo much. I have been trying for about four years now to have another child. I have a nine year old son who ask me every other day for a brother or sister. Please pray for me!

I have yet to try any of

Permalink Submitted by Terri81 on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:25pm

I have yet to try any of the pills, I am too afraid I guess. I came very close to giving up on this because I have been trying for too long to fight this, but God blessed me with a wonderful fiancee who is not giving up on me. It's actually because of him why I actually joined this website and now I'm feeling a whole lot better. Next month I have an appointment to see my doctor to find out what will work for me. I pray that everything goes well.

Hello my name is Tiffany, I

Permalink Submitted by Tiffany on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 11:54am

Hello my name is Tiffany, I am 19yrs old; When I was about 13 year old a doctor told me I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (pcos). I followed up with a obgyn at that time and was told because i had heavy periods I did not have pcos. Between that time and now I would have pains all the time in my stomach so finally I went to the urgent care their they did some test and said that it looks as if i had pcos. Last week i went to a new obgyn and had a ultra sound...he said i had pcos; BUT because I was having regular heavy menstruals he did not think he needed to take action. I also explained to him that I've been gaining weigh and it's very hard for me to lose the weigh. And that my insulin levels are high. and I alsop have high blood pruessure. All he could tell me is that there are "8 forms of pcos and mine is not important untill I miss my Periods." and if I were to loss weigh I'll be ok. He did not listen to what i had to say about the trouble i have losing weigh. My question is does anyone think I should see a new doctor and talk about insulin ioptions or do you think that docrot was correct, and i should not worry untill I miss periods? Remember I've had these problems going on since I was 13 Years old...maybe younger. Thank you Tiffany tiffanylove91@yahoo.com

Hi, i am 25 years old. i

Permalink Submitted by Meigan on Sun, 08/22/2010 - 10:06pm

Hi, i am 25 years old. i have had pcos since i was in my mid teens. I go years between periods and i am always tired and have no ambition in life. I tried for years to have a baby while taking metformin and the clomid for a few months. it never worked. I want so badly to have a baby but im so scared that i have lost my chances. me and my spouse do not use protection just in case a miracle happens. But it doesnt seem to. Just the last week i have been having pain and discomfort in my pelvic area. It hurts worse during intercourse and while using the bathroom. I have never had this feeling before in all the years of me having this syndrome. Does anyone maybe know what this could be?

Hi, I am 23 and was

Permalink Submitted by Lindsay on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 8:54am

Hi, I am 23 and was diagnosed with PCOS when i was 20. My husband and I have been trying for 5 yrs now and sill nothing. I want a baby so bad and am so scared it will never happen. My doc put me on metformin in 07. I took it for bout 1 1/2 yrs didn't do anything so I got upset and quit taking it. I went to a different doctor in March 2010 had to start all over with the metformin still nothing so far. I have had irregular periods since I was a teenager. They had me on birth control at first to help get them regulated and that didnt help much. I usually have a period every 5 to 6 months and they last about 4 days. When I do have a period, I'm in severve pain, major cramps, heavy clotting and bad headaches. My family keeps telling me to stay positive and not to give up, but it is so hard to be positive. They all have kids and just don't understand what I'm going through. Lindsay

I have many of the symptoms

Permalink Submitted by Andrea416 on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 6:29pm

I have many of the symptoms most of you talk about. I have the extremely irregular and at times heavy periods. When it first started I didn't have a period for over seven months and all the doctor did was give me pills to make me have my period. I get dizzy a lot, always tired, alway moody and I am very tender around my lower abdomen. I am currently working with my doctor to see if this is what I have. If it is, I pray I am still able to have a child with my fiancé. Any advice to a scared woman?

