PCOS What would you do?

[melissarae]

Hi, I am not from this board but I have a close friend who just recently got diagnosed with PCOS and I know she is having some issues and SO many questions. She is 20 years old, attending college, and engaged to a man (aged 26) who has a 6 year old. They don't have a wedding date and originally had planned on having a child together after her degree was finished. In one of her recent dr visits she was told that she is to stay on BCP for now to keep her period - and has a "good" chance of concieving within the next 1-2 years... after that they cannot say how fertile she would be. She is one who has always wanted to have kids, she is so hurt by the thought of possibly not having kids if she were to wait until she finished her degree and not be able to concieve that she's thinking of possibly trying now- just so it may be "easier" for her now than to struggle with drugs and everything later in life if she were to wait. She is determined to still finish school and earn her degree... she just wants to be able to have her own child some day. I know her decision is hers and her fiance's to make, but for others who have PCOS, is she better off to try sooner than later?

I hope it is okay that I posted this question for her.

Thank you so much in advance for any advice/input.

Melissa

[dcmrwhitney]

Yes, the decision is hers, but I can tell you that the older she gets, the less fertile she will be. I wasted a lot of years by not being proactive about my fertility (actually, lack thereof) and even after being diagnosed with PCOS, it still isn't easy and medications don't always work.

PCOS also interferes with other aspects of your health other than the reproductive system- you're more likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as possible heart complications.
She should sit down with a Reproductive Endocrinologist and have a very frank talk about all the side effects, but I agree that sooner is better, and also cheaper in the long run.

[melissarae]

She goes to our local family planning facility- she doesn't have health insurance, she has been told of the other health issues that come along with it. She has gained a lot of weight just since I've known her over the last 2 years. She's been learning what she can about her condition and how it may affect her. She dislikes the idea of ttc now, because of school and because of the lack of money would end up with government help, she doesn't want to depend on medicaid and other programs- but she doesn' t want to lose the chance to have her own kids. I just wish I could help her make the "right" decision.

[innocencelost]

There is a website for PCOS support called www.soulcysters.com/ Some have been successful in managing it with change of eating habits. I currently have a friend who also has gained about 100# in the last year and her liver is all FUBAR right now because of the raging out of balance hormones. According to same friend, PCOS patients have a much higher rate of m/c as well because of the wonky hormones.

As for the TTC NOW, I would wait. The BCP should help to manage her hormones at present. If she were 25-28 instead of 20, I wouldn't say that. The good news about PCOS patients is if they do require medical attention to have a baby (well, to O), many of them respond well to a combo of Clomid (very cheap and most OB's seem to rx it) for O and provera to bring on AF.

[marsij]

I don't post much these days, but this one caught my eye.
I was dx with pcos in '05. I WISH I had pushed for child #2 much much earlier. I'm 28 now, with an 8y/o that I got pg with at 18. (yeah, young, I know) I wanted to ttc #2 back in late '00. It was '03 before DH finally agreed. I've had 3 m/c since then, probably thanks to the pcos. Would we have been better off ttc earlier? Maybe. I'll never know. But if having children (of her own biology) is really a priority for this friend of yours, I'd highly recommend ttc now. And yes! Start treatment for the other issues that go along with pcos.

(Sorry if I've stepped on any "tails". This is just my opinion.)

[melissarae]

Thank you all so much for your replies.... I think her and her fiance are having some serious discussion lately... she's been over here every night this week talking... I don't mind, I want to be able to be a support system for her.

ANd thanks for that internet site- I gave that info to her! You ladies are all so wonderful and I wish you all the best!