40 pound weight loss with pcos!

That is SO awesome congrats!!! PCOS definitely presents some hurdles and roadblocks with weight loss, but dedication and will power can overcome many things! I also have PCOS and have had success so far! Keep up the good work, and know that you are not alone out there! I'm hoping with more weight loss, maybe my PCOS symptoms will be a little less prominent in my life..aka (not so much weight gain around middle; no more lack of ovulation so I can have a child; etc)

I too have pcos. I am hoping to lose some weight to help with symptoms. You are an inspiration. Thanks for posting...

Thanks so much for sharing your story. I have PCOS as well and have joined this site to help with my fight to lose weight. It is encouraging to see that someone with the same situation is successful thus far.

Congrats! I also have PCOS and have found it difficult to lose throughout the years. It is always very inspiring to hear the success stories of others with PCOS.

It stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It's long to explain, so instead I'll just quote from an online source some of the symptoms, causes, etc.

source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001408/

"Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which there is an imbalance of a woman's female sex hormones. This hormone imbalance may cause changes in the menstrual cycle, skin changes, small cysts in the ovaries, trouble getting pregnant, and other problems.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Female sex hormones include estrogen and progesterone, as well as hormones called androgens. Androgens, often called "male hormones," are also present in women, but in different amounts.

Hormones help regulate the normal development of eggs in the ovaries during each menstrual cycle. Polycystic ovary syndrome is related to an imbalance in these female sex hormones. Too much androgen hormone is made, along with changes in other hormone levels.

It is not completely understood why or how the changes in the hormone levels occur.

Follicles are sacs within the ovaries that contain eggs. Normally, one or more eggs are released during each menstrual cycle. This is called ovulation. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the eggs in these follicles do not mature and are not released from the ovaries. Instead, they can form very small cysts in the ovary.

These changes can contribute to infertility. The other symptoms of this disorder are due to the hormone imbalances.

Women are usually diagnosed when in their 20s or 30s, but polycystic ovary syndrome may also affect teenage girls. The symptoms often begin when a girl's periods start. Women with this disorder often have a mother or sister who has symptoms similar to those of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Symptoms

Changes in the menstrual cycle:

Absent periods, usually with a history of having one or more normal menstrual periods during puberty (secondary amenorrhea)

Irregular menstrual periods, which may be more or less frequent, and may range from very light to very heavy

Development of male sex characteristics (virilization):

Decreased breast size

Deepening of the voice

Enlargement of the *kitten*

Increased body hair on the chest, abdomen, and face, as well as around the nipples (called hirsutism)

Thinning of the hair on the head, called male-pattern baldness

Other skin changes:

Acne that gets worse

Dark or thick skin markings and creases around the armpits, groin, neck, and breasts due to insulin sensitivity

Signs and tests

During a pelvic examination, the health care provider may note an enlarged *kitten* (very rare finding) and enlarged ovaries.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are common findings, as are weight gain and obesity.

Weight, body mass index (BMI), and abdominal circumference are helpful in determining risk factors.

Levels of different hormones that may be tested include:

Estrogen levels

FSH levels

LH levels

Male hormone (testosterone) levels

17-ketosteroids

Other blood tests that may be done include:

Fasting glucose and other tests for glucose intolerance and insulin resistance

Lipid levels

Pregnancy test (serum HCG)

Prolactin levels

Thyroid function tests

Other tests may include:

Vaginal ultrasound to look at the ovaries

Pelvic laparoscopy to look more closely at, and possibly biopsy the ovaries

Treatment

Losing weight (which can be difficult) has been shown to help with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Even a weight loss of 5% of total body weight has been shown to help with the imbalance of hormones and also with infertility.

Medications used to treat the abnormal hormones and menstrual cycles of polycystic ovary syndrome include:

Birth control pills or progesterone pills, to help make menstrual cycles more regular

Metformin, a medication that increases the body's sensitivity to insulin, can improve the symptoms of PCOS and sometimes will cause the menstrual cycles to normalize. For some women, it can also help with weight loss.

LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs

Treatment with clomiphene citrate causes the egg to mature and be released. Sometimes women need this or other fertility drugs to get pregnant.

Medications or other treatments for abnormal hair growth include:

Birth control pills. It may take several months to begin noticing a difference.

Anti-androgen medications, such as spironolactone and flutamide may be tried if birth control pills do not work.

Eflornithine cream may slow the growth of unwanted facial hair in women.

Hair removal using laser and nonlaser light sources damages individual hair follicles so they do not grow back. This can be expensive and multiple treatments are needed. Laser removal can be combined with other medicines and hormones.

Glucophage (Metformin), a medication that makes cells more sensitive to insulin, may help make ovulation and menstrual cycles more regular, prevent type 2 diabetes, and add to weight loss when a diet is followed.

Pelvic laparoscopy to remove a section of the ovary or drill holes in the ovaries is sometimes done to treat the absence of ovulation (anovulation) and infertility. The effects are temporary.
Expectations (prognosis)

Women who have this condition can get pregnant with the right surgical or medical treatments. Pregnancies are usually normal.
Complications

Increased risk of endometrial cancer

Infertility (early treatment of polycystic ovary disease can help prevent infertility or increase the chance of having a healthy pregnancy)

Obesity-related (BMI over 30 and waist circumferance greater than 35) conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes

Possible increased risk of breast cancer"

I have PCOS as well. I've been hoping with weight loss that Ill begin to ovulate regularly (no more surprises). I have lost about 20 pounds in all so far and plan to continue. Glad to see there are others out there. Happy for you and congrats on your weight loss!

Congradulations. I also have PCOS (been dealing with it since I was 17). I hope to soon have a story similar to yours =]
I feel like there should be a group for those with PCOS

There is. Check under groups for PCOS Cysters