I got dignosed with pcos

Permalink Submitted by Ban on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 7:30pm

I got dignosed with pcos when i was 15 and at the same time with tyoe 2 daitbetes.. I know how it feels it. I want to have a baby but having a problem with it because my health issues. I trying my best to lose weight and be healthy but its hard with this disease

I'm 25 Years old and in

Permalink Submitted by Sonni on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:29am

I'm 25 Years old and in 2009 I was diagnosed with PCOS. I totally freak out, reading about it hearing others stories just depressed me. Why be born in a womens body if I can't have children. I have been trying since Jan 2010 to get pregnant and still nothing. I too am on Glumetza. I'm not one to take medication I hardly take a Advil for a headache, so getting put on a daily pill was not a plus in my eyes. So i tried it for a month then got off of it and tried it again and decided i didn't want to take the medication... I recently went to my endoc and told her that i'm trying to have a baby, so she told me to really try Glumetza and stick with it this time... So again i'm back on it and on a higher dose... Lately i've been feeling stomach sick but I know it's the medication my doc told me i'll feel like that for a few weeks or so... I feel for everyone who is going through this, I mean it sucks it really does, in a way I feel like a, a broken toy... It's not fair, no one in my family that I know of has this... My sisters have beautiful babies I feel in my heart that one day I will too but in some case it just might not happen... I wanted to post my story because I have been feeling like no one understands... Yes it's always good to be positive but everyone's body is different no matter how similar our stories might be it might be a yes for you and a no for me or vice versus... In the end we have to be strong for ourselves and one another... I wish you all the best in conceiving and i truly hope we have a chance to experience pregnancy... Thanks for listening and good luck to all of you... :)

I was the one who posted

Permalink Submitted by SLV on Wed, 08/17/2011 - 7:10am

I was the one who posted the paragragh above and i wanted to let all of you know that there is hope... I am very happy to say that after being on glumetza i was about to conceive and now I have a beautiful baby girl who recently turn 2 months old.... i truly thought i wasn't going to be able to have children but my wish came true... So keep thinking positive and i wish the best of luck to each and every one of you... Yes i still have PCOS and i'm sure when I try again it might be hard but keep trying don;t give up, it will happen... :)

I am 29 years old and just

Permalink Submitted by Candice on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 7:53am

I am 29 years old and just have been diagnosed with PCOS. I already have two daughters which are 13 and almost 11. Me and my husband had gotten pregnant in 2008 but I had a miscarriage at 10 1/2 weeks. Then in April my periods starting acting funny, so after much convincing from him I went to the doctor, and she gave me an ultrasound which confirmed my worst fears. I want a baby so bad. I go back to the doctor on the 14th to discuss options. I have started changing what I eat and me and my husband go for walks everyday. I am going to suggest the Metformin and Clomid to her and see what she thinks. I feel as if I am losing hope of ever getting pregnant. I know that I am depressed a baby is all I think about day and night. My husband doesn't have any children as my daughters were from another relationship. Does anyone have any advice for me...

hello ladies. i feel your

Permalink Submitted by mandy on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:34am

hello ladies. i feel your pain. i am 22 years old. over weight. and i have pcos. i am recentily divorsed. i guess my x husband just couldnt be with a woman that could not father his children. well who needs to be with someone that doesnt support you anyways. its not like woman just wake up one day and decide to be infertile. i tried birth control a few years ago, i was taking it for almost a year. then. i stopped thought i found "the one". well no babies. i was told by my dr. to take birth control to regulate my time of the month. so i did for about 6 months, i had to stop taking it. beacuse no matter what kind i took, it just made me sick. i know am in a relationship and my new man is supportie. (to a point).. he REALLY wants kids. so i am again trying but not with much hope. i have been taking fertil aid.. for a few weeks... no baby yet..but that stuff really makes you in the mood...lol.. at least their is something positive coming out of it. i have been on a pretty stricy diet for a month. no soda, chips, candy, fast food, or really much of anything. im trying diet drinks. zantrex 3.. isnt too bad.. just tastes like..sh*t.. so i told him i will try to lose some weight. take this fertil aid stuff, and be open minded.. unfortunitly i couldnt tell him, my heart is closed. with so many disapointing times. i just ant take anymore disapontment. it kills me to feel like the man i love will Never be a father as long as he is with me. email me if you have ever felt the way i do.. tropicalparadisemassage@yahoo.com...p.s. baby dust for all those who need it.

hello ladies. i feel your

Permalink Submitted by mandy on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:37am

hello ladies. i feel your

Permalink Submitted by mandy on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:42am

I was told I had POS a

Permalink Submitted by vickie on Sun, 09/19/2010 - 2:56pm

I was told I had POS a little over a year ago after finally getting my doctor to do tests since I had not had a period in 3years. I still went throug the emotions just no period. It is a very hard thing to deal with because when ur young you never think(wow I could not be able to do my god givin right to have a baby) and it is upsetting at times and try to stay positive. I am on metphormine and a pill I take every month to have a period to help me get all the old blood out and to ovulate. One my husband is checked to make sure everything is okay we are startin the clomid. A lot of people have told me to get a D&C to clean my self out so we could get all the old blood and stuff out so we could have a better chance of getting pregnate. So I guess my question is should I do the D&C or let nature take its course.

