I’m really upset that I might have PCOS and I don’t think I’m being taken seriously. I got my first ovarian cyst in 2011 (while on birth control, Zovia at the time). It burst and it hurt like ****. Then I didn’t get any for a few years. March 2014 I got another one. I can always tell when I have one because it hurts on the right side (they are always on the right side) when I am having a bowel movement. This time when I got the ultrasound they said it was a pretty decent size complex cyst (I can’t remember the exact cm but the ultrasound tech said it was about the size of a small apple). I was also on birth control at this time but a lower dose one (it was either Lo Loestrin or Microgestin, can’t remember :-P). That cyst ended up going away on its own but when I got a repeat ultrasound it showed “one or two small simple cysts”. I’m not sure if they were on both ovaries or just one. Every cyst I get that gives me trouble is always on the right side. I’m 98% sure I have another one right now on the right side, I have the same familiar pain as before. I’ve had other cysts between these but they usually just burst at home and I deal with the pain or the pain goes away on its own. Right now I’ve had pain for about 2 weeks and I’m on my period right now. I’m still currently on birth control (Microgestin now). I’ve gotten every one of these cysts while on birth control. I’ve asked my gyn why I’m getting them and he said “because you’re a woman” and sometimes it just happens with ovulation. I’m not supposed to be ovulating! And I also have no way of knowing that I’m ovulating and that’s what is causing this.

I also have some other worrying symptoms:

-skin tags: just a small one on the back of my neck and a small one in my armpit, I had a couple as a teenager too
-increased hair growth: I have one or two hairs that pop up on my chin, however my mom gets this too. I have about 4-5 longer, darker hairs on each of my nipples. I also have 1-2 long, dark hairs that pop up below my belly button.
-I have mild acne and mildly oily skin and my scalp gets oily only one day after washing it, but my hair is pretty fine in texture.
-I’m not overweight (5’2” and 130 pounds currently), but I have more belly fat than I think I should. I’m heavier overall from my weight in high school but I carry most of my weight in my belly and thighs, but most of the women in my family also do.
-I have anxiety and panic attacks, however that could be unrelated.

I’ve always had what I considered “regular periods”. They always came on time, but I would always bleed for a couple days, stop for 12-24 hours then start up again for a day or so. I read on another forum that a girl had periods like that and her dr said it was irregular and she ended up having PCOS. My periods do this still to a lesser degree since I’m on birth control, but I’ve skipped periods due to the birth control before. That worries me. I called my dr’s nurse’s line yesterday and she said the break during my period is probably just normal for me.

I’m 26 and I’ve pretty much wasted the last 6 years of my life in a relationship that’s going nowhere. My biological clock is already ticking, regardless if I have PCOS or not. I already don’t want to have children in my 30’s and I definitely don’t want to have to do it through IVF or other methods. I asked my dr a couple times if he thought it was PCOS based on the ultrasound and he always said no and that women just gets cysts. He said some women just ovulate on birth control. I’m not sure where to go from here to either get a diagnosis or to rule this out. I’m going to schedule an appointment for another ultrasound to see if I do indeed have another cyst. Is there bloodwork I can get to see if its PCOS? Thanks for any info y’all can provide!

So, the problem with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian SYNDROME) is that it isn't a disease.

It's a combination of symptoms that will drive a diagnosis and some people can be incorrectly diagnosed with PCOS, but they have a thyroid issue, for example or vice versa.

The other problem is that PCOS is not always the same manifestation -- there are 4 different types, and it really does take a specialist to finalize it.

A medical professional (like a OB/GYN or a Reproductive Endocrinologist) usually sees PCOS cases and is more likely to diagnose properly.

Also note, depending on your ancestry, you could also be displaying just normal things for you, with your genetic make up, and it may not be PCOS.

Your GYN should have indicated a ring of pearls (unpopped eggs) around your ovaries -- that is a classic symptom of PCOS (hence the "poly cystic"). If you only have one cyst (per ovary) you may not have PCOS.

I would go get a second opinion. But you really may not have PCOS, so your fertility is not necessary in danger because of this.

Thanks for the response I'm a caucasian mutt lol. Fair skin, blonde hair, blue eyes. So I guess my ancestry shouldn't be causing me to be overly hairy. My mom does have issues with hair growth on her face (I don't know about other areas of her body) and still gets occasional acne and she is in her 50's.

So if I have more than 1 cyst on one ovary even if it's only 2 does that mean I have PCOS? I'm pretty sure the ultrasound tech told me a had a few one time when I went but I'll have to have them check my records for sure.

With PCOS (at least the type I have) it's a lot of cysts simultaneously, not just one or two that reoccur. Almost every woman gets cysts on their ovaries, most generally never even realize it because they are smaller, asymptomatic, and go away on their own.

My biggest symptom before getting diagnosed was severely irregular periods. At most I'd get it 4 times a year, when I did they would range from just spotting to heavy flow for nearly 2 weeks. My mom took me to see her OB/GYN since my male GP just guessed it was irregular because I was young (I was 16 at the time). They did that gawd awful wand ultrasound and they saw I had the classic PCOS string of pearls. It also explained why my acne wasn't getting better with typical treatments, why the skin under my arm pits was a lot darker (to the humiliation of my teenage self!), and why I gained a lot more weight after hitting puberty. They prescribed birth control and it made a huge difference. I've been lucky to not need any other intervention than that yet, but I think that's because I started treating it from such a young age.

I would look into a second opinion but your symptoms could easily fit under other conditions as well. Like Rana said, PCOS isn't a disease with a clear cause but rather a grouping of specific symptoms. Hope that helps.

I would ask for a hormone panel and your A1C glucose levels to be tested. PCOS can't always be diagnosed with just an ultrasound. You may also want to consider getting a 2nd opinion. Listen to your intuition. I went undiagnosed for years because doctors kept brushing off my symptoms even though I knew from my own research that I had PCOS.

If you're worried about fertility the best thing you can do with PCOS or without PCOS is to change your diet. Lots of vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins (preferably organic if you're worried about hormones). And of course daily exercise.