Was anyone diagnosed with PCOS after having a pregnancy?

Thanks Holly!  I can totally relate to you not wanting to go on the pill.  I'm like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde on them!!  And my doc pushes them like crazy.  They are just soooo not worth it, especially if I'm at a point in my life where I DEFINATELY cannot get pregnant (if you know what I mean). And you make sense, my symptoms (especailly weight) got worse and worse after each pregnancy.

Oh my gosh!  I thought I was the only one who went basically balistic when I took the pill.  I could be going along fine and then break out in tears, and think I couldn't live until the morning.  It was horrible.  Doc's didn't believe me and it was bad.  My last doc placed an IUD, and I haven't had symptoms since then.  Best of Luck to you.  I think the IUD is the Meredia?   Bridget

So, I went to the doctor today and he has told me that because I am currently on birth control a test for PCOS would not show if I have PCOS but he is going to assume that is what is going on  because my mother had it.  He did do a vaginal ultrasound and found five cysts on my right ovary.  On about an inch and diameter and four smaller ones surrounding it.  He is sending me for a fasting test and is going to check my testrone even though it won't be accurate.  However, birth control has not changed my facial hair growth so he thought it was worth testing.  Unfortunatly, unless I have diabetes he is saying I won't be put on any medications other than the birth control.  He does not want to up the dose of the birth control and since I don't want to get pregnant four a while he says there is no reason for me to be on medications.  So it sounds like unless you want to get pregnant in the near future birth control is all that many doctors will do for you.

Nonny,  I have been where you are and had my MD of many years refuse to treat me for my PCOS. I stopped having menses at the age of 19 and had 1 per year until age 21 I found myself pregnant. Then 2 years later pregnant again. Which looking back was a great blessing because I know that I probably would not of had children if I had waited. I am 47 now. After I had children my menses where more regular every 3-6 months and I finally found a GYN that said that I had PCOS. But basically I need to loose weight and this was my problem. This was frustrating d/t the fact that I had terrible cravings for carbs was very hard to control. Also frustrating was the fact that when I first had a problem I was not overweight and the problem got worse as I aged. I could loose alittle and gain it back, slowly. But taking estrogen as a BC pill never worked, it made me crazy ( my poor husband) I would end up going off of it and it would send my BP sky high. I think that PCOS your estrogen, testosterone and general metabolism is off and the pill doen't work for many. I finally after many years found a GYN that will treat my PCOS and I feel better on the Metformin and the hormones that he has me on ( d/t loss of allmy female parts, which I don't recommend to anyone if it can be avoided keep at least one ovary). Aldactone is a diuretic and conteracts on the testosterone. I had been on Aldactone only for many years for my Bp and it made a difference but not for the PCOS. Be perisistant and straight forward with your MD's about what you want from them and how you would like to be treated. It is your life and you deserve to be treated the way that you would like as long as it is in the standard of practice. ( I allowed myself to be put off by my MD's and now I have serious complications that I have to live with and I should of been more out spoken with my Md or found another one who would listen) I would recommend finding a GYN or Endo that will be willing to treat you right off the bat. Ask them straight if they treat this illness the way you want or do you need to find someone else. I think alot of MD's are hesitant to use metformin for PCOS (thats what I found). But they are out there. Keep looking. There are many illness' that come from PCOS you want to prevent them from becoming a problem. I hope the best for you and hope I was a help.

Thank you very much!!  You've helped encourage me to be more upfront with my doctor.

Hi Nonny, I am new here but I have had diagnosed PCOS for three years now.  Yes, it first appeared after my son was born and ny periods stopped.  Of course, extra weight does aggravate PCOS and that's why it so frequently shows up after pregnancies.  I can't believe your Gyne won't do an ultrasound.  "Chain of Pearls" cycts on the ovaries is the most unmistakable sign of PCOS.  A couple of cycts does not mean you have it but if one or both of your ovaries is covered with small (pearl-like) cycts, then it is generally a clear case of PCOS.  Please see someone else.  Little can be done about it since Metformin makes most people feel at least as cruddy as the Pill does, but at least you will know for sure and not be supporting a Gyne who hasn't followed up on common tests. Good luck! Alison

I didn't find out that I had PCOS until after my first pregnancy!  So find another doc, if this one is not listening.  It seems strange that he won't even discuss it.  Best of Luck!  Bridget

that is a bunch of bull rott! you find you a different doctor. find you a specialist that deals with PCOS. i was 12 when i first started having problems and they didn't really know anything about PCOS at that time. it's only in the last recent years that it's coming into knowledge of physicians. many times regular family practitioners don't know how to treat it. you really need someone that specializes in that area. i wish when i was younger they know what was actually wrong with me so that i don't have the irreversible problems i have today. yes i had a child at age 19 and wasn't diagnosed with PCOS until many many years later. just because you have a child doesn't mean that you don't have PCOS. that doctor doesn't have one dern clue! Cherie

I had my first child at age 19 and the second at age 24 with absolutely no fertility problems. Having symptoms my whole life I never had a clue until a friend was diagnosed. I just thought all this was normal! I wasn't diagnosed until age 32 and it was diagnosed with bloodwork and pelvic ultrasound. Don't ignore your symptoms as I did. I would definately get it checked into.

If your current doctor won't test for PCOS then you need a different doctor.  I was diagnosed after the birth of my son and a miscarriage after that birth.  It is not fun to skip menses.  I would have all the symptoms of PMS for months at a time with no bleeding and then finally bleed and bleed heavily for days and days.  Because my hormones were such a mess I was depressed and near suicidal. The pain in my lower side was unbearable at times and I wouldn't even be able to walk upright.  PCOS is not 'all in your head' get to a doctor who will discuss this intelligently with you and get the help you need.  Good luck to you.