PCOS?

[hallc1999]

hi guys so I know PCOS is not usually attributed to pain. I suspect endometriosis I was in the hospital and had a scan and they told me I had polycystic ovary syndrome and to see my doctor immediately for a follow up. I do not have the classic symptoms of PCOS such as acne overweight and facial hair and my gynecologist said I can have cystic ovaries but not PCOS. does anybody have PCOS but not the symptoms?

[Missy100]

For a PCOS diagnosis you should have 2/3: irregular periods, excessively high levels of male hormones and polycystic ovaries.

As for symptoms, different people can have different combinations of the typical symptoms. They include irregular or absent periods, excessive facial and/body hair, weight gain with difficulty losing it, acne, male pattern hair loss (or thinning) on your head, fertility issues. There are some added risks to certain health conditions as well.

As an added note, it is possible to have both PCOS and endometriosis. Just because you have a diagnosis for one doesn't mean you can't also have the other.

[hallc1999 in reply to Missy100]

well the thing is can it portray differently? i have very bad cystic Back acne, none anywhere else though! does it have to be on your face?

[Missy100 in reply to hallc1999]

The acne doesn't necessarily need to be on your face, as far as I understand. However, it isn't one of the symptoms I suffer from so I don't have direct experience with it. What connects the acne to the PCOS is the cause of it, which would be hormone related.

Although many women with PCOS do, you don't necessarily have to have irregular periods to have PCOS. You could have a high level of male hormones and polycystic ovaries. It is any two of the three for a diagnosis.

As for pain, excessively extreme or unusual pain is not normally connected to PCOS. That isn't to say you will have pain free periods, but the pain experienced with Endometriosis, for those impacted by pain with it, is not the same.

Endo pain can be varied between sufferer and the level of pain is not connected to the severity of the Endo. So for example, someone with wide spread Endo could potentially have less pain or symptoms than someone with low levels of growth, but the opposite can occur as well. There is no correlation between the two. If you take a look online you should be able to get a clearer idea of all the symptoms associated with both. I'd recommend looking for 'all possible' symptoms rather than just the standard common ones to do a comparison.

Endo sufferers can potentially have more severe (than 'normal') menstrual style cramps, and/or pain in any of the following: the lower back, pelvis, hips, and upper legs. You could potentially have pain when going to the toilet (with urination and/or bowel movements). Pain on penetration is also a possibility. This could affect you during sex, physical exams and might even cause issues using tampons. In addition to during menstruation, pain can also affect suffererduring other times of the month.

When it comes to symptoms, neither PCOS nor Endo present the same is every person. Instead there is a list of possible symptoms with each. Which ones a person does or doesn't suffer from has no impact on the validity of their condition(s).

[Saladgirl86]

I was exactly the same they were adamant I had endometriosis however I knew my own body and I could just feel it wasnt just pain there were other symptoms aswell as extreme pain and pain is associated with pcos who ever told u otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about !

[hallc1999 in reply to Saladgirl86]

Thank you. i dont think its PCOS. i ovulate every month & my period is like clockwork! i think endo! and just polycystic ovaries not the hormonal. ive had hormones checked and nope. perfect there

[veritypcos Partner]

This is correct. Pain is not considered a symptom of PCOS, although we are known for having heavier and more painful periods and if you have enlarged ovaries they can cause discomfort. It is entirely possible to have PCO and not the syndrome and it sounds like you may need further investigations. It's worth reading up on Endometriosis to see if those symptoms resonate for you (I personally have both and it took me a while to get my diagnosis and the correct treatment). Check out endometriosis-uk.org/ to see if it sounds right to you.

[hallc1999 in reply to veritypcos]

Thank you. i dont think its PCOS. i ovulate every month & my period is like clockwork!