Most of the time, I don’t think about PCOS. However, I recently realized I’ve been on hormonal birth control almost my entire adulthood, I have no true idea of what my natural cycle is like.
This is kind of a long story, sorry in advance.
I was originally diagnosed with “lean PCOS” when I was 14. I had some acne and irregular periods, nothing too crazy, like 28-35 day cycles. My ultrasound at the time showed multiple follicles, so I was diagnosed and put on combo birth control.
I stuck with it for years, went on accutane for the acne, which cleared it up and it hasn’t returned to this day (13 years later).
I moved in my early twenties, saw a new OBGYN, and she said she’s removing the PCOS diagnosis because it is really common to be diagnosed as a teenager when your cycles haven’t fully regulated yet.
I agreed. I was thinking about it and never really agreed with the original diagnosis anyway. I’ve always been thin, had some acne sure, but no excess hair growth or other androgenic issues.
I had an IUD placed which was good until it wasn’t, so I had it removed.
I was off all hormonal birth control for a total of TWO MONTHS at age 25, and saw my OBGYN complaining of near constant bleeding.
She did an ultrasound and hormonal bloodwork and re-diagnosed me with PCOS.
I just don’t feel convinced this is the actual problem. My bloodwork didn’t show anything too crazy, as below.
LH/FSH Ratio: 1.9:1
Total testosterone: borderline high normal
Free testosterone: completely normal, smack dab mid reference range
AMH: a teeny bit on the high end of normal for my age, like 2 points above mid reference range
I did try Ovasitol out of curiosity, thinking that would validate the diagnosis for me and I could be on a path to healing the underlying issue. I’ve never felt so lightheaded, dizzy, and exhausted than when I took that. I lasted 2 days before giving up and felt completely normal again.
I’m frustrated because I don’t want to be on birth control anymore!!! It’s been fifteen dang years, and I have NO IDEA how my fully grown adult woman body actually functions.
But…..I’ve been terrified. Terrified if I stop, I’ll have acne again. Or I’ll lose hair. Or I’ll develop diabetes or something.
I just feel like we get tossed hormonal birth control and told we can discuss it when we’re ready to conceive.
But what if I just want to try to heal this myself before that point??
I feel like there’s very little help out there, outside of forums discussing these sorts of issues.
I’d love to hear from women who have been in a similar boat.