I usually post on the Plus size TTC board, but I have a question about PCOS for those of you that have been diagnosed. Did you ever develop skin tags? I read that they can be one symptom of PCOS. I have some of the signs of PCOS such as being overweight, annovulatory, acne, and of course skin tags. But my doc doesn't think I have PCOS because I don't have the 'string of pearls ovaries'. And I'm post-Depo, so that complicates things. Do any of you mind telling me what made your docs conclude that you had PCOS? There doesn't seem to be a definitive way to tell.

to you all...

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Me -29 DH - 33
Married June 13, 2003
Completely anovulatory without meds
10/07 - 12/07 50mg Clomid,
12/07 - DH's SA all normal!
2/21/08 - RE consult
3/08 100mg clomid cd3-7, no follicles, cycle cancelled
4/08 - 150mg clomid cd3-7, u/s on cd14, 1 follicle @ 24mm, trigger shot on cd14 and timed bd,
5/08 - HSG looks good
6/08 - IUI+INJ #1,
7/08 - IUI+INJ #2,
8/08 - IUI+INJ #3

Hi Lisa! I also have every symptom mentioned above including skin tags! I am also insulin resistant and have problems with hair growth and loss on different areas of my body!! I am seeing a RE and he did some blood work and physical exams! I am also lacking the cysts on my ovaries but was still diagnosed with PCOS! Not having the cysts does not neccesarily mean you don't have PCOS!

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Lori-

If you don't mind me asking, how were you able to tell that you are insulin resistant?

I don't have problems with hair growth on different parts of my body. I occasionally get a couple of stray ones under my chin that need to be plucked every couple of months, but the doc said most women with PCOS have a much more severe problem than that. Otherwise, you and I sould like we're having a lot of the samy symptoms. I just got a lot more skin tags on my neck during the last month or two, so I was curious about everybody else!

Thanks!

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Me -29 DH - 33
Married June 13, 2003
Completely anovulatory without meds
10/07 - 12/07 50mg Clomid,
12/07 - DH's SA all normal!
2/21/08 - RE consult
3/08 100mg clomid cd3-7, no follicles, cycle cancelled
4/08 - 150mg clomid cd3-7, u/s on cd14, 1 follicle @ 24mm, trigger shot on cd14 and timed bd,
5/08 - HSG looks good
6/08 - IUI+INJ #1,
7/08 - IUI+INJ #2,
8/08 - IUI+INJ #3

I was diagnosed with PCOS as well, without any formal testing. I am overweight, have hair growth typical of PCOS, acne, and I am annovulatory. I also have skin tags, but did not know that was a symptom of it. My doctor looked at my ovaries when I was pg with my daughter, and didn't see any cysts either.

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Vanessa
DH Jeremy
DD Mayzie 7/9/03
DS Oliver Blane 2/19/07

Lisa,
My obgyn was actually the one who thought I had a probelm and was actually checking for other things when we determined the insulin problem! She then sent me to a re who confirmed her thoughts! They do blood testing for glucose and hormone levels to help determine along with the symptoms!

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No cysts here and I was diagnosed... Just lurking

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Trying to Concieve Since March 2005





IN THE ONE YEAR WAIT....UNTIL HE COMES HOME.... (This is how to BD by yourself LOL)

MISSING MY HUBBY SINCE 10/05/06
PROUD ARMY WIFE

I was diagnosed because I have a "string of pearls" and I was annovulatory but I'm not insulin resistant. I've never had any skin tags or acne either. Good Luck!!

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I have all of the same symptoms and I am IR and have the stink of pearls only after ovulation though (when ever I ovulate).

I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

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**Click here for More Pictures**
Elizabeth Louise June 8, 2004

I was diagnosed with PCOS. I have the string of cysts on both ovaries, insulin resistance, annovulatory, and I have never been regular since I was 12 years old. After a year of all sorts of meds, I have finally started AF on my own, and ovulated. I wish you all babydust!! I hope you all get your BFP's SOON!!!!

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Lisa, Everytime I would bring up PCOS to my generalist and OB/GYN, they would say that it could'nt be PCOS since I didn't have the "string of pearls", as for the skin tags, they would say that it was caused by a possible case of diabetese . It took a blood work during the "clomid" period to give my RE the diagnostic. He also started asking questions like : do you have thinning hair or significant hair lost, acne, hair growing in the lower part of your stomac, ect to confirm what he thought.

