What is PCOS and what should my wife do about it?

8 Comments

1. Angst says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   EB- good for you for wanting to be supportive of your wife. As a woman with PCOS I can say that it is very helpful to have someone in your life who will stand by you.

   So you’ve seen the posts from those who give you some of the basic information you can find on Internet. I’ll just give you a personal perspective instead.

   I’ve had PCOS for over 25 years. When I was first diagnosed, doctors had no idea what caused it but it was generally believed to be strictly a hormonal condition. In the last 10 years, however, research has shown it to be highly related to diet. Basically women who have this condition experience a wide array of symptoms that are related to and brought on by Insulin Resistance.

   I’m a great test case for this – for years I had irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth in places that women aren’t supposed to grow hair, and problems with retaining weight even when I was strictly dieting. I even went almost 2 years at one point without a cycle. But I will tell you that when I was working on my masters degree I dramatically altered my eating and exercise habits — I ate less, more vegetables, more organic food, almost no refined sugar, and walking on a regular basis.

   And oops – I became pregnant. This was a huge surprise to my husband and I as we had been told we would have huge trouble conceiving.

   After years of having this condition I can say a few things:

   1. Some women respond very well simply to diet and exercise changes. Any woman who is making such shifts in her routine could benefit from a supportive spouse.

   2. Some women respond well to supplements like Cinnamon, Chromium Picolinate, fish or omega 3 oils, flaxseed, etc. These all help regulate insulin levels.

   3. Some women have to take drugs that assist with insulin – like metformin, glucophage, or clomid. Any woman would benefit from having a supportive spouse when experiencing the side effects of a new drug.

   4. Some women have to go as far as to have special treatments. Obviously you know where I am going with this – supportive spouse.

   In other words- you are doing the #1 thing to help a wife who has this condition. Supporting and comforting her.

   Just remember – if you both want children, this is not a statement that it is impossible. Just requires a little more work than other couples might give it. Eh, what’s wrong with that??

   One more thing – uh PCOS has nothing to do with ’sodomy’ like one person posted. Just goes to show you that you need to watch out for truth in answers.
2. BOBBIE says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   Good Luck!
3. gabrielejuliet says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   An excellent site:
   http://www.soulcysters.com
4. Ms. MJ says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   PCOS is serious. It is Polytheistic Ovary Sodomy. I had it. Called spell it but I had it. If you want kids you should not wait. The longer that she has it the less the chances of getting preg. I am only 29 and last year I had to have a totally hysterectomy and I never had kids. I am not trying to scare you but it is serious and I know how hard it was on me and my husband.
   Also there will be days that she will be in a lot of pain and you just need to understand. She will need heating pads on her tummy and to just lay down. That helps.
   Good Luck and God Bless. I will be praying for her and you as well.
5. Allison S says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (or Disease). It is actually quite common and many women who have it don’t even know until they try to become pregnant. A lot of people think that a PCOS diagnosis means no children…but that just isn’t true. Things might be a little harder, but with the help of medication, pregnancy is a definite possibility. The most important thing to do is to find an endocrinologist who is experienced in dealing with PCOS patients. I would also recommend finding an OBGYN who specializes in fertility problems. Basically, your wife just needs to get her hormones back on track – usually through medication – and hopefully her body will do the rest. I would also reccommend the soulcysters site (see previous answer) there are a lot of supportive people there who have been through all of this before. Good Luck!
6. jiffy says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   PCOS is the accronym for polycystic ovarian syndrome. The actual pathophysiology underlying the condition is not well known. It is thought to be a state of increased insulin resistance that is at the source but this has not been demonstrated convincingly yet. There is also an increased secretion/sensitivity to androgens. It is more common in obese women although this is not exclusive. In the obese patient, it is beleived that the hormonal action of the fat cells are a contributing factor.

   Usually patients present with irregular menstrual cycles or difficulty getting pregnant.

   There are some medications that can help regulate the cycles or increase the possibility of inducing a pregnancy. Both should be done under medical suppervision. If the pt is overweight, losing approximately 10-15% of the current body weight is often effective.

   Hope this helps. Here are a few reliable websites for information on PCOS.

   http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca (great patient resource)
   http://www.emedicine.com
   http://www.fpnotebook.com

   Hope this answers most of your questions.
7. pixiechic_77 says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   Dear, I was diagnosed with PCOS earlier this year and it is not the end of the world. Go to http://www.WebMd.com and read all the info you can so you know what to do and how to deal. Her doctor should explain everything to her so she knows what she needs to do, and she can also go to http://www.babycenter.com and join a supportive message board. I am on there and all the ladies are very nice. If you need any questions answered just e-mail me and I will be glad to answer. Good luck.
8. Ziggy says:

   2009/12/16 at 7:30 am

   Hope this helps you:

   Introduction
   Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition most often characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity, but it can affect women in a variety of ways. Irregular or heavy periods may signal the condition in adolescence, or polycystic ovary syndrome may become apparent later when a woman has difficulty becoming pregnant.
   The signs and symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome stem from a disruption in the reproductive cycle, which normally culminates each month with the release of an egg from an ovary (ovulation). The name polycystic ovary syndrome comes from the appearance of the ovaries in some women with the disorder — large and studded with numerous cysts (polycystic). These cysts are follicles, fluid-filled sacs that contain immature eggs.
   Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age in the United States, affecting an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent. Early diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome can help reduce the risk of long-term complications, which include diabetes and heart disease.
   http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423
   http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm
   http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/preconception/fertilityproblems/7432.html?binky=MSNFAM:EDI:ART&refid=msnfam
   http://www.advancedfertility.com/metformin.htm
   http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/pcosinfo.html
   http://www.ivf.com/pcostreat.html
   http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/womenshealth/facts/pcos.htm
   http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-37,GGGL:en&q=PCOS

   Great videos on PCOS:
   http://video.google.com/videosearch?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-37,GGGL:en&q=PCOS&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv