If I hadn’t been having trouble conceiving I probably would have never been diagnosed with PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is just one of the litany of problems that I bring to the table in efforts to conceive and one that long-term will probably have the most substantial impact on my health and well-being. Nevertheless, when I am visiting doctors other than the ob/gyn or fertility specialist I often forget to mention (on forms or in person) that I even have PCOS.
PCOS is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately one in ten women that is typically characterized by cysts on the ovaries, irregular periods, and high levels of male hormones or androgens. It is the most common cause of infertility. Not all women have all of the PCOS symptoms and it is certainly possible to have some of the classic signs without actually having PCOS. That is what I thought – I knew that I was pretty hairy but I blamed that on very dark hair and just the way I had always been. The other women in my family struggled with hirsutism (hair growth on face, toes, chest or stomach) so I just thought it was a trait of the family and with plenty of products on the market to bleach moustaches and remove excess hair it was pretty obvious that I was not the only one struggling with unwanted hair! I wrongly assumed that PCOS meant obese and although I am no means at my high school weight I (when diagnosed) was probably only 10 pounds over my weight at age 18. I had always carried any excess weight, though, around my midsection – another PCOS symptom. As I learned more about some of the other common symptoms; acne, oily skin, high blood pressure, skin tags, insulin resistance, and pelvic pain, I realized that I was a pretty classic case even before ultrasounds at the endocrinologist’s office revealed cystic ovaries too.
PCOS leads to infertility primarily because it wreaks havoc on ovulation. Clomid is typically the first treatment option for women diagnosed with PCOS as it stimulates ovulation. Although, Clomid treatment did not ultimately end up working for us (we did get pregnant many months after beginning Clomid, but had a miscarriage) it is sometimes the answer for people whose primary problem with infertility is the female partner’s PCOS. If Clomid does work or even if it doesn’t and the PCOS diagnosis prompts further treatment, I would imagine that there are plenty of other people like me who completely “forget” that they have PCOS when they begin to delve further into infertility struggles or are successful with ovulation induction therapies. I want to caution against this (and hope that I begin to take my own advice) to just focus on one aspect of PCOS. PCOS puts women at risk for issues other than infertility including diabetes, heart attacks, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and some research shows increased chances of endometrial cancer. Please, certainly recognize that PCOS does affect fertility, but I hope that you will also do what you need to be aware of other health risks associated with PCOS and how you can and should get help for all symptoms of PCOS, and not just “treat” PCOS in regards to your fertility.
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