Poly Cystic Ovary Disorder and Cycling Question

Hi Everyone,
I have a question. I wondered if anyone else here has Poly Cystic Ovary Disorder. One reason I'm asking is that I know that the condition itself can and does affect having or NOT having regular periods, but I wondered if anyone else has had the combination of the condition and/or riding itself make you miss periods?
I have just under 1200 miles so far for the year most of which are indoor spin miles so I have been training heavily. I have heard of female runners losing thier periods during training at times so I didn't know if it could be something as simple as that type of thing as well.
I have NO IDEA when my last actual cycle was [got lax about keeping records] and I have had my tubes tied over 12 years ago so it SHOULDN'T be a preggers thing although not totally IMPOSSIBLE. I just thought I'd bounce this off you ladies and see what sticks. I haven't gotten a pregnancy home test yet or made any appointments as I have had times like this in the past that ended up leading to my PCOD diagnosis. I do know it's been at LEAST 2 months now though that I've cycled. :eek: well, THAT cycle LOL...:p
Anyone with similar experience??
Mary

hey mary-
I don't have PCOD, at least it hasn't been diagnosed, but I think I might.. My friend is convinced I have it. I have two of the major symptons- no period and carrying weight- and not being able to lose it. I'm actually planning on looking into it after ironman. When I got my new doctor out here in AZ last year she did a battery of hormone tests on me and they all came back normal. She's baffled because I haven't had a period in years?? So she refferred me to a gyno, but then w/ the new pill prescrip she gave me I magically got my period so I figured I was fine.. Well that lasted TWO MONTHS! So clearly SOMETHING is going on! I don't really worry about not having it though?? I'm on the pill and I take it as prescribed. I feel fine, so I'm really not concerned. What I am concerned w/ is why I'm 5'1" and weigh 180 lbs!! Esp. w/ the training volume I do. And of course I have to eat healthy or I wouldn't be able to maintain this high level of fitness! Yeah I do splurge once a week on the dessert of my choice- but that's after 6 hours in the saddle and another hour running! So in my eyes- I should be able to!!
I eat lots of fruit and veggees and lean protein like chicken w/ a bit of red meat thrown in for iron. I don't eat alot of processed junk. I try to eat as much food in it's "natural state" as possible, so I don't know what gives??
Oh- and I've had my thyroid checked and rechecked. I think it's kind of borderline?? UGH! It's my cross to bear I suppose!!!
Anyway, we sound familiar.. I'd be interested to hear what you find out on your end. And I'll let you know what happens to me mid April...
Denise

I had been put on low dose birth control several years ago and it regulated and gave me a period. Previous to that I went from none to non-stop spotting [just enough to be annoying] and perpetual PMS! I thought I was perimenopausal, but they say my hormone levels [for that anyways] were normal. I'd had polyps removed and then kind of went to almost nothing but while on the pill, I was regular.
In 2004 when I was admitted for chest pains they took me off the pill and it did effect my cycle but not to this extent. I was still having something more recently my cycle got squirrelier. It's been in the past several months that I'm not sure when my last cycle has been.
One of the worst things about the PCOD is it makes it difficult to lose weight [explains why I've always had a weight problem, I've always had period problems as well] and being overweight makes the PCOD worse.. What a catch22! I hate the facial hair and my hair on my head has been falling out for years. Men think it's devastating to lose their hair [personally I think MOST bald/ing men are pretty sexy] a bald woman on the other hand isn't. Hot flashes and night sweats suck too.
Good luck, and if I go too much longer I guess I'll break down and buy a preggers test, but I really don't think that's it. I have gained back about 10 -15 pounds over the winter [not happy about that especially since I've been training so hard] Come on Spring so I can actually get outside and ride more to get the scales moving in the right direction again too. Ain't it wonderful being a woman... :confused:

Well as we all know the surest way to make Aunt Flo show up is to go blow $10 on a peestick test. Without fail, every time I do this AF shows up the next day. I swear the old hag must own stock in EPT. :p

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

Well as we all know the surest way to make Aunt Flo show up is to go blow $10 on a peestick test. Without fail, every time I do this AF shows up the next day. I swear the old hag must own stock in EPT. :p

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Isn't that the truth? LOL... Actually they have them at a local everything $1 store here. Considering it doesn't cost them that much to make the silly things it's pure profit for them.

