[SammyJ]

Hey ladies!

I'm Samantha and I am visiting her from the WTTC boards. My DH and I are planning to start TTC our first this spring sometime. However, I am encountering a few issues. I've never had regular periods growing up, then I was on bcp for four years and they came like clock work because of the hormones. Now that I am off it, it is taking me months to get regulated. I am currently on CD79, and still not sure if I Oed yet. I've been charting. It is still inconclusive, but I think I might have O'ed a few days ago. Still not sure. Anyway...for a long time I've suspected I might have PCOS. I have tons of the signs and symptoms and my mom also had it. She ended up having a full hysterectomy a couple years ago.

I went to the doctor about it and asked if they could do something to find out if I have PCOS. He basically brushed me off and refused to test me for anything. We want to TTC in the next four or five months and it would be really nice to figure out if I have PCOS before then. How do you think I should approach it? Do I just make another appt with him and demand some testing, or should I consult with another doc altogether? I am not really sure how to go about figuring this out. I assume they are able to find out through a blood test?

I would love some insight from you all! Thanks so much!

[aubers68]

Hello there!! I was diagnosed the beginning of this year, and although it was 10 months ago I am still learning a lot. But, what I can say, is that many doctors don't seem to know much about PCOS, and many seem to blow it off like it's not a big deal. My advice to you would be to see an OBGYN, and if the dr you were referring to was an OBGYN I would recommend finding a new one. TTC with PCOS is already difficult, so you really do need someone who is willing to help you out if/when you need it.

If you have many symptoms and your mother has it then I'm sorry to say, but there's probably a really good chance that you DO in fact have it (it can be hereditary).

You can really learn a lot from this board (I did) and I hope that you stick around. The ladies here are all helpful and really nice and welcoming

[peachie28]

I agree with aubers... See an OBGYN specifically if you haven't already and let them know your concerns. I didn't have to ask mine about it... She took one look at my hairy chin and ordered blood tests and an intravaginal u/s. Basically, from my experience, they're looking for high levels of androgens (male hormones, testosterone and DHEAs) and also if you have any cysts on your ovaries. When I was diagnosed in '08, my testosterone levels were fine, but DHEAs were elevated, and when they did the ultrasound I could look at the pics and tell something was wrong with my ovaries. The right one was a nice round shape, while the left one was shaped like an egg because of the cysts. If they do find high androgens or cysts, they probably will diagnose you as having PCOS.

Even though it can be a hard diagnosis to accept, don't lose all hope. There are plenty of women on this board that have gotten pregnant. I think the major thing is that while a "typical" woman has 12 chances in a year to get pregnant, we might only have 6 (or even less) because we don't ovulate as often. So I don't think it's impossible, it might just take a little longer than most. Good luck and I hope you can find a good doc that will run the appropriate tests!

[SammyJ]

Thanks, ladies for your help!! Unfortunately the doctor I am referring to is in fact an OBGYN. Ugh. Guess I'll have to do some shopping around for a better doctor. The only thing that confuses me is that when I was 19 (so about five years ago) I went to the gyno for the first time so I could get on BCP. He also saw the excess hair growth on my face and ordered some blood work. Everything came back fine then, but I have to wonder if it was just too soon to tell or if he wasn't looking for the right thing.

I guess I will have to just call and do some searching around. I really appreciate your help! It's mostly just frustrating to not have an idea of what is going on.

[aubers68]

I've had blood drawn 3 times before without any of the DRs "finding" PCOS. Maybe because they didn't test the right stuff? Or maybe with PCOS our levels fluctuate? I'm not really sure. But I do think you should shop around. And one sign of a "bad" OB when it comes to PCOS is if they tell you "just lose weight and things will get better", I'm learning this is an easy way for them to "push you under the rug till later" so to speak.

[MamaAnna]

Blood work to diagnose PCOS is usually done on a specific day and they look at specific levels of specific hormones that they use along with an ultrasound to diagnose PCOS. Your problem, whatever it is, is definitely affecting your hormones. Unfortunately, there are other conditions that can have the same impact on your fertility/cycles that have nearly the exact same symptoms so testing is the only way to be sure. Generally they want to do CD 3 blood work and a transvaginal ultrasound on CD 7 at the very least. A lot of doctors will go further and order CD 21 blood work to see what your hormones look like on what would be 7 DPO of a textbook cycle.

Your doctor sucks. Period. Any doctor who hears you have a 79+ day cycle and blows you off is putting your health at risk. Lengthy cycles cause elevated risk of several types of cancer and really are no joke. Most doctors would have given you Provera by now, or have it arranged to get it to you soon to induce a period. You absolutely need a new doctor to figure out what's going on and how best to treat it.

I wish you the best in your future TTC journey and hope that whatever diagnosis you get will help speed things along!

[~* Natasha *~]

Welcome to our board!
We hope you stick around with us, the ladies here are great!

I really don't have anything else to add except that I totally agree with the others about shopping around for another OBGYN who will truly listen to your problems and is willing to help you.

I hope you are able to find the answers you are looking for hun!

[SammyJ]

Thanks again for all of the responses. All of you have already been way more helpful than that OBGYN. Hopefully I will be able to find someone around here that actually knows something about it. The only thing I worry about is my insurance covering all of the tests. Do any of you know if testing for PCOS is covered as a fertility measure, or do they classify it with other regular female exams?

Again, you ladies are awesome, thanks for helping me out

[~* Natasha *~]

Many times, blood testing and other clinical testing to assess for PCOS can be billed/coded under GYN check rather than fertility. But of course you need to talk to the Dr you go to about the way they bill it/code it.

For me, even when I started seeing my RE, if he was doing testing, he billed it/coded it under PCOS/GYN check. But once he Rx'd oral/injectable meds he had to bill it/code it under fertility when then my insurance did not cover.

Good luck with everything and please stick with us and KUP on things!

[SammyJ]

Originally Posted by ~* Natasha *~

Many times, blood testing and other clinical testing to assess for PCOS can be billed/coded under GYN check rather than fertility. But of course you need to talk to the Dr you go to about the way they bill it/code it.

For me, even when I started seeing my RE, if he was doing testing, he billed it/coded it under PCOS/GYN check. But once he Rx'd oral/injectable meds he had to bill it/code it under fertility when then my insurance did not cover.

Good luck with everything and please stick with us and KUP on things!

Oh good to know! I'll have to make sure and ask tomorrow when I call for an appt. Are Clomid or Provera considered to be fertility meds? (sorry for all the ?s!!)

Thanks again. I'll let you ladies know what I find out!

[MamaAnna]

Provera isn't a fertility med since it's used to treat several conditions that cause annovulatory cycles and the resulting risks. Clomid is generally considered a fertility treatment, but a lot of pharmacies including Walmart and CVS have them on their discounted prescription lists so the out of pocket cost for 5 pills is pretty low.

[SammyJ]

Originally Posted by MamaAnna

Provera isn't a fertility med since it's used to treat several conditions that cause annovulatory cycles and the resulting risks. Clomid is generally considered a fertility treatment, but a lot of pharmacies including Walmart and CVS have them on their discounted prescription lists so the out of pocket cost for 5 pills is pretty low.

This is great to know! Thanks so much

[MamaAnna]

Welcome!