Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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punisherthunder

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Long.story.short.

Just got back from the doctor with my wife. She’s been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Neither of us know much about this at all. Her progesterone level was extremely low, her estrogen was normal. The obgyn gave her a prescription for progesterone. If it causes menstruation then the doctor said my wife would have to take birth control to straighten out her system.

We have yet to have a child, but we weren’t terribly thrilled with all this. The doctor mentioned that not treating it could lead to infertility or endometrial cancer.

Anyone who is Catholic and been in this situation before? Please, postive comments only as we are really struggling.
 
I’m sorry you are going through this; I have never experienced PCOS but I know people who have and it is a big cross to bear.

One piece of advice I have for you is to make sure you and your wife understand why your doctor prescribes the course of treatment that they do and to ask questions until it is cleared up. A good doctor will take the time to make sure you understand why they recommend a certain treatment protocol.

Also don’t be afraid to get second opinions, especially if a medical provider seems dismissive of your concerns. There are different ways to treat PCOS and while “the Pill” is a frequent option for lots of gynecological issues, it can kind of work as a “cover-up” for a problem rather than an actual treatment (e.g. as soon as you stop taking it the issue returns). A woman on the Pill is not actually cycling, the bleeding that occurs during the week with placebo pills is actually reacting to the medication no longer being in her system. So I personally am wary any time a medical professional refers to the Pill being used to “straighten out the system.” It can create the appearance of 28 day cycles and lessen some problematic symptoms, but “the system” is actually not doing anything while on it. 🤷
 
punisherthunder said:
Long.story.short.

Just got back from the doctor with my wife. She’s been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Neither of us know much about this at all. Her progesterone level was extremely low, her estrogen was normal. The obgyn gave her a prescription for progesterone. If it causes menstruation then the doctor said my wife would have to take birth control to straighten out her system.

We have yet to have a child, but we weren’t terribly thrilled with all this. The doctor mentioned that not treating it could lead to infertility or endometrial cancer.

Anyone who is Catholic and been in this situation before? Please, postive comments only as we are really struggling.
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Look into the NAPRO method for infertility .They have a very high success rate in achieving a pregnancy in accord with Catholic Teaching.No ABC involved.
 
My wife has suffered from this and endometriosis, but thankfully only after we have had 4 children. Your treatment options will vary since you are no doubt keen to preserve or restore fertility.

As pensmama87 noted, treating pcos with the pill may cover up the underlying issues. The doctor perhaps wants to see if a short time on the pill will just reset the system, so to speak, which seems reasonable. But following that, if the issue continues, the treatment path may be more complicated.

I agree completely with pensmama87 that you should understand your treatment options as best you can and even seek a second opinion. There is a lot of information on pcos available so just spend some time googling it and you’ll already be better placed to discuss this with your doctor and be active participants in exploring your treatment options.
 
It sounds like your wife’s doctor wants to try a more minimally invasive but perhaps also a band-aid way to treat the symptoms. Yes, they can lead to cancer, so it is certainly nothing to play around with. I would recommend a second opinion at a fertility clinic, as they tend to avoid such drugs if they know you want to have children (at least my clinic did).

As some comfort, I am on the BCP. My hand was pretty forced by my medical conditions. Since my husband is infertile and I am peri-menopausal, the hormones are saving me from potentially worse medical conditions in the future. I confessed this to a priest and he told me there was no need because the medical condition was far more serious than the morality of the BCP.

I do need to say that I do believe hormone therapy has its proper place. Sadly, we often don’t restrict it to that place.
 
My daughter in law has POS and no there isnt much they can do. Still trating symptoms for the most part. She managed to get pregnant anyway. There are are lots of issues with this disease related to pregnancy. My granddaughter is 2 and perfect.
 
I have several ladies in my family with PCOS. They all receive different treatments from various doctors. It may be coincidental but the two that have used the pill off and on are the only two who have been able to have children. One goes on the pill for a few months when she is ready to try for another baby. She says it regulates her hormones and controls her cysts so that when she comes off the pill she’s able to get pregnant. If she doesn’t go on the pill first for a few months she can’t conceive. From my understanding, it is perfectly alright for a catholic to use the pill for these types of medical conditions. I am sure different methods work better for different people (just like all other medical conditions), but if a treatment is working for someone it only makes sense to continue with it.
 
bitterhope said:
I have several ladies in my family with PCOS. They all receive different treatments from various doctors. It may be coincidental but the two that have used the pill off and on are the only two who have been able to have children. One goes on the pill for a few months when she is ready to try for another baby. She says it regulates her hormones and controls her cysts so that when she comes off the pill she’s able to get pregnant. If she doesn’t go on the pill first for a few months she can’t conceive. From my understanding, it is perfectly alright for a catholic to use the pill for these types of medical conditions. I am sure different methods work better for different people (just like all other medical conditions), but if a treatment is working for someone it only makes sense to continue with it.
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This is what my wife has told me (apparently she has done more research than me). The caveat to this is that twins or often likely. My wife is slightly older at 32 so it may be possible. I just hope God helps us through this with some grace. Thanks for the reply.
 
My daughter had polycystic ovarian syndrome. It took her nine years, but she had a wonderful baby.

The strange thing these cysts do to a person: I can easily sympathize.

