Ovarian Cysts Questions

I've had cysts since I was 13 and had to be on birth control because of it. I am not a fan of taking meds but each time I tried to get off the pills, they always came back. I had no problems getting pregnant when I decided the time was right. I've been off the pill for a total of 4 years (pregnancy + 3 years post) and have had to get back on them for this exact reason. It really is common and, IN MY CASE, not a big deal at all.

PCOS is a frequent diagnosis in women. There are many levels.

I was diagnosed with it, but I am not convinced I have it. I went to a new GYN and wanted to talk about what I should do to prepare to conceive. He didn't want to help really (If he did, he would have suggested I get a Rubella booster or he would have written me a prescription for free pre-natal vitamins). He just wanted to sell me medicine. We had only been off BC pills for 2 weeks and he was ready to put me on fertility drugs for PCOS so that I would conceive. He told me I had it based on looking at me before even ordering any tests. Heaven forbid a heavy girl have bad skin and body hair like every other woman in her family.... she must have PCOS. He ordered a vaginal ultrasound (without telling me that it was not an external ultrasound... that was a nasty surprise) and he ordered a blood sugar test (without telling me that I was required to wait around the office for 2 hours for the second blood draw.. another surprise).

I'm pretty bitter about having given this charlatan money. I also feel really stupid for doing his tests. I was pregnant 2 months later without any sort of medical intervention.

Bottom line: PCOS doesn't always mean trouble conceiving. Take the BC pills. Stop them a few months before you want to start trying. If you are told you need expensive medicine for it without having tried for at least 6 months, get a second opinion.

After haing a very difficult few years of extremely painful and irregular periods, extreme mood swings and terrible acne, I igot to the age of 22 and nsisted that my doctor would no longer use the cop-out line of "don't worry, you'll grow out of it" and demanded blood tests. Eventually it was proven I had a hormone imbalance, then ultrasound scans proved I had PCOS. I'd known since starting my periods at 14 something wasn't right but no doctor would take it seriously because I was in my teens and "still growing up".

After the diagnosis I was offered no help and was simply told "it won't affect your daily life theres no need to be upset", despite the fact the doc had just told me I may never have children. In my region it appears doctors know so little about this condition that they are not prepared to do anything to help and I was told to just get on with it!

I discovered off my own back that the contraceptive pill Dianette is good for PCOS sufferers as it balances the hormones better and helps with acne. After a battle with my GP to get Dianette, I ventually got it and it made such a difference - regular non-painful periods, balanced hormones making the mood swings far less frequent and severe, and the acne all but disappeared. However my GP insisted Dianette shouldn't be used for more than 9 months and I'd refused to come off it for 9 years, so he would no longer let me hae it anymore. I was devestated when all the old symptoms returned and another battle to get a medical professional to take my PCOS seriously ensued. It took me another 2 years to finally get a doctor to test me on different contraceptive pills - eventually I found one that worked (Marvelon) and I felt back to normal again.

My only options to control my PCOS hae been contraceptive pills.
I've just come off my pill at 30 years old to now attempt to try for a baby. Not sure if anything is gonna happen but got my fingers crossed. My sister also discovered she has PCOS too last year, but she has a 4 year old son so Im hopeful...

Hope things work out for you and that your medical professionals are more helpful and sympathetic to your condition