Hi, I've been researching about FCOS, and I have a few symptoms... :( I believe I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome because my period is not exactly normal. Recently I've started working side by side my Mother every single day, and when she has her period, I have mine also, but mine always lasts at least 2 weeks, when hers lasts one week. But before I started working with my mom, I would only get my period 2-3 months out of the whole year! :confused: And another symptom I have is not being able to get pregnant. We haven't tried, but we also haven't prevented it. I really need to go to a doctor, but could a normal doctor help me/check for polycystic ovarian syndrom, or does a fertility specialist have to? Thanks in advance everyone!

I heard back in the early 70's that it really is common for women to get their periods at the same time as other girls they hang out with. Me and my sister decided to keep track of that and when she was home we were the same, when she went off to college she was the same as her roommate and I was the same as my friends. There really seems to be something to it

Length of time though is very individual, they can last anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks.
There are different reasons that girls do not get their period every month. I have known girls that only get it 2 or 3 times a year because they have sever iron deficiencies.

It took me a yr and a half to get pregnant and then a year after my first I got pregnant every year for three more years.

The only way you can find out if you have FCOS or are infertile is going to the doc and getting checked.

I forgot to say that my boyfriend and I have been together for 5 years, and have probably only used a condom one time. I also was on the depo shot for 2 months then quit because it made me gain weight, and everyone told me it was bad for your bones. Am I just being a worry wort? I know he isn't infertile because he already has one child... but his son is 12...

The only way you are going to get any piece of mind and direction is if you get a diagnosis

You need a yearly PAP and HPV testing for your health and to check for any and everything at your Gyn doctor. Even the health department gives testing for a healthy answer. Don't delay so much damage to your health can be done.

There is extensive testing to see if you have PCOS. I was diagnosed with it at age 19. If you get your period (even if its not normal) then you ARE ovulaing. My family doctor found it for me.

So MAKSMOMMY04, so even if I get my period, that means I'm able to conceive?

PCOS is usually diagnosed by an OB/GYN. Just because you have a period does not necessarily mean you can get pregnant. You may be anovulatory (no ovulation), or you may just not be timing it right with your ovulation.

Are your periods painful? Have you had excessive weight gain? How about excessive hair growth? These are just some of the symptoms of PCOS.

Periods are not painful, I have not had excessive weight gain, and no hair growth. I'm naturally hairy, a lot of italian in me, but I wax so I don't know! Its making me nervous that I am not able to conceive. I guess I just need to make a OB/GYN appt. asap! Thanks everyone. I wonder if I could just go to my local health clinic for these check ups. I thought they only did pap tests, and birth control there?

I don't think you have pcos. Your period is regulaqr, no excess weight around tummy, no hair growth or skin tags, and no cysyts on your ovaries. Contact you gyno. He / she can find out if you really have a problem concieving or is it your partners problem? Be thankful the probability of pcos is low. It's a pain in the to have. Best of luck

i dont think you have pcos. your period is regulaqr, no excess weight around tummy, no hair growth or skin tags, and no cysyts on your ovaries. contact you gyno. he / she can find out if you realy have a problem concieving or is it your partners problem? be thankful the probability of pcos is low. it's a pain in the to have. best of luck

Exactly! PCOS is not fun! It could be something easy to fix with a couple rounds of birth control pills or something like that. I'd contact your doctor.

But I want to have kids right now... I don't want birth control!

The Health Department in my area doesn't do hormone testing which is really what you need...

I do believe that any doctor can run simple hormone test and refer you if needed..

BUT I went to a OB/GYN on the 24th and he didn't run ANY blood test and told me the based on my history he knew 100% that I had PCOS... He then wrote a Rx for Metformin...

I kind of think I want a second opinion but I don't know... I just wish that he would have ran blood test.. Metformin is used to treat insulin resistance but he didn't check my levels so...

Just make SURE you find a GREAT doctor... there are to many of them that don't really care and tell you your fat lose weight :(

Try Vitex... I just started taking it but I've read A LOT of good things about it.. They call it the natural Clomid :D

Some people told me to try birth control to give you the control over your cycles but Idk... I don't like the sound of Trying to conceive and taking something that stops the one thing you need to conceive OVULATION...

Best bet is to see what your doctor says

Best of luck to you..

Hi, I've been researching about FCOS, and I have a few symptoms...:( I believe I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome because my period is not exactly normal. Recently I've started working side by side my Mother every single day, and when she has her period, I have mine also, but mine always lasts at least 2 weeks, when hers lasts one week. But before I started working with my mom, I would only get my period 2-3 months out of the whole year! :confused: And another symptom I have is not being able to get pregnant. We haven't tried, but we also haven't prevented it. I really need to go to a doctor, but could a normal doctor help me/check for polycystic ovarian syndrom, or does a fertility specialist have to? Thanks in advance everyone!
Your gyno can do the tests, some of them are as simple as a blood test, others are like pelvic ultra sounds, and cat scans. I was diagnosed with pcos 9 months ago, and I have really looked into the illness itself, I suggest you talk to your gynocolcgist and see what they have to say about it, it could be something different, but none the less if you have questions or concerns ALLWAYS ask your doctor! Good luck!