"Oh- and I've had my thyroid checked and rechecked. I think it's kind of borderline?? UGH! It's my cross to bear I suppose!!! "

Denise - the new guidelines for the American Endocrinology Association (I think I have the group name correct) actually says that if your TSH is over 3 you suffer from hypothyroidism. I too was borderline (4.64 with 5.0 being the mark used by my doctor). I found an endrocriologist who follows the new guidelines, he started me on Synthyoid and what a difference it has made in my life. The twenty pounds I had packed on slowly melted away, my energy came back, my dry skin disappeared - bottom line I felt like I had my life back.

Hope this helps!

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

Well as we all know the surest way to make Aunt Flo show up is to go blow $10 on a peestick test. Without fail, every time I do this AF shows up the next day. I swear the old hag must own stock in EPT. :p

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OMG! You are so right about that one. If I could take back all the money I have spent on test I could have some sweet bike clothes right now.
I have had pocd sence I think I was 20 I had my first lump found when i was 16 so i guess it could ave even been before that. I have been on birth control sence I was 16 because of irregular periods. I have been preg twice. And don't hate me but neither was full term. I was to young and stupid. But now tey say i can't have kids and if i tried it would be an awful time. I have for tha past 6 years not had any cysts on my ovaries. So my periods have been almost normal. They gave me an iud a few years ago whic the first year I did not have aperiod at all. Now tis year it seems to be back to normal. They gave me a Iud calle Merina. It has a low dose of progesterone in it to keep the cysts at bay you could say. But i have been clear of them for a wile now. Of coarse they could come back any time.
Have you ever had one burst? I could not stand up for 10 days. And couldn't even walk the first 7 days. It was kill me pain. I was on some heavy duty pain meds too and it wasn't enough. Went to th ER twice. So I am happy they are gone for now. If you ever need to talk just pm me I happy to listen and talk.

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Originally Posted by Brandi

Have you ever had one burst? I could not stand up for 10 days. And couldn't even walk the first 7 days. It was kill me pain. I was on some heavy duty pain meds too and it wasn't enough. Went to th ER twice. So I am happy they are gone for now. If you ever need to talk just pm me I happy to listen and talk.

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I don't have PCOD but I've had ovarian cysts and had a few explosions of follicular cysts in there. I also had surgery to remove a big potato-sized dermoid cyst. I'm now on a higher dose pill to avoid more follicular cysts, and the small dermoid that's left is checked once in a while to make sure it's under control.

Anyway, YES, IT HURTS. A male nurse told me he was told by a female patient before me that she'd rather go through the pain of giving birth than have another of these crazy cysts again. Before I figured out what was happening, I had two separate events, both times while wearing a specific pair of high-heeled boots and walking for 2 km to go to school. I had to stop to sit on a bench and cry, bent in two.

Good luck girls... Good vibes your way.

I have several small cysts on both ovaries (based on an ultrasound that was done). I had a cyst burst in December and OMG, I thought I was dying. I was curled up in a ball shaking and was sore for like 3 days after. My doc prescribed low does BC pills, but I still have yet to take them. I was concerned about side effects of the pill since I have never taken them. I haven't had any problems since that horrible December thing, but sometimes I worry that one might be growing in there! Girl part problems suck!

I would take the bc pills. You can always stop. It take about three months to get your body used to them. And my guess is you will probabaly be fine. I never had any side effects. And the benifits are sometimes a good thing. I know that the bc keep the cysts from growing to large. At least that was the case with me. And I am lucky I have not had the wieght gain that some women have had from the cysts. I am surprised your dr is not being a little more forcful with you taking them. But then again you know your own body better then anyone.

The side effects from the birth control pill are much lower than the potential side effects of cysts, which may include having to undergo surgery. And with today's low-dose pill, I wouldn't be too worried...

