my friend has pcos . should she worry?
925355
Worry about what?\n\nPCOS refers to multiple cysts on the ovaries and a host of other problems that go along with them, including anovulation (lack of ovulation) and menstrual abnormalities, hirsutism (facial hair), male pattern baldness, acne, and often obesity. Such women may also have varying degrees of insulin resistance and an increased incidence of Type II diabetes, unfavorable lipid patterns (usually high triglycerides), and a low bone density. Laboratory tests often show higher than normal circulating androgens, especially testosterone.\n\nPCOS occurs when a woman doesn't ovulate, which causes a disruption in the normal, cyclical interrelationship among her hormones, brain and ovaries. \n\nFor example, if the follicle migrates to the outside of the ovary, but does not "pop" the egg and release it, the follicle becomes a cyst, and the normal progesterone surge does not occur. The lack of progesterone is detected by the hypothalamus, which continues to try to stimulate the ovary by increasing its production of GnRH, which increases the pituitary production of FSH and LH. This stimulates the ovary to make more estrogen and androgens, which stimulates more follicles toward ovulation. If these additional follicles are also unable to produce a matured ovum or make progesterone, the menstrual cycle is dominated by increased estrogen and androgen production without progesterone. This is the fundamental abnormality that creates PCOS.\n\nIt can be remedied by a natural progesterone cream. This will add progesteron back into the cycle, and allow for normal hormonal cycles to return.\n\n\n\nThe Diet Connection to PCOS\n\nBy far the biggest lifestyle contributor to PCOS is poor diet. Young women with PCOS tend to eat far too much sugar and highly refined carbohydrates. These foods cause an unhealthy rise in insulin levels. According to Jerilyn Prior, M.D., insulin stimulates androgen receptors on the outside of the\novary, causing the typical PCOS symptoms of excess hair (on the face, arms, legs), thin hair (on the head), and acne. \n\nEventually, this type of diet will cause obesity, this will cause insulin resistance (the inability of the cells to take in insulin), which will aggravate the PCOS even more. The androgens\nalso play a role in blocking the release of the egg from the follicle.\n\nWomen, who have a high number of dysfunctional follicles to begin with, due to xenobiotic exposure in the womb, will have worse problems if their diets are high in sugary foods and low in nutrition. Since this is exactly the type of diet favored by teens and young women, it's easy to understand why there is so much PCOS in that age group. Fifty years ago, the average person\nate one pound of sugar a year. Today the average teenager today eats one pound a week! Potato chips, corn chips, pasta and white rice are all highly refined carbohydrates that also act on the body much the same as sugars do.\n\nWhen you look at the whole picture of PCOS, you can understand why the hormone-blocking and insulin-lowering drugs don't work for very long. These approaches don't address the underlying cause of the problem. They only suppress symptoms. Improvement is only temporary and both types of drugs have terribly unpleasant side effects.\n\nBy the same token, you can't just take progesterone, and you can't just cut out the sugar. You usually need to do both. Exercise and good nutrition are also very important in maintaining hormone balance.
980245
I would suggest that she goes back to her gp if she is not comfortable going to her gp i would advise the family planning clinic.  Periods are only missed if there is some kind of underlying problem...thats not saying it is a serious problem may be something easy to resolve.  PMT is also a medical condition that causes the woman to have really bad mood swings.  It runs through my family I just cry all the time however, my sister and my mother can be pretty violent and agressive and both are on medication to calm their mood swings.  The fact that she is missing periods i would ask to be reffered to a gynacoligist she may have a number of conditions such as endometriosis or pcos which are both gynycolagist issues that can cause infertility.  PCOS particularly would explain missed periods (this is when the woman does not ovaulate every month and her eggs turn to cysts).  I would also advise that your girlfriend is tested for stds I am not saying she is dirty - the cleanest of people can be unfortunate and catch an std but simple tests can rule this out.  I hope that this helps and wish you both luck x
1061207
Everyone develops at their own pace, there is no need for "your cuz" to be worried. Some develop early, others pretty late, in time she will go through the changes that all women experience. And some people are just more flat-chested than others, me being one of them! It really isn't that bad and if it really bothers her, she can invest in some padded bras!