I was 28 and just got

Permalink Submitted by laurie on Wed, 09/22/2010 - 11:26am

I was 28 and just got married for the first time. I already had 2 kids and had my tubes tied. My husband and i decided that we would love to have a child together, so i went to see a specialist and had my tubes reversed. I am now 36 and still have not had a child. I did however have a miscarriage. when i had my miscarriage had very normal 28 day periods, shortly after that my periods started coming irregular i could not figure out why. i keep gaining weight and i always used to be slim and kinda attrative but now i can't seem to get rid of the weight. I went to see the doctor and she put me on birth control and was on them for about 6 months and hope that helps with keeping them normal again, but i would like to have a child really bad and now i am going to try to go back on metformin and hope it will work for me. I tried it for a while and seemed to make me sick but i want to give it another chance. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Hi, I am 14 my doctor

Permalink Submitted by shelby irwin on Thu, 10/07/2010 - 7:02pm

Hi, I am 14 my doctor has just diagnosed me with pcos I have been on my period nonstop for the past 4 months! After they did the ultra sounds the said that it was pcos! I have gotten dizzie and nausious and really sick just from this! So I no wat u all or going through! Though I am not trying to have kids yet I pretty much have to already try to cope with the fact that I will probably not be able to concieve a child! :( just hang in there guys and pray good things will happen!!!!! Shelby

Trying to conceive for 4

Permalink Submitted by bisi TTC on Sat, 10/16/2010 - 11:38am

Trying to conceive for 4 years; i have irregular periods and few weeks before my periods start i always have breast tenderness along with lower abdominal pain at my left hand side. what can i do?

I was told I had PCOS 10

Permalink Submitted by Kassie :) on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 5:07pm

I was told I had PCOS 10 years ago. I took all the meds to get preganent and it didn't work. We tried for years to get preganent with no luck. We gave up and I stopped taking all the meds. About five years ago I had blood work done because I was sleepy all the time, and felt like death. When my results came back it turned out that ontop of the PCOS causing me issues my Thyrod is under active. We have gotten it straighted out and I am looking for a docter now that will listen to what all I have already done, but I don't want to start all over. I want to have the cysts removed off my overies and start taking the clomid to get preganent. I have started back on the metformin, dieting, I have lost 17 pounds, and I have started working out. I had my first three day, very light period in October. I am 30 years old, so I am hoping having the cysts removed and getting back on the clomid I will be able to conceive... I will keep all updated on how things go. Any suggestions are welcomed...

My husband is 49 yrs old

Permalink Submitted by amyrobbie on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 3:48pm

My husband is 49 yrs old and has hep c i am 27 and we have been trying like crazy to have a baby is it possible that the hep c could cause him to be sertile and unable to have kids

I was diagnosed with PCOS

Permalink Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 11/16/2010 - 11:28am

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 yrs old after seeing an endocrinologist as well as my OBGYN. I am a bit confused by all of this, I am now 27 yrs old and have seen different doctors for treatment but have gotten no where until about 8 months ago. I was scheduled for an external and internal ultra sound to see if I have any cysts on my ovaries to the drs surprise I have no cysts. They are still treating me for PCOS due to the symptoms that I have, missed/irregular periods, excessive hair growth, and weight change, they started me on metformin 500 mg 2x a day and birth control pills. I have noticed a slight change in my menstrul cycle but I am still not getting a straight answer from my doctor regarding pregnancy. I want to know will I be able to conceive a child and carry to term. I have no cysts on my ovaries but I am producing a larger amount of Testosterone due to the PCOS if there is another alternative I would like to know and what is the best way to treat this naturally I don't want to be on pills the rest of my life and I would like to conceive a child naturally without horomones or fertility drugs if anyone has any answers or a similar experience please let me know

