Prayers for my Niece

I found out that my niece, Danielle, has PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) She only 16. My brother called me last night to ask if I had it since it is genetic. Since neither myself nor our mom had it, it must come from his ex-wife's side. Be praying that they find something to manage it for her.

this is unexpectable my friend... so sorry...

I hope can be medicate her.... ...
.. .... ..

She will be in my prayers.

I'm pretty sure it is definitely a liveable thing to have. I know a lot of women with it. Unfortunately it is just harder to have children But not impossible.

I'm sorry your niece has to live with this ...
I have a friend who has it, she is 22 and found out she had it recently- she finally went to the doctor because she didn't have a period for a year...
She was put on birth control to regulate her period..

I have it. It stinks that your niece was diagnosed so young, but it'll be good for her in the long run because so many of the symptoms are manageable and she will learn to handle it earlier than most. She'll be fine!

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I'm pretty sure it is definitely a liveable thing to have. I know a lot of women with it. Unfortunately it is just harder to have children

But not impossible.

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Yes, it's more common than people think. More than 50% of women have this and most don't know about it. A woman with a history of irregular periods or skipped periods most likely has PCOS. I've had it since I started my period. Found out about it when I was in my late 20's. It's more of an annoyance than anything. Certainly not life threatening.

However, any woman who does not get a regular menstrual period is at a higher risk for uterine cancer. So it's important that she be started on birth control pills to force her body to have a period. The other option is provera pills for 5 or 10 days every month. Birth control pills are much easier. You don't have to worry about when to start and stop because most pill packages now have 7 dummy days where you just take a pill containing nothing, so you get into a habit of taking a pill every single day.

PCOS is hereditary in my Dad's side of the family. My cousin has it and she had 4 kids without intervention of having to use fertility drugs. Many women have children naturally with PCOS.

And for those like me, it's a blessing because I enjoyed not having to worry about periods every month, it was cheaper on the pocket book and I never wanted kids so it was a worry off of my mind.

It is more difficult to have children, but as Trout's Mom says, it's not impossible. My ex-SIL has it and she gave birth to a little girl....and that was over 10 years ago. It is manageable.

I'm sure she'll be fine.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

However, any woman who does not get a regular menstrual period is at a higher risk for uterine cancer.

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Please send me a link to this research, because when I looked into this for a reproductive project I was working on 2 years ago, I could not find any supporting literature, and any correlations between menstruation and cancer had been "overruled" (cant think of a better word)....

Originally Posted by Februa

Please send me a link to this research, because when I looked into this for a reproductive project I was working on 2 years ago, I could not find any supporting literature, and any correlations between menstruation and cancer had been "overruled" (cant think of a better word)....

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I was wondering too!
Especially since I know that the period you get from birth control isn't a real period anyway, it's just withdrawal bleeding from stopping the medication.

Originally Posted by Februa

Please send me a link to this research, because when I looked into this for a reproductive project I was working on 2 years ago, I could not find any supporting literature, and any correlations between menstruation and cancer had been "overruled" (cant think of a better word)....

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Anovulation (not ovulating) is a risk factor for Uterine Cancer. With PCOS, the ovaries develop cysts and ovulation does not occur.

Progesterone is required to ovulate, and in a PCOS progesterone is low, therefore ovulation does not take place regularly. Hormone replacement therapy for PCOS involves taking a hormone that contains not only estrogen, but also progesterone.

I work in a cancer centre and I talk to people about cancer every single day....all kinds of cancer, including Uterine...which I have recently been diagnosed with and am scheduled for a hysterectomy next month. The risk factors for me were PCOS and obesity....which often goes hand-in-hand with PCOS.

So far as links go:

http://www.canceranswers.com/Uterine.Cancer.html

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/ce...ial/index.html

http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_cond...lation_id=1578

http://www.medicinenet.com/uterine_cancer/article.htm

And here is a very reputable source.... The Mayo Clinic. They're ahead in research in a number of areas.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/end...N=risk-factors

The BC Cancer Agency:
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/Typeso...us/default.htm

I'm sure I can provide more if you like.

OH, 16 is soooo young to have these kinds of problems. Many prayers and vibes of encouragement and healing go out to your niece

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Anovulation (not ovulating) is a risk factor for Uterine Cancer. With PCOS, the ovaries develop cysts and ovulation does not occur.

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I am confused I thought the point of taking birth control is so you don't ovulate?? How then is birth control helpful, regardless of the progesterone ??

Originally Posted by ut0pia

I am confused I thought the point of taking birth control is so you don't ovulate?? How then is birth control helpful, regardless of the progesterone ??

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Without birth control, a woman ovulates and when the egg is not fertilized the uterine lining is shed, resulting in a menstrual period each month.

With birth control pills, there is no ovulation, but the uterine lining is still shed because the progesterone in the pill causes it to be shed. In other words, it forces a period.

Sending healing thoughts to your niece

Way too young to be having problems like that

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

With birth control pills, there is no ovulation, but the uterine lining is still shed because the progesterone in the pill causes it to be shed. In other words, it forces a period.

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I wonder, what do you think of the BCs that are set up for only 3 or 4 periods a year? Or if you wish, none at all. Those with PCOS will miss some, but likely have more than 3 or 4 a year.

The weight risk is due to insulin resistance. Though that doesn't always cause one to gain weight.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I wonder, what do you think of the BCs that are set up for only 3 or 4 periods a year? Or if you wish, none at all. Those with PCOS will miss some, but likely have more than 3 or 4 a year.

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I don't agree with those kinds of birth control methods. Yes, it is convenient for the woman, but they are suppressing their body's natural mechanics, artificially, and putting themselves at a higher risk for uterine cancer. Also, the increased estrogen in those medications put them at a higher risk for breast cancer too.

Unfortunately while hindsight is 20/20, many people don't look ahead to "what if" and take the attitude, even subconsciously, of "It won't happen to me" so they take the chance. And yes, it may not happen to them, but why put yourself at a higher risk of developing a potentially deadly disease?

There is no cure for cancer. There are treatments to help keep it at bay, but there is no cure. If you have had cancer, you are at an even higher risk of developing it again at some point in your life.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

There is no cure for cancer. There are treatments to help keep it at bay, but there is no cure. If you have had cancer, you are at an even higher risk of developing it again at some point in your life.

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Actually, there seems to be one. They have more testing to do and will have to get it approved, but it could be as little as 5 years from now. I know, too late for what you're dealing with now. But if you can beat this and ever have it come back, hopefully that will be there for you.

And I was curious if that was your thought on those types of BC. I don't take any myself, actually. I'm too sensitive to all sorts of medications and have a history of chronic migraine - and strokes in the family on both sides.
I honestly wonder about PCOS myself, though don't really care about fertility (don't want kids anyways). Since I got my very first period I've always skipped a few a year and have never had a cycle that would be called very normal - I skipped last month for example. I have no other symptoms of it, though. But the NCS would already put me at an increased risk of getting insulin resistance eventually.

But like you and others have pointed out, it's common and many women live with it without even knowing. I hope the OP's niece doesn't have any serious issues associated with it. And remember, she's young yet. By the time she should start thinking about kids who knows what they'll have to help with PCOS.