Lab Results...PCOS?

[LibbyLou]

So, I got the results of some blood work back today, and I think it indicates that I may have PCOS. I've suspected for a couple of weeks now, and my LH/FSH ratio looks pretty bad. I have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday, so we'll see what that shows. The nurse practitioner interpreted my LH level as slightly elevated, but normal because of where I am in my cycle. The range for the Follicular phase is 2.58 - 12.1. The range for the Luteal phase is 0.83 - 15.5, but I'm not technically in the Luteal phase am I? (I'm on CD 87, but no ovulation yet)

LH - 13.8
FSH - 5.2

The other things checked were all in the normal ranges (Prolactin, T3 Free, TSH Sensitive)

[RunnerDuck]

Well if you are on CD87 and no O... that in itself is suspect.

For PCOS the strict criteria of LH:FSH is, I think, 3:1 or more. But some say greater than 2:1 is "bad enough" and I have seen some even argue anything more than 1:1 is whacky. At any rate you are nearly 3:1 and definately more than 2:1.

Did they check your testosterone levels? How about fasting insulin?

Ultrasound may or may not show "circle of pearl" cysts - not all women with PCOS have the cysts. And not all women with the cysts have PCOS! It's a baffling condition... truthfully some doctors just say "let's go by outward symptoms" and forget about the lab values... so if you have absent or seriously infrequent ovulation, male pattern body hair, male pattern hair loss, tendency to pack on weight, acne, skin tags, dark patches of skin... suspect PCOS. Not all women have all signs - you can be thin, or lack the hairy aspects, or have nice thick head hair...

Anyway... I am rambling. The LH:FSH and lack of ovulation does look suspect. So what's your plan?

[LibbyLou]

I have several of the physical symptoms, and they've been getting worse since I stopped taking BC pills. I guess the next step is to ask that my testosterone levels get checked and also to be screened for insulin resistance? I really wish I was able to try to find a doctor familiar with PCOS to work with, but I'm being seen at a military hospital, so I'm kind of at their mercy for now. I'm hoping that they'll eventually give me a referral to a specialist.

[songbird45]

That sounds like PCOS to me. My doc said a 2:1 ratio of LH:FSH means its PCOS. I'm beginning to think that there are different possible causes for the same cluster of symptoms, though, because things that help other women (going low carb) don't seem to have any effect on me.

Remember that PCOS isn't a cause, it's a description of a cluster of possible symptoms. It's a syndrome, not a disease. Hopefully you can do some research and try things until you get it figured out. soulcysters.net was very helpful to me in doing research.