I hope everything turns out fine for you!

exactly. The iud they put me one which helps the cysts was also cause i was getting to the point where i was forgetting to take my pill. Which is probably cuase I had been on it for 16 years. I just got tired of having to take it every day. But like grog said they are so low dose these days the benefits out weigh the side effects definatly. If you are young I don't reccommend an iud, But if you are old like me (37) then I would go for the iud. It is so simple. Again it is the marina iud.

Well...my doc doesn't know that I haven't started taking the pill yet. :rolleyes: I was supposed to start it at the end of January and I didn't. She actually gave me 2 options - to take Ibuprofen if I get that ruptured cyst pain again and just deal or go on bc. My main concerns are spotting, mood swings and weight gain. Just doesn't sound like fun. But so far, everyone I've asked has said to just try it out and that's it not a big deal.

Thanks for all of the input everyone. It does help. It's just scary taking something new - you never know what it's going to do to you because everyone is so different.

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Originally Posted by kaian

Well...my doc doesn't know that I haven't started taking the pill yet. :rolleyes: I was supposed to start it at the end of January and I didn't. She actually gave me 2 options - to take Ibuprofen if I get that ruptured cyst pain again and just deal or go on bc. My main concerns are spotting, mood swings and weight gain. Just doesn't sound like fun. But so far, everyone I've asked has said to just try it out and that's it not a big deal.

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I am just concerned about one thing Kaian: are you sure there are only follicular cysts there? You could also be having dermoid cysts and that could be much more problematic in the mid- or long-term.

Besides, I have never experienced mood swings on the pill, and if taken at the same time every day it shouldn't cause spotting. I have never gained weight either, if you're active this shouldn't really be an issue... If this latter point is really a concern (weight gain), supposedly "Jasmine" is a new pill that is especially good on preventing that.

Good luck...

Grog,

Jasmine is the 3 month sample pack my doc gave me. Yeah, I'm not sure what kind of cysts they saw in the ultrasound. The doctor just said that I have several small cysts in both ovaries. I have to wait until my next cycle to start taking it, but I am leaning towards trying it only because I feel like I have a ticking time bomb in my body. I never know if one might burst again or if I have something growing really large. Thanks for the encouragement!

My last birth control pill was jasmine and it was wonderful. My skinned cleared up really nice. And with pcod I have had acne for all of my adult life. It really helped that. And my periods were light and predictable. It is a nice pill! I highly recommend it. I took it for four years no prob! But so is te iud I am on now.

[ I do know it's been at LEAST 2 months now though that I've cycled. :eek: well, THAT cycle LOL...:p
Anyone with similar experience??
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I had a something similar recently...I went to so many doctors and they finally figured out that I had celiac disease...I was eating wheat and my body was fighting itself since I was basically making myself sick everytime I ate! It eventually messed up my cycle and they couldn't figure out why...so you might want to ask that they rule out a food allergy. I never knew how much something like that could affect my body!

How timely, I am just in the process of doing my own research...I've had problems many years with irreg cycles, sometimes none at all, and then in recent years, non-stop bleeding. About 2 years ago when the problem escalated where I was unable to stop the bleeding (and I was on Yasmin and other BCPS I tried), my gyno upped my dosage to temporarily stop it and I had some surgery to determine what the problems were. Although she could not identify alot of cysts, and I am not diagnosed w/endometriosis, I have all the symptoms of both. Apparently she indicated you can have PCOS without the cysts, but it's hard to diagnose then as you are counting solely on symptoms (irreg bleeding, weight gain only in recent years (even with good diet and heavy exercise), the most painful periods of my life in the last 4 years that required about 10-12 advil and 4 darvocets per day to quell...).

So last Xmas when I went home to the US, I had an endometrial ablation done (they use a laser to remove a lining of the uterus which has built up and is often part of the problems). It helped, unfortunately I still get my period again (about 30% of people who have the procedure do not), and I tried going off Yasmine. Pain has subsided during my period enough to warrant not going back on it. After 3 months off Yasmine, I experienced not weight loss in pounds, but fat loss (same regimens of good diet and cardio 5x/wk). Esp in my upper body, back, stomach. It looked like I lost 15 lbs or so but in reality I lost about 3 lbs-4 lbs only and but many inches. So more research on why...

