PCOS without children

[Dinks923]

Hello.

I was first diagnosed with PCOS 4 years ago following a blood test and a scan. I have PCOS on both ovaries and quite a lot.

I was told to continue with the contraceptive pill and that was it. My ovaries are both “very sleepy”

Sometimes I do get quite severe pain around my ovaries but I think that might be cysts. I had something rupture once and I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.

My partner has 3 children of his own although they do not live with us and I have other reasons for not having children but it still hurts. Because of this and being a healthy weight I feel like I don’t matter. But I still have to deal with the symptoms. My skin is awful and seriously affects my life and self esteem. It doesn’t help my depression and anxiety.

My periods can be odd even when not taking the pill. I’ve put on weight around my middle which even with a lot of exercise and healthy eating it won’t shift. I’m considered a healthy weight however it still has affects when I’m a petite build. Someone of a different build may not feel it as much.

I also wondered about how PCOS affects energy and other things in our bodies. Do you think it affects your energy levels? Your sleep? Hormones affects lots of things in our minds and bodies.

I’ve struggled to find any help or advice that isn’t related to weight and fertility. It would be good to find out if there’s anyone else with PCOS who isn’t trying to conceive and isn’t trying to lose weight.

I look forward to hearing from you 😊

[Clare_1_2_3]

Hello Dinks, I am in a similar situation.

I found I have PCOS after coming off the pill which I had been on for a very long time (>20years).

I had to come off the combined pill in 2018 as I had a focal migraine so there was some risk of stroke. I then had Cerelle, a progesterone only desogestral based pill, and developed rapid weight gain, cystic acne and low mood. I took it for 5 months but then stopped due to these side effects. I have been free of hormonal contraception since October 2018 but with irregular cycles since, and acne, and various blood tests, have been diagnosed PCOS.

I am not trying to conceive, for a variety of unrelated reasons we are not planning to have any children.

I am however interested in my health and take the risks of PCOS seriously. You may want to read the NICE guidelines are a good read if you have not seen them before:

cks.nice.org.uk/polycystic-...

It is important to monitor weight, blood sugar control, cholesterol, thyroid, various vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also more common in PCOS (B12, folate, vitamin D). Also if not on hormonal contraception you need to have a bleed at least every 3 months and should be prescribed provera to bring one on if not having cycles naturally.

However you do have to advocate for yourself, the band-aid approach of take a pill and get on with it is all too common.

I really liked the book Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden, if you want to learn more about cycle health I would recommend it.