I was just diagnosed with

Permalink Submitted by Anonymous7659 on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 1:21pm

I was just diagnosed with pcos and am having trouble getting pregnant i have to take medicine for my period my doctor said if u don't have at least 4 periods a year right now i'm at risk of having uternie cancer

I was diagnosed with PCOS

Permalink Submitted by Miriam on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 5:11pm

I was diagnosed with PCOS in October of 2009. My husband and I have been trying to conceive. We have never in 3 years used any form of contriception. I am desperate to find a way to get pregnant. I have been to doctors and all they can tell me is you need to be on Birth Control to get regulated. Then a hormone. None of the insurances i can find will pay for the hormone because they consider it a Fertility Treatment. Any suggestions will be extremely helpful.

My husband and I have been

Permalink Submitted by Holly on Thu, 01/06/2011 - 8:06pm

My husband and I have been married for 8 years and I'm 30 years old. We have tried to get pregnant for years. Recently we decided to go to a fertility clinic. I have known that I had PCOS for quite awhile. The doctor ran other test on my husband and myself and everything was perfectly normal. We are starting Artificial Insemination with a combo of Clomid and Metformin this month. I am praying that this will be the solution for us. I have also been told that Clomid and Metformin works without the Artificial Insemination, but obviously chances are greater with AI. I can tell you one of the most unfortunate parts of PCOS is that our LH levels are always high therefore it is impossible to tell when we our ovulating through ovulation tests. If you are serious about getting pregnant I highly suggest having ultrasounds along with clomid and Metformin to determine ovulation dates. Wishing you all the best of luck and keep in mind positivity brings better results!!

Hello! I am twenty nine

Permalink Submitted by savedbygrace on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 10:00am

Hello! I am twenty nine years old, and was diagnosed ten years ago with PCOS. For treatment I was prescribed Low-Ogesteral birth control pills. I took them for ten years! I have had the same OB-GYN dr for four years now and she said I could try and go off the pill and see if I could have a cycle on my own. I did and have been off them for three months now and Nothing! I feel miserable! I have all pms symtoms from time to time and nothing. I have never been pregnant ( God sent me a son! I have had him since he was 23 months old, he's now 11 years old! ) but I absoulutely had no sex drive, kept chronic yeast infections due from the pill. Can anyone relate? I don't know what to do next. Being on the pill that length of time is it unhealthy? The dr.s I have seen never suggested any thing else! I feel so nauseated, dizzy at times, and sometimes dazed and confused. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated : ) Thanks and God Bless....

I to found out I have PCOS

Permalink Submitted by Erica/Cheyenne on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 8:06am

I to found out I have PCOS & let me tell you it all started when my second child was premature... After I had my baby my hole body was changin my cycles was all messed up I would bleed for a week stop for two then bleed again I was like what's going on cause when I worked I was so tired had very strong cramps but most of all my head would hurt so bad that I would get dizzy I even asked coworkers when ur on ur cycle does it make ur bloodpresure high cause I felt like all my blood was race n to my head & I was about to pass out on top of crampin I even had my tubes tied & now my only problem is my weight & my dr said you will gain the most in ur mid section with pcos so she has me on phentermin/adipex-p to help control my weight then we R going from there but I have been feeling so much better more energy & my healthy & I go two months without a cycle

i am only 17 years old, but

Permalink Submitted by Elizabeth on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 10:26pm

i am only 17 years old, but i was diagnosed back in april of 2010 with pcos. the doctors say i have had it for years, but i choose to wait so long before receiving help...unfortunately i had a pretty wonderful doctor who told me absolutely NOTHING about my condition just that it was because i was over-weight. they put me on no meds or anything, so i assumed my condition was not serious until i got home and decided to do some research on the condition...honestly it tore me apart. the first thing i feared was never being able to have children and i was extremely angry at first. it still upsets me to think that i may never be able to have children. i have looked at the options and i realized there is help out there. i haven't decided the path i want to take with this, but i do know that the pain is becoming unbearable and i'm tired of feeling extreme nausea everyday. sometimes i feel dizzy too. i have considered a full hysterectomy in hopes that i would no longer be in pain, but i wanted to know if there honestly were other options to stop the pain. i have taken some of the strongest meds in attempt to avoid pain, but not even those help me. i am not sure what to do and i'd like advice from other women with my condition...i need a little bit of hope right about now too.