I am now looking into the book on an insulin resistance "diet" -- ie it's a lifestyle...as this appears to be a result of those afflicted with PCOS and many women have had success with this eating style. Basically, similar to the Zone, it balances protein and carbs (has to do with the role of insulin and glucose in the body, she explains it in the book) and veggies are all okay (do not need balancing). So no, it's not high protein, I am not a fan of fad diets -- the overall balance they try to achieve is 45 carb, 30 protein, 25 fat. Which is relatively safe for me and my level of desired energy and fuel I need to workout, compete, etc.

So here's where I am on this. I am going to try and follow the logic for a while and see what happens. I am not desirous of going back on Yasmin or any other BCP unless my periods get unbearable again. Mainly because it may contribute to the other problems. If they do get unbearable though, I will have to but the more control variables I remove from my experiment with the insulin resistant diet the better. My mom died of heart disease at 53 (of course she smoked since she was 12!) but we had no diabetes in our family anywhere. So I need to determine whether I am increasing my risk factors by determining if this insulin issue is a real issue. Last time I had my diagnostics done (cholesterol, LDL, HDH, triglycerides) they were not ideal but greatly improved after a very large spike in fitness that I had started on 2 yrs before. I am going to have this done again in summer probably and see if I see improvements.

Sorry for the long saga but I am really loving getting feedback and insight on this from others. I try to be educated in physiology and nutrition as best a lay person can so I shun fad diets and concepts. But after my own experiments, for my body, calorie reduction and increased exercise is no longer working the way it should. And my problems with the other stuff must be playing a role.

Happy to hear from other women, or Mary, would love to hear how you're doing in the same challenges....

There is SO little good solid research and remedies for women's gynocological problems out there. We have Viagra, but we can't even come up with a cure for most serious female gynocological problems!! (Ok, so I'm a little bitter about the uneven $$ that go into males medical research over women!)

Ok, sorry for the technical info, but BF happened to be studying PCOD this week so here are the three criteria. To be diagnosed with the disease, you need to fill two of these:

1/ ovarian cysts
2/ high male-hormone levels (eventually associated with masculine features like high pilosity, low, tick voice, etc.)
3/ anovulation (no ovulation -> but of course you can have no ovulations and still have periods, just like anyone on the pill can experience)

Insulin resistance is one of the consequences, not sure it's a cause...

I am not sure whether having a diagnosis makes a real difference in treatment. Moreover, I DO NOT ADVOCATE self-diagnosis. See your doctor, and get a second opinion if you feel it is necessary.

Good luck to all of you...

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Originally Posted by Grog

Ok, sorry for the technical info, but BF happened to be studying PCOD this week so here are the three criteria. To be diagnosed with the disease, you need to fill two of these:

1/ ovarian cysts
2/ high male-hormone levels (eventually associated with masculine features like high pilosity, low, tick voice, etc.)
3/ anovulation (no ovulation -> but of course you can have no ovulations and still have periods, just like anyone on the pill can experience)

Insulin resistance is one of the consequences, not sure it's a cause...

I am not sure whether having a diagnosis makes a real difference in treatment. Moreover, I DO NOT ADVOCATE self-diagnosis. See your doctor, and get a second opinion if you feel it is necessary.

Good luck to all of you...

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Another thing you see with the high male hormones is excess body hair, particularly on the face and and abdomen. This can definately be treated, and try to get your physician to measure various hormones including TSH, FSH, LH, prolactin, and if you have hypertension consider a cortisol measurement.

I hope you gals can get this figured out. I'm thinking of you (female problems suck)

Yes, have been tested and my hormones are imbalanced so I do see the unfortunate results from that as well. Much less of an issue though that the period pain and related problems. Again, cross my fingers, the ablation brought some of it under control. Now I am focusing on other side effects and seeing how to address them...

Did not mean to say that insulin resistance causes PCOS, not at all. PCOS sufferers have been shown to demonstrate insulin resistance, so kind of the other way around, but not all PCOS sufferers. This is why many are also put on Glucophage/Metformin and seem to get good results, even in weight loss. But as with all women's issues, there is no cure, there seems to be only management. And it can be different from person to person it seems.

The info though is always good, keep the insights coming and if anyone has had successes in these area, pass it on!