PCOS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! OMG

You're doing well to be proactive now to get ahead of it, if that's the reason for your symptoms.

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but if you want kids in the future please take the steps now. While some people are lucky and don't have fertility issues, some of us aren't so lucky and it does cause infertility. I was lucky to have one daughter at 20 and was blessed with another a few years later by some random miracle that even the doctor didn't expect. After that, no more, even with fertility meds so I just caution you to keep that in mind now, while you're young, and be proactive to protect your fertility, if possible. I didn't and it is something that I still carry with me, especially as my girls leave the nest.

At your age, I had PCOS and lost weight if I put the effort in, and despite what some say, weight loss does not cure it, but it can help with symptoms. I was only 120 lbs when my symptoms began and for the following few years and it's been an up and downhill battle since then. Finally, my thyroid got thrown into the mix in the last few years and that has been a bigger hurdle when it comes to weight.

Yep... been dealing with this for 30 years.. but not diagnosed untl 20 years.
Nothing you can't live with...
It does make it harder to lose weight, especially if you also become Type II diabetic.

There are several PCOS groups on here too... Soul Cysters to name one.. do a search.
This is extremely common -- and lots of women don't even know they have it.

I'm sorry, but what is PCOS? I've never heard of it.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Hi! I was misdiagnosed for a while with multiple issues but like you, had all of these symptoms. When I finally WAS diagnosed, my Doc basically said there was nothing I could do but go on meds, my chances of conceiving were less than 10%, and that I would probably deal with those symptoms like being fat and miserable for the rest of my life. I immediately started researching because, well, I panicked. And I'm one of those people who is comforted by information. I found soulcysters.com after a week or two and it was wonderful! What you need to know right off the bat, is that like many disorders, it isn't a one size fits all issue. So, while some people say it can't be cured, it can for others. Or while for some people they can't lose, others can. And not all 'cysters' look the same... some are big and some are thin. It's a pretty diverse illness. What I CAN tell you is that I immediately went on a low carb diet. Prior to that, I'd had NO luck losing but suddenly in the course of only a month or two dropped 25lbs. I decided if my chances of having children were so slim, I was going to get a job I loved, a convertible, etc. Then found out I was prego! I was over 3mos. along before I knew because my cycle was so sporadic. Since then, I've had not only one but two children. Both times were after switching to a lower carb diet -- the second being VERY strict. I did a total system reset similar to what they have you do before weight loss surgery. The strange thing has been that since having my second child. ALL of my symptoms have disappeared. I'm now only following low calorie and have for quite a while now. My new Doc here even checked me and said that my cysts were gone as of my last check (I am due again). I still get the random hair now and again, but I am in my 30's. But my periods are like clockwork and the pain most of the time is in the normal range. I plan on having all of my bloodwork checked when I go in this time, too. So... PCOS can't be put into a box for definition. It varies so much and effects each of us differently. My point to all of this is not to strictly take what your Doc says to heart unless you have a great doc who listens. I do now, but didn't then. I really hope you figure it out and find a way to live with it. Good luck!

I have pcos. I found out when I was trying to get pregnant with my 2nd (this was about 12 years ago) and having trouble. I was told to go on metformin, lose weight etc. Metformin did not work. I lost a little weight. Then I started clomid and daily ultrasounds etc. Then later I was told I would not be able to get pregnant but needed IVF if I wanted another baby. At that point we decided to be happy with one child and stopped all the fertility treatments. I decided not to stress about it anymore and just focus on being happy with what I have and work on my overall health. Within a few months I was pregnant. I now have 4 kids. I'm still overweight, and now diabetic, but working on it through diet and exercise.

So the moral of my story is go see the doctor, get lots of info, try not to stress too much about it and work on it. PCOS is closely linked to diabetes, so my advice is to treat yourself like you do have diabetes, look into diabetic-friendly diets and start monitoring your blood sugar if you can. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done that from day one. If you are able to lose weight on your own without drugs you should keep doing what you are doing.

You know... I did not know what PCOS was until about 5 mins ago? I have the following symptoms:

Skin tags
Acne (sometimes good sometimes really bad depending on the day)
Depression
Obese (40% body fat, hips 53" waist 40" height 5'2")
Course chin hairs & lip hairs (all beside the corners of my mouth (no more than 4 dark course hairs the rest are fine but very blonde and noticeable)
Irregular periods (sometimes 60 days before my next period sometimes more sometimes less)

Girls with PCOS!?!?!?!?!?!? Do you have any of those symptoms?

I have all of this except the obese part...no PCOS.
Painful cycles, long etc...don't self diagnose go to a doctor.