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Anick (31) , Luc (33)
Fur baby Cachou
12 cycles of Clomid 50mg, all
Diagnosed with PCOS - Jan.2006
On break for 6 months

I don't have hair loss. I don't have extra hair on my chin or around nipples. I don't have skin tags. I am not overweight! I just got off of birth control pills and suddenly don't have periods.
Guess what!!! I'm insulin resistant!!! My doctor was very surprised because I don't "fit he profile". My mom does have typeII diabetes and it has always been a constant struggle to maintain my weight.
Alecia

Hi Lisa! I too lurk on this board....and have PCOS. I am not overwieght, don't have hair issues, no acne, but DO have cysts, skin tags & insulin resistant.

I would def. suggest having your dr. just run the blood test to test your hormone levels.

I was under the unexplained IF for YEARS and eventually got pregnant with my son after using injectibles...to only find out AFTER having him that I had PCOS...and that we had many other options we could have explored before going that route. Nonetheless, I am thrilled to have DS so not complaining!

Good Luck and keep being proactive with your doctors...and make sure they are listening to YOU!!

-Sara

ps. PCOS is a syndrome-meaning it is a group of symptoms...so not everyone has the same set of symptoms.

Yup to what Sara said. I get cysts, but it's usually just one, maybe two, but it's not excessive. I have the hair growth, weight gain, and some other symptoms, though. If your doc is not well-read on PCOS, it will be difficult to get a diagnosis. I was never diagnosed before DS was born, but I *KNEW* I had it. I even had blood tests run, but my levels were all borderline and my docs refused to give me the diagnosis. I suppose somehow after having Asher the condition worsened to where the blood tests finally indicated PCOS. I do hope you get some answers!

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My old RE said there is no way to know for sure if someone has PCOS without taking their ovaries out and looking at them.

My new RE says he thinks I have pcos based on my u/s. He called it a rosett of cysts or follicles. I have excess hair and a little acne. I'm NOT insulin resistant. I have been annovulatory from the start. I didn't have AF by the age of 15 so my mom took me to the obgyn. They gave me a pill to make me start and then I only had spotting every 3 months or so.

Follistim caused to many mature follicles. 12-20 to be more specific. Now I'm on metformin. I'm taking 150 clomid for 5 days and then follistim from then until trigger.

I just thought I would share my story. I'm usually on the IUI message board.

Dani

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I have skintags as well - and i used to be on depo - beforethat i was NORMAL - but anywho.. they did some blood tests - i was diagnosed with prediabetes - i had no periods - and then i was diagnosed with pcos - i was in the ER a month ago and they did an U/S and my ovaries are COVERED in cysts...

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Hi,
I was diagnosed with PCOS for the second time about a week ago, I have all the symptoms, and my blood sugar was 101 fasting. The range for that is 80-99 my insulin level was 25, (5-25) so my doc says I'm insulin resistant, and she wants me on Met, but I went to my reg doc and she just put me on a diet. It's probably going to make my ob mad.

But she tested my hormones and they dont seem right for pcos... my LH was 1.5 and my FSH was 2.5 which is NORMAL. She didn't test my male hormones, but my Prolactin and Thyroid were normal too. So I dont know if she's going by my barely high glucose and insulin or what.. I have had U/S and clear perfect ovaries, but SUPPOSEDLY you have to have the u/s on a certain cycle day to see them and the next day they could be gone

-Dawnyel

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Scott and Dawnyel Married 4/19/2004

m/c #1 10/21/04 8.6wks
m/c #2 11/23/2005 Beta 18 *Chemical Pregnancy*
m/c #3 12/26/2007 Beta 97 *Chemical Pregnancy*

"But she tested my hormones and they dont seem right for pcos... my LH was 1.5 and my FSH was 2.5 which is NORMAL. She didn't test my male hormones, but my Prolactin and Thyroid were normal too. So I dont know if she's going by my barely high glucose and insulin or what.. I have had U/S and clear perfect ovaries, but SUPPOSEDLY you have to have the u/s on a certain cycle day to see them and the next day they could be gone"

Not sure exactly what symptoms are exclusive to PCOS (if any)...but I have some physical symptoms (excess hair growth, no periods, carry weight around middle but not overweight, lose hair alot each day)...don't have skin tags though. My blood sugar levels were normal though and my insulin was only very slightly out of range. All of my hormone levels and my thyroid were fine too EXCEPT for the male hormone...it was about 3 times higher (when tested on the third day of my cycle) than it should have been. I haven't had an u/s so I don't know if I have cysts or not.

I guess the basis for PCOS diagnosis it is different for every woman and varies between OB's. The deciding factor for my OB was the high male hormone level and the absence of AF.

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