Thanks everyone... I definitely need to look into everything you all have said.

Hi, I've been researching about FCOS, and I have a few symptoms...:( I believe I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome because my period is not exactly normal. Recently I've started working side by side my Mother every single day, and when she has her period, I have mine also, but mine always lasts at least 2 weeks, when hers lasts one week. But before I started working with my mom, I would only get my period 2-3 months out of the whole year! :confused: And another symptom I have is not being able to get pregnant. We haven't tried, but we also haven't prevented it. I really need to go to a doctor, but could a normal doctor help me/check for polycystic ovarian syndrom, or does a fertility specialist have to? Thanks in advance everyone!
PCOS can cause infertility and also irregular menses (yours seem to have varied, which could have been caused by the Depo). I suppose it can cause your menses to be too long too. There are some good websites to look at for more info, maybe you can read them and see if you still feel like you have it. I like http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-an and another very informative site is the PCOSA website for the US PCOS association, PCOSupport™ (http://www.pcosupport.org).

Good luck!

Yeah I hardly ever had a period after the depo. It was REGULAR before I got the depo shots... and now that I'm working with my mom every single day, and whenever she gets her period, I get mine! Maybe it is the depo still in my system that's messing me up, but could it be in your system after 2 years?

I have PCOS and I have No period at all, as well as pain in my lower abdomen. I also can not conceive. You should be able to go to your normal doctor who should do blood work to check your hormone levels, and then send you for an ultrasound. From this they should be able to give you a better idea if you have PCOS or not.

Yeah I hardly ever had a period after the depo. it was REGULAR before I got the depo shots... and now that I'm working with my mom every single day, and whenever she gets her period, I get mine!! Maybe it is the depo still in my system that's messing me up, but could it be in ur system after 2 years?


I agree with another poster at this point, it sounds like you don't have PCOS. Females do tend to regulate around each other's menses when they work together. The fact that yours has smoothed out is great, it means that your hormones have bounced back from the depo and appear to be balanced. Do you know how to monitor your ovulations? There are some good books about that, one is: Taking Charge of Your Fertility, The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler

Perhaps you can just work on your life style to make sure you're in optimal health for pregnancy, if you're ready to take that step. Also, if you continue to worry, then of course go get some blood work done to make sure everything's all right. You could also get your partners sperm count done.

April k

If you still think you have PCOS you should look at this message board.. It has help me A LOT

PCOS Message Board - Powered by vBulletin (http://www.soulcysters.net/)

This is the "front page" of Soul Cysters
SoulCysters.com: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment & Resources (http://www.soulcysters.com/)


You also need to start charting your monthly cycles.. A great website is Fertility Friend... Sign up for an account and they will walk you though everything you need to do... Tracking when you ovulate is an awesome natural from of birth control... Then when your ready to get pregnant you all ready know when the best time in your cycle is to conceive...

Ovulation Calendar and Ovulation Chart - FertilityFriend.com (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/)


Good luck to you...

Hi again,

I recently(finally) got health insurance and am going to see the doctor about this... period is exactly regular.. when I do get it, it lasts about a week like it's supposed to, but I don't get my period every month...

Before I call my doctor, I want to know what to tell them I want done. Does anyone know what the testing is called to see if I can conceive? Or to check hormone levels or w/e I need!

Thank you all!

Just let them know what you have mentioned here... want to get pregnant, have not used birth control for a long time, and history of irregular or few periods. There are several tests they can do, starting with basic blood tests and then going to more invasive testing at a later time if the need arises.

Your partner really should having some testing done as well. Even after having a child, or children, people can start to have difficulty with fertility later on. It's called secondary infertility.

Sometimes it is an issue on the women's part, sometimes on the man's, sometimes it is a combination of both.

If you don't feel you are getting the help you need from your doctor, ask if you can be referred to a reproductive endocrinologist.

Thanks so much! I just didn't want to sound stupid calling the doctors office saying "I want to know if i can have kids" you know? But I'm sure 90% of people usually don't know what their asking about lol. Thanks!

hi, i've been researching about fcos, and i have a few symptoms...:( i believe i have polycystic ovarian syndrome because my period is not exactly normal. Recently i've started working side by side my mother every single day, and when she has her period, i have mine also, but mine always lasts at least 2 weeks, when hers lasts one week. But before i started working with my mom, i would only get my period 2-3 months out of the whole year! :confused: And another symptom i have is not being able to get pregnant. We haven't tried, but we also haven't prevented it. I really need to go to a doctor, but could a normal doctor help me/check for polycystic ovarian syndrom, or does a fertility specialist have to? Thanks in advance everyone!

Yes you can see your gp