13 Year Old Diagnosed with Pcos (Polysistic Ovary Syndrom)

I am 35 and was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 30 when I was trying to get pregnant. I have some classic symptoms as well: weight issues, irregular periods (ok - nonexistant!), excessive hair on my arms (I am fortunate it is not on my face) and thinner hair on my head.

I was on metformin while I was trying to conceive. Unfortunately, the side effects for me were horrible and since having my daughter, I have stopped using it. I know many women have great success on metformin - even losing weight on it and regaining regular periods. Neither happened for me.

I do not have the classic insulin resistance either although I quickly developed gestational diabetes while pregnant.

The hair on her face problem is embarrassing I am sure for her. Many many women with PCOS shave areas to keep their hair issues under control. It does not worsen the problem as the problem is usually pretty extreme to start with.

I found a site when searching for info: www.soulcysters.net. It's a message board full of women and teens dealing with PCOS - there is even a teen board. Lots of good support and suggestions for dealing with PCOS. I've met some women on the board that have become really good friends.

Birth control pills can help with the symptoms. After having my daughter I went back on them and that has helped some of my symptoms. If her periods are irregular or nonexistant, she should probably use something to induce a period every 3 months or so to shed the uterine lining (not shedding the lining can cause all sorts of problems including cancer).

Her anger and depression are also classic side effects of PCOS - most likely worsened by her age and peer pressure. It may help her to have someone to talk to but also finding the right way to level off her hormones will help tremendously.

Feel free to email me at ____@____.com - I'll be happy to answer more questions or lend support to you and your daughter. PCOS is such an unfair disease.
L.

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 2 years ago, and I recently began a regimine of herbal supplements designed for PCOS reversal because I wanted to get off the birth control pill I was using to induce periods. I encourage you to check out the website from Insulite. It's only been a few weeks, but I am very happy with the information, support and reputation of the company. I know they have a FAQ that says it is safe for teenagers.

Dear T.,
I have never responded to an add here, I simply listed my inof as I'm a doula and childbirth educator so I thought people may seek out my services in my area. However, I felt compelled to offer some encouragement for you and your daughter. I, too, have PCOS and at age 13 was put on estrogen supplements and birth control and told I may never have children, but never really diagnosed with anything other than a hormone imbalance, migraines, depression, and irregular periods. I was not properly diagnosed until 5 years ago when my husband and I were trying to get pregnant. After going to mulitple OB/GYN's and being a guinea pig of sorts, I finally found a good endocrinologist and eventually an amazing reproductive endocrinologist (infertility specialist). I'm happy to say that I recently gave birth to my second child. I'm nearly 34 years old and have battled up and down weight problems as well as hypothyroidism due to the PCOS, but I've found success in using desogen birth control pills to regulate periods and hormones, combined with metformin and synthroid, as well as a low carb lifestyle and of course exercise. The trick is going off birth control to get pregnant as that helps regulate the PCOS, but your daughter shouldn't have that worry for a while. I wouldn't recommend shaving the male-pattern hair growth, as this will actually cause it to become corser and thicker, she could try plucking, waxing or electrolysis instead as these are safe, and have better long term results than shaving. Although there is no cure, your daughter is VERY lucky to have had her disease diagnosed so early in life, as it will help her tremendously with lowering health risks such as diabetes and heart disease that are associated with PCOS, as well as frustration and depression. There is an enormous amount of literature and research out there about PCOS as well as support groups, etc. I wish you and your daughter the best of luck! Peace and Blessings, S.

Hi....I wanted to write back as I was diagnosed with PCOS about 1 1/2 ago. Although they tell me that everyone's symtoms can be different, I am now struggling with infertility due to PCOS. I am 29....I don't want this to scare you as it will just take fertility drugs for me to become pregnant. Also, as your daughter gets older they may put her on the birth control pill to regulate her hormones and this will dramatically help with the symptoms.

Everyone can be different with PCOS as I am very thin and the only sypmtom I have is a little acne at times.

Tell her to hang in there as it gets better. I don't know if the doctor would prescribe the pill due to her age.

Hi T.,

I am a 33 year old that has PCOS. I wasn't diagnosed until my mid 20 when I was trying to have children. It is a very common and a large percentage of women/girls suffer from it. I am a text book PCOS, I am overweight, have hair growth in unwanted areas, infertility issues, ance skin darking/velveting. I do take Metformin and have for years now. Since being on Met. I no longer have extreme hair issues, the skin issues and my acne is mild, I am also right now pregnant with our 2nd child.

There are several websites dedicated to PCOS and support. I like http://www.pcos.net/ & http://www.pcosupport.org/

Unfortunately this will be a life long struggle, but you have caught it young and she can get past all of this and control the symptons. I have found it useful to follow a balanced diet. I try to only eat whole wheat breads and pastas, the white processed stuff is poison for us. Also I try to limit fast food. Fresh fruits and veggies are great and whole grain snacks. It seems like a lot of work at first, but it will help with her energy and weight. She should also find a excise program that she can do forever. I like Curves, but she may be too young for that.

I hope that some of this has been helpful. Feel free to contact me at anytime.

M.

Have you seen a nutritionist? PCOS runs in my family, although with much milder symptoms than your daughter has. They all start out skinny, but plump up later on. A cousin of mine went to see a nutritionist because she was exercising, and thought she was eating well, but wasn't losing weight. The nutritionist taught her a way of eating that works better with the blood sugar issues that come along with PCOS. If you do a search online, I do know there are some PCOS sites out there with forums.

Hi I don't know anything about PCOS, so I am sorry I am not going to be very much aide in that department.

However, you did say that she shaves part of her face, which is NOT GOOD for females to do...this will only make her hair grown in thicker and courser...and only result in her 'hating her appearance later' even more...Sally Hanson makes products, she could use wax strips...they make them for faces....

It also sounds like she could see a therapist to talk about her issues with depression and anger. It truly sounds as if her hormones are WAY out of balance (mine were terrible, along with facial hair when I was younger), I ended up taking some herbal supplements to balance out my hormones and it made a world of difference in my mood and weight and hair growth.

I am sorry I don't have the experience your looking for with the PCOS.

Hello! I had PCOS when I was younger. I was born with a 13 inch in diamater ovarian cyst. I had surgery immediatly to remove it, and I've had issues every since. They didn't call it PCOS until I was in my teenage years, rather they'd just say it was another cyst, and it had ruptured, etc. When I was older, they put me on birth control to help balance out the hormones, which of course only managed to cause my weight to jump up drastically. I also delt with it when I was a little older. I was pretty much told that if I had ANY hope of having kids that it would have to be when I was young. I had my first son after I was married, at 19, my second at 20 (I'm told it was luck, and on the down slide of pregnancy hormones, because they're only 14 months 4 days apart.) and my 3 & 4 with chlomid when I was 23. They are boy/girl twins.

I don't know that I'm much help, but just wanted to let you know that it is something that can be delt with, and luckily its one of those things that you can still live a normal life with!!!

Good luck!!!