PCO or PCOS

[KAllen803]

Last year I had a 25cm cyst removed and my bloods seemed fine. After speaking to my doctor today I have been told I have multiple polycystic cysts on both ovaries. I keep reading that there is a difference between the two (pco vs pcos) Please could somebody explain as I have no idea what I would have PCO or PCOS!? I thought pcos showed up in bloods or is that not always the case?

Me: ... 22yrs, overweight, normal skin, normal hair growth, normal bloods last year, multiple cyst, regular periods until last month (mid cycle bleed).... I am really just so confused. Many thanks

[Hols969]

Pcos isnt always easy to confirm, blood tests can be hit and miss and as the cysts can come and go as they are only a symptom then unfortunately still it is thought of that PCOS means you must have cysts which it doesnt (name is misleading so they discussing changing it).

Some ladies do not get diagnosed until they come to try to conceive, so ladies have no symptoms and some do, we are very much a mixed bag.

PCO is basically cysts on the ovaries but no other symptoms and PCOS means you are especially lucky and get all the symptoms too such as weight issues, hair, acne and increased risk of insulin resistance.

[KAllen803 in reply to Hols969]

Thank you very much. My gp said it's PCO and I guess I am only 22 so see what the future holds I may develop symptoms of PCOS or I may not! Who knows.

[Hols969 in reply to KAllen803]

Exactly - to try and avoid it coming I would stick to a low GI diet - often the fatter you get the worse the symptoms can become.