244290
Yes, you should be concerned.   .....It does not matter how much she exercises, her body itself STILL will not produce sufficient insulin.\n\nI had an older brother who was diagnosed with diabetes at 11, and he died just after his 38th birthday.   .....He tried very hard to keep his blood sugar at proper levels, and very, very rarely strayed from his diet.  \n\nDiabetics who have been told to watch their diet & blood sugar levels and who do NOT take efforts to keep their bodies in good health know they are killing themselves.     .....If I didn't know better, I'd suspect your friend has some serious issues she isn't dealing with.\n\nBest of everything!
350539
i have pcos also. i was on the pill for 6 years as a contraceptive, and then stopped to see how bad my pcos were and if i would have problems conceiving. i had three periods and then found out i was pregnant!\n\ngood luck!
620867
I was put on BC about 3 years ago bc my period was irregular. im regular now but they said it is a very common problem and it should not affect having children. I know someone very close to me and he doc said that she would never be able to have children bc she had cysts all over her ovary and now she has a beautiful, healthy baby girl
442292
I also have PCOS and I highly recommend the SugarBusters diet.  It helped immensely.  I've lost about 25 lbs on it.
527809
It does seem some women can became pregnant. \n\nWomen with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a number of seemingly unrelated symptoms, many of which manifest themselves as cosmetic annoyances which vary from nominal to extreme.\n\nINFERTILITY\nPCOS may account for as many as half of all cases of infertility. Because women with PCOS generally do not ovulate regularly, it affects their ability to conceive. However, many women with PCOS are able to get pregnant, especially with the help of a fertility specialist, and to carry successful pregnancies to term. There are a number of possible treatments, ranging from simple and fairly inexpensive medications which induce ovulation to costly high-tech treatments such as in vitro fertilization. Some of the most exciting new options being used to regulate cycles and enhance fertility are medications known as “insulin sensitizers”. Insulin sensitizing medications (Cmetformin) address the underlying endocrine problem present in many women with PCOS and can restore natural ovulatory function.
340068
PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) does not cause Bulimia.\n\nIf your hormones don't work in the normal way, your ovaries might make too many eggs. Those eggs turn into many cysts. The cysts (say: "sists") are like little balloons filled with liquid. \n\nPolycystic ovary syndrome is called PCOS for short. Women in their childbearing years can get it. It often begins in the teenage years. It doesn't go away. \n\nDoctors don't know what causes PCOS. If you have PCOS, you may have a problem with the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Because of this problem, the hormones that control your ovaries and menstrual periods can become abnormal.\n\nIf you have PCOS, you are more likely to get high blood pressure or diabetes. This means you have a greater risk for strokes and heart attacks. \n\nBecause of irregular menstrual periods, women with PCOS are more likely to be infertile (unable to get pregnant). They may also have a higher risk for cancer of the uterus or breast.\n\nYour doctor will look for the signs of PCOS. Blood tests that measure your hormone levels can help. An ultrasound exam can show if you have cysts on your ovaries. \n\nIf you have PCOS, you might need to lose weight. Medicine can help with your menstrual cycle, abnormal hair growth and acne. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, they have to be treated. If you want to have a baby, there are medicines that may help you get pregnant.
