PCOS

I have no idea why, but I have been compelled over the last few days to write about this. I have never kept the fact that I have PCOS a secret. But still, It's one thing just to say it in passing and another to put it out there on a blog for the whole web to see. 

For those of you who don't know, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. Both chicks and dudes produce sex hormones, but in different amounts. In girls, the ovaries produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and also androgens. These hormones regulate a girl's menstrual cycle and ovulation. Even though androgens are sometimes referred to as "male hormones," every female produces them.In girls with PCOS, the ovaries produce higher than normal amounts of androgens, and this can interfere with egg development and release. I am not the only one in my family who has this syndrome. However, studies have not been able to conclude that it is hereditary. 

 The name of the condition comes from the appearance of the ovaries in most, but not all, women with the disorder to have enlarged and containing small cysts located along the outer edge of each ovary. I had ultra-sounds done while I was in high school and do, in fact, have cysts on my ovaries.

Some other conditions of PCOS are infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne and obesity. I only remember having a handful of periods (while not on birth control) in my whole life. 

Sometime in my sophomore year my mom had a bunch of different tests done on me. It was then that I was diagnosed and was prescribed birth control to regulate my periods.

 Now this is embarrassing, but I have been having "excess" hair growth since I turned teen(around the same time I had my first period). Mostly on my legs and on my belly under my belly button. If I want perfectly smooth legs, I would have to shave twice a day. I have recently started to notice darker hair under my chin.

 I have been blessed beyond belief with absolutely no acne. Sure I get a zit or two, but never have I ever broken out with tons of them.

 I was also lucky in my younger and teenage life to have parents who liked to keep me active and showed me how to eat right. I'm not saying we were health nuts, but we ate better than most due to my moms PCOS and my dads high everything.

 Since I have moved out of my parents house (with all the yummy food and people who kept me healthy), no longer have my nanny gig, or work at the ice rink. I have gained enough weight to be considered obease.

 That is right, at 5 foot 4 inches the last time I was on a scale I weighed 175lbs.(Levi says I need to subtract a few lbs for my boobs, that always makes me laugh)  Now, I am trying to get more active and started to get back to a more "strict" diet. But it's hard when you don't have people around you to help keep you in line.  I am now  pre-diabetic.

When Levi and I got married I was still on the pill until after he graduated from bootcamp. This means that I have been off of it for a year almost to the day.(his grad date was 1-14-11) This also means that I have only had 1 period   off of the pill. 

Now some women out there would think "whoo-hoo! only 1 a year yippee!" But, by not having the monthly "cleanse" I am more likely prone to blood clots.

Also it kinda puts a damper on the whole baby making thing. Some people will say I am still too young to be thinking about baby making, sure maybe I am a little at 20, but I have always wanted to be a younger mom. I grew up with young parents and loved the fact that they were always there and could participate in everything I was doing. And I want my parents to be able to keep up with my kids.  Also, I know that it could take years to get pregnant. My mother had me at 16. Then it took her 7 years to conceive my brother and she ended up needing "help" with that. 

So in December I had a ton of test done to my blood, all supporting the fact that I do indeed have PCOS. An then at the beginning of this month, I went to see an OBGYN. She told me that it would be stupid to wait if I was ready to have a baby. She gave me a Rx for Provera and Clomid. The Provera forces my body to have a period. The Clomid forces my body to ovulate. Now that might seem to be a pretty easy equation to make a baby, but there is so much more that goes on and I don't really understand all of it. I do know that in April, if I have not yet gotten pregnant, I will be going in for more test to make sure its not just the PCOS that is keeping me from conciving. And at that point, Levi will also have to have testing done to make sure he is not the issue. I have to take Provera for 10 day ( I only have 2 days left of this and have every side effect listed.) Then wait for Aunt Flow which could take up to two weeks to show. On cycle days 5-9 I take the clomid. On day 21 I have to go have blood drawn. Then I wait to see if I have another period. 

So now it is all out there for everyone to see. We have just started our journey that soo many couples have been on before us. I have no idea why I needed to write this. I have never planned to share things like this on our blog, I don't even know how many people read it. But maybe someone out there needs to see it.