PCOS

My periods have always been irregular, since when I first started when I was 13. Around February 2020, they stopped completely. Lockdown was soon after, so I couldn’t visit my GP and my mum thought it was nothing serious. In September 2020, we finally went to the doctors, I got a blood test and the results came clear. My period didn’t come until December 2020, out of nowhere. I haven’t had my period for this month and I’ve noticed that I have many symptoms of PCOS, such as abnormal body/facial hair, irregular/absent periods, acne, hair loss etc , but my mum won’t bring me to the doctors as I already got a period last month. I want to take care of my health but my mum thinks I’m healthy as long as I even get periods. Plus, my blood test results can back clear so do I actually even have PCOS ? Does anyone have any advice ?

My periods have always been irregular, since when I first started when I was 13. Around February 2020, they stopped completely. Lockdown was soon after, so I couldn’t visit my GP and my mum thought it was nothing serious. In September 2020, we finally went to the doctors, I got a blood test and the results came clear. My period didn’t come until December 2020, out of nowhere. I haven’t had my period for this month and I’ve noticed that I have many symptoms of PCOS, such as abnormal body/facial hair, irregular/absent periods, acne, hair loss etc , but my mum won’t bring me to the doctors as I already got a period last month. I want to take care of my health but my mum thinks I’m healthy as long as I even get periods. Plus, my blood test results can back clear so do I actually even have PCOS ? Does anyone have any advice ?

Go to the doctor. I'm the same as you I had extremely irregular periods last year (missing 3 months even) and starting losing hair in about October so I went to the doctor and got diagnosed with PCOS in Dec 2020 after i did pelvic scans and blood tests which later showed my estradiol (oestrogen) was low. There were also other symptoms that I wasn't ovulating etc. but I started the combination pill start of this month and now my periods are back on track (I'm just having one now exactly a month after my last) although there were pretty bad side effects I won't go into. So anyway definitely see the doctor if you have concerns as your symptoms seem to point towards PCOS although I'm inclined to believe it may not be if your blood tests were normal. There are many other things it could be eg. hypothyroidism, low testosterone, problems with the hypothalamus etc. which I got tested for too - did you get tested for these? Also how old are you because if you are still young your periods may still be adjusting?

Don't worry about it too much x

You could still have PCOS with normal blood tests. Has your GP suggested doing an ultrasound scan

How old are you, Sara, how tall are you and how much do you weigh?

Your weight can affect your periods.

Thanks for your reply, no my GP hasn’t. The only thing he has suggested was to visit an endocrinologist, but my mum refuses to bring me there as she thinks my irregular/absent periods don’t matter.

Thank you for your reply, I’m 16, 17 soon. When I went to the doctors, they only did a blood test. Then, the results were clear. The issue is, my mum won’t take me to the doctors anytime soon. She was reluctant to take me back in September even. But, I agree that it could be other things too.

Thanks for your reply, no my GP hasn’t. The only thing he has suggested was to visit an endocrinologist, but my mum refuses to bring me there as she thinks my irregular/absent periods don’t matter.

Thanks for your reply, no my GP hasn’t. The only thing he has suggested was to visit an endocrinologist, but my mum refuses to bring me there as she thinks my irregular/absent periods don’t matter.

Sara

Having given it some thought, I think that the best thing to do would be for you to ring the surgery yourself and ask for a phone appointment with the GP in question.

When he rings you, I would say that you wish to take up the offer of a referral to an endocrinologist. You are old enough to ask for this.

I know that you have said that your Mum won't take you, but I think that you should know that most specialists are not seeing people in person and are doing consultations by phone at the moment (apart, of course, from when a patient has an urgent problem and needs to be seen in person). This is to cut down the Covid risk posed by people coming and going in hospital outpatient departments.

I have had a phone consultation with a consultant at my local hospital in London recently and a neighbour of mine who needs surgery later in the year has also had a phone consultation with his surgeon.

It is important for Doctors to investigate the absence of periods, by the way, as there can be a link between this and bone density.

If I were you, given that it's not yet 4 pm, I would give the surgery a call today and ask for a phone appointment with the GP who suggested an appointment with Endocrinology. Explain that you would like to take up the referral.

To the best of my knowledge, this will mean a phone consultation at some point in the next couple of months (guessing)

Can you go on your own? I have been going to appointments on my own since I was 14. It would be essential travel so you could use public transport.

My periods have always been irregular, since when I first started when I was 13. Around February 2020, they stopped completely. Lockdown was soon after, so I couldn’t visit my GP and my mum thought it was nothing serious. In September 2020, we finally went to the doctors, I got a blood test and the results came clear. My period didn’t come until December 2020, out of nowhere. I haven’t had my period for this month and I’ve noticed that I have many symptoms of PCOS, such as abnormal body/facial hair, irregular/absent periods, acne, hair loss etc , but my mum won’t bring me to the doctors as I already got a period last month. I want to take care of my health but my mum thinks I’m healthy as long as I even get periods. Plus, my blood test results can back clear so do I actually even have PCOS ? Does anyone have any advice ?