Have I got Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

Question

I've been reading a bit about it on the internet and think it could be a possibility. I'm 14 and I've booked an appointment to see my doctor after suffering from really bad period pain (I've tried every pain killer, including maximum strength Feminax Ultra) plus I have other symptoms -- acne & excess hair. Will it be a huge problem if I do have it, can anyone make more sense of this for me? Thanks.

Answer 1

You really do need to see a doctor. The pain could be related to another condition called endometrios. If you do have Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) it's manageable. My friend has PCOS and she had a rash on her face that wouldn't go away and she wasn't having any periods. She ended up going to a naturopath who suggested a natural medicine regime and the rash went away and she got back her period. As for PCOS affecting fertility, it can be a problem but there are things you can try to help.

However since you do menstruate (since you've said you have severe period pain), I would be inclined to think that you are someone who unfortunately gets severe period pain, or you have something like endometriosis. It's best to see a doctor who can take your history and run tests, and find out what's going on.

Just describe the symptoms you have to the doctor. They'll ask further questions to try to get a better idea of what's happening.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It's impossible to diagnose this kind of thing over the internet, but my wife had this so I can offer some advice.

The main symptoms are difficulty losing weight, irregular periods and facial hair.  However, these symptoms can also be caused by other things too.

My wife discovered she had this after she was unable to conceive, a trip to the specialist resulted in a scan of her ovaries which showed the cysts.  This prevented eggs from being released properly which was why she was unfertile.

However, she was prescribed a drug and within 6 months she was pregnant with our first child, we now have a boy and a girl, not requiring any drugs to conceive for the second time.

I can remember going in with my wife for one of the scans and seeing the egg that became my daughter being released from the ovary, which was quite cool!

Good luck and see your doctor!

Answer 3

The only one who can make sense of this for you is your doctor.