Hi ladies, Im 41 and don't

Permalink Submitted by high on life on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 4:02pm

Hi ladies, Im 41 and don't have kids.I was very upset for years.But i realize kids is not for everybody.I was diagnosed in 1993 with PCOS.I have very heavy peroids and facial hair.I lost weight and got on metformin for 10 yrs and i did not get preg.I've learn to be happy with my marriage{20 yrs}with no kids.It's all what you want and what god has planned for you.Im very happy not having kids which i thought i could't be for years.Don't waste your precious time worrying about something that might not happen.Life is short and sweet so enjoy it and quit worrying about something thats in god's hand.

I'm 21 yrs old and I've had

Permalink Submitted by Arielle89 on Mon, 02/07/2011 - 10:07am

I'm 21 yrs old and I've had irregular periods since the beginning. When ever it does decide to come on....it's on for up to two weeks straight. I have been on birth control for 2 months now and i still see no difference. I read all the symptoms for PCOS so now im basically self diagnoising...I was also diagnoised with SCIDs, which comes along with many other health problems of its own. If anyone has answers I'm always listening.

Hi, I am 24 years old. I

Permalink Submitted by Tasha on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 4:29pm

Hi, I am 24 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago. I am married and have always wanted a child. My previous DR. kept telling me that my periods wasnormal for a kid like me because i was very active and always on the run. I bled so bad, and cramped and had no energy. I kept telling my DR that something was wrong until on day i went through 2 super plus boxes of tampons, and it got so bad that day that i had to wear pads just so i wouldn't bleed through. Well needless to say that i went to the dr that day and they told me i was down to 7 pints of blood, the next morning i go to school for about 4 hours and had to go back to the dr because i was really dizzy and i fainted on the bleechers at school. When my results came back from the lab i had drop 2 pints of blood within a 30 hour timeframe. I was 15, when i had to have a DNC and blood transfusion. I kept going to this DR until i was 19 and he didn't do anything for me besides put me on birth control which never regulated my periods. So finally i went to a specialist and with in 2 hours of meeting my new DR she diagnosed me with PCOS. I still have yet to become pregnant and the pills that she has me on don't seem to help regulate me at all. But I am happier knowing what is going on with my body then to be stuck in a black room and not knowing what is going on. I too, have been told to stay on a strick diet and I had to exercise alot. I am not obese, but yet i am not skinny. I was super skinny when i was younger, but here in the last year i have put on 60 pounds. I don't like my self, i hate the way i look and i hate my husband to even look at me as well. Can some one please help me with a Diet that works as well as exercise routines? I have been trying not to eat fatty foods, dropped all my soda intake and even started eating nothing but baked foods and steamed veggies.... THIS IS STILL NOT WORKING. I would appreciate all your comments and help as well

I have been diagnosed with

Permalink Submitted by Maghan on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:37pm

I have been diagnosed with PSOC and endometrosis. I can't find anything that has worked. I have gotten my tubes tied almost a yr ago so im not looking to get pregnant. Why won't my dr just give me a hyst? What can I do to convience him just to take it all out I don't need it any more. Im yrs old and I luckly have 3 wonderful boys, I just want my life back I hate the way this has made me feel. Please help any info will help I go to the dr tomorrow to discuss my last options. Thank you Maghan

i just need to get this

Permalink Submitted by amandaperez on Fri, 03/25/2011 - 2:59pm

i just need to get this out> i feel like im going crazy i just want to cry everytime it settles in that i may never have a child. if u havent already guessed i too have pcos. and have had it since i can remember maybe 10. and docs never could narrow what it was really down til i was 18 then i was diagnosed i was pregers once and i'll never forget the feeling inside me i want to hold on to it forever. my husband is so supportive but i know and cant help but feel he deserves to have childern of his own and i will probly never be able to give that to him. it just breaks my heart, makes me feel not normal not a women. what am i really here for? it just goes on and on the questions and no answers.i too have been on metformin but it make me sick to my stomach so i am on the pill to keep me regular and not in pain, and i try to stay hopeful god is the only one who really controls it all.sometimes it all just gets built up and i need to get it out. thank u all for the lending ear