333710
Have another serious talk with her saying "Hey I notice you havent been eating much, is everything ok??"  Don't accuse her of neccessarily having anerexia, as that woould put her on the defense...  Now you're coming across as a good concerned friend...  Maybe it has nothing to do with being aneroxic at all, maybe its a sign of depression...  Did she just recently lose someone close to her??  Or maybe a bad breakup??  Or heck maybe she just hasn't been feeling well the last few days...  See what she says...  If it's only been a few days or so since this pattern started and it's pretty sudden, it could be one of the above, just be there for her for the next few days till she slowly gains back her appetite...  IF however this has been an ongoing issue, whether or not she admits it (she'll probably be in denial even with herself) I would then say "well, you might say it's no big deal, but I am truly concerned for you..  I have noticed that all you ate today was a tic-tac and an apple, or whatever, and then tell her this is not healthy...  Mention again what you said about the running and healthy foods, which should be part of any healthy lifestlye, even if your not on a "diet", tell her you want her to help yourelf, but she's gotta do it when she's ready, and in the meanwhile if she ever needs anything to call you day or night to talk (even if it has nothing to do with food, like i said earlier there could be an underlying emotion helping cause this, the best thing you can do is just be there as a friend)...  From there back off for a few days or so, unless you see herself in an immediate life threatning situation, such as she's talking about suicide and stuff...  See if she takes your advice and starts to get help oh her own...  If she doesn't look like she's going to take responsibility for her own actions and seek help on her own, then you might have to...  Maybe go to her again and say "You know I noticed this situation hasn't getting any better (and possibly even worse) You leave me no choice but to go to the authority (whether it be a councelor, school nurse, trusted teacher) myself, that's my duty as a friend...  If you'd like we can go together to talk to them, and I'll be there every step of the way with you, but if you don't come with me, I'm still going to tell them..." She might be mad at you, but in time will thank youo....  Aneroxia is a very seriouos conditioon and needs to be adressed, don't let the possibility of having a friend mad at you, stop you..  I'd rather have a mad friend than no friend, and aneroxia is indeed fatal in the long-term...  Thing is it's one of those slow deaths where your body will just weaken to nothing, but your not going to die from starving yourself one day, many people fast for religious purposes, etc. for a 24-hour period...  Your body has enough fat and nutrients stored that you can survive, but over time, it WILL kill...  PLease talk to her today, don't procastinate...  Good luck to both of you
670537
I am nursing major and with what I have studied I would be worried, she may need to see a doctor. It could be stress related, and at that age as well, girls are going through many hormonal changes, or worse it could be intestinal, that could need medical attention quickly. So she really needs to seek medical attention.
837872
PCOS is pretty common.  Polycystic ovarian syndrome.  There are other things that could cause no periods, too, most of them are some sort of hormone imbalance (which PCOS is, too).  Stress, poor diet, and other things like that could cause it, too.
722161
Well it depends what kind of cysts she has. There are some that are just cyclical..meaning, they grow and burst each month. Those are considered "normal". If she has one that continues to remain large, it will most likely need to be removed surgically. Often a woman can lose that ovary. You should try to find out what kind she has for more information.\n\nSide effects..the cylical ones hurt when they burst.
773464
I also have PCOS.  While it's not the greatest thing in the world, it isn't super dangerous either if you take care of yourself.  Are you on any meds for it yet?  Your dr should do a blood panel to check you for insulin resistance, and may prescribe Metformin to help combat that.  There are a lot of different symptoms associated with PCOS, and many of them need to be treated individually.  You are at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but that can be controlled through proper diet/exercise and drugs like Metformin.\n\nIt's by no means a death sentence, but it does require some lifestyle changes.  The biggest problem that most women face is that it is harder for someone with PCOS to get pregnant because their hormones are so whacky.  I hope this helped to answer your question.
552384
PCOS can be helped loads with a good diet.  Have you been to see a nutritionist - it's well worth it.  Look for someone that specialises in fertility and PCOS.
1156081
I to have had this problem since 12 it took til i was 25 to get a Dr to listen finally i was diagnosed with pcos(poly cystic ovary syndrome) check out this site and see if any other symptoms fit then talk to your dr about it and make them listen
1119103
you need to find out when she is ovulating! if she is not ovulating she cant get pregnant she more then likely is! maybe you all are not doing it at the right time! if it has been more then a year she should see her ob/gyn. she should take her tem every morning befor she gets out off bed here are some sites that will let her know what to do.i am also try but i have pcos so its hard good luck to you two!! hope this help   http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN37.htm.....look for        Basal Body Temperature                                                              http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/                     http://www.ovulation-calendar.com/