I did have an ovarian cyst once, and it nearly killed me because it perforated. Like having a perforated appendix, it meant immediate surgery. Where these things come from is beyond me.
 
punisherthunder said:
This is what my wife has told me (apparently she has done more research than me). The caveat to this is that twins or often likely. My wife is slightly older at 32 so it may be possible. I just hope God helps us through this with some grace. Thanks for the reply.
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The twin thing I think is a little overblown. I’m the only one who seems to like making twins in my family and I don’t have PCOS or use the pill. I have heard it said that coming off the pill or other hormonal birth control and getting pregnant immediately increases the chances if twins and also having several singletons and age (over 35 I think?) is a factor, but I hit the jackpot the first time in my early 20’s and again in my early 30’s. If God has twins up there for ya he’s gonna send them. If not, I’m sorry for ya. I love having twins but honestly it’s not for everybody and I do understand being anxious with the possibility. There are more risks involved and it’s stressful with twins infants. To me, twin 3 year olds was really rough but I do hope to have twins again in the future. To me there’s nothing sweeter than snuggling two babies at once and knowing they will always have each other throughout life.

As with most health conditions, stress and anxiety can increase the problems with PCOS, so please help your wife relax and de-stress. Take care of each other and place this in the hands of The Lord. Easier said than done I know, but remember that He’s got this so you all don’t need to worry so much.
 
Antegin said:
I know that having a baby is very important to you, but have any of the doctors explained that the disease effects the endocrinology, renal functions and lungs? Polycystic ovarian, pulmonary or kidney disease are not confined to any one system.

news.yahoo.com/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-silent-disorder-wreaks-havoc-body-134541620.html
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No, we haven’t had another follow up or anything since yesterday was such a shock. The next step is her upcoming meeting with her regular physician to get on the same page with the obgyn to see what the next step will be. The twin complex may or may not happen. PCOS aside, my wife has always been concerned with it since my family has three sets of twins. My uncles on my father’s side and two sets on my mother’s side, so my wife thinks there’s a way that I may have the genes for it.
 
I agree that if you are uncomfortable with the recommended treatment, it is a good idea to get a second opinion. If you’re able to see a reproductive endocrinologist, that might be an option, just to see what other treatments are available and what he or she would recommend.

I was told at one point that I had PCOS by my gynecologist at the time, but upon further evaluation the endocrinologist said that she did not think I had it, and changed the diagnosis. So I actually don’t really know if I have it or not, but I did have to look into a lot of different treatment options at the time because I cannot take hormonal treatments due to another condition. Among what was suggested to me initially was to change my diet and exercise, since sometimes excess weight exacerbates the condition. Also drugs used for diabetes can be used, since PCOS often involves insulin resistance.

So, there are definitely other options, but your doctors are the only ones who can tell you what they think is right for your wife. And it is possible that taking the birth control is the best option in her situation. But it doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion.
 
punisherthunder said:
No, we haven’t had another follow up or anything since yesterday was such a shock. The next step is her upcoming meeting with her regular physician to get on the same page with the obgyn to see what the next step will be. The twin complex may or may not happen. PCOS aside, my wife has always been concerned with it since my family has three sets of twins. My uncles on my father’s side and two sets on my mother’s side, so my wife thinks there’s a way that I may have the genes for it.
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Fraternal Twins “run” through the woman, not the man. They are caused by ovulating more than once in a month. No evidence of identical twins running in families at all. Twins or other multiples in your family would have no bearing on your WIFE’S chances of conceiving twins (or yours for that matter since you’re a man). If twins ran in HER family she would be more likely to conceive twins though. Having one set of Multiples is the greatest indication that a woman is likely to have another set of multiples.
 
bitterhope said:
Fraternal Twins “run” through the woman, not the man. They are caused by ovulating more than once in a month. No evidence of identical twins running in families at all. Twins or other multiples in your family would have no bearing on your WIFE’S chances of conceiving twins (or yours for that matter since you’re a man). If twins ran in HER family she would be more likely to conceive twins though. Having one set of Multiples is the greatest indication that a woman is likely to have another set of multiples.
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Unfortunately we don’t know because my wife was adopted.
 
PCOS is not in anyway the same thing as hyper ovulation. Many ladies with PCOS rarely ovulate, have LONG cycles and other health conditions. Those of is that have hyper ovulation tend to have clock work cycles and we release more than one egg on a somewhat regular basis. I have a no luck with NFP because I never know how many times I’m going to ovulate–no joke even though several regular posters here will same I am wrong on that. They assure me that hyper ovulation always occurs within 24 hrs but that us NOT the case for me. I have never had a cycle where I do not ovulate. I do not have trouble sustaining a pregnancy. Carrying twins is not difficult for me and I believe it’s because God made my body with that in mind. I’m thinking your wife is combining or confusing her condition with a few others and over inflating her fear of twins. Your family’s twin history has no bearing on your wife. The fact that your wife has PCOS makes me highly doubt that she is carrying a twin gene (for lack of a better word) even if it did “run” in her biological family. None of the ladies in my family with PCOS have ovulated spontaneously and none have had twins (only two have any children). All of them have required hormonal treatments to spur ovulation. I realize some women with PCOS do have some erratic ovulation, so it may be possible that your wife will. But even if pregnancy does occur she will be a high risk pregnancy and need extra support from her doctors. Try your best to help her relax and not be obsessive on this. It’s a difficult burden and I feel for you all but stress and anxiety will only increase her discomforts.
 
Hello,

I am a 31 year old female and have PCOS. Eight weeks ago, I gave birth to my third child. The diagnosis was a shock to me. I had low progesterone and almost constant spotting. My doc is a NAPRO doctor. He checked for cysts. Fortunately, that was not much of an issue for me, but ovarian drilling is an option if needed. I was placed on progesterone the latter part of my cycle to help regulate it or support a pregnancy if it occurred. During my pregnancies, I further supplemented progesterone until 37. I now have 3 sons (no twins) all delivered healthy around 38 weeks. Please don’t give up. I was diagnosed shortly before I was married. There were times I wanted to go on the pill because I was tired of the chaos. I’m glad I stuck with my doctor. There are other alternative treatments to help your wife and preserve her fertility.
 
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