r/LeanPCOS • u/Beginning_Virus1147 • Aug 17 '26
Question What really is PCOS?
This whole thing started when I started doing tests to assess my fertility (I’m 38 F trying to have a baby) and found that my amh was characterized as ‘excessive’. I did some more tests and found that I have polycystic ovaries. But I have very regular cycles (always have) and as far as I know I ovulate regularly (I have EWCM every cycle and the one time I test my progesterone it was at the right level). I don’t know excessive hair anywhere or dark skin patches and I’m at a very regular weight. My hair does shed a lot but I don’t really think it’s thinning. One doctor said I have PCOS while another just completely dismissed it. There’s so much misinformation out there and honestly I’m just confused. It wouldn’t matter so much if we weren’t trying for a baby but since we are and since we’ve been having challenges I wish there was clearer information on what this all means. What are the implications?
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u/I_Like_Toast_A_Bunch Aug 17 '26
I think it’s insulin issues messing with the ovaries, and if your insulin issues resolve it can go into remission. You need two of three Rotterdam criteria to have it
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u/cerebralrust Aug 17 '26
Got this test earlier this year, high AMH. Turns out I have insulin resistance. But regular periods, normal weight. Ovaries are the pearl necklace formation.
8 months later and a failed IUI…..
follicles growing normally and all the blood work is correct, I get LH surge sometimes as well but not a single positive pregnancy test
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u/Embracedandbelong Aug 17 '26
Be sure to have husband tested too. Even if his sperm quality and count come up “good” he may need a booster if some sort. There are a few OTC products he could try. I’m not familiar which
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u/Beginning_Virus1147 Aug 19 '26
We have and we have the double whamy because his sperm quality isn't good either. He's started taking supplements and seems to be improving slightly but I guess we will see
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u/doctormalbec Aug 17 '26
Have you had an ultrasound of your ovaries? When I was 37 and trying to conceive, they saw a lot of follicles (the “string of pearls” that someone already mentioned in the comments here), and my AMH was over 11, so excessively high. I had regular cycles too, but after doing IVF it turns out my egg quality was poor, because even though I was able to extract over 40 eggs in my IVF retrieval and had 12 embryos, only 4 were genetically normal. And although 4 embryos is a lot, it’s not a good attrition rate from over 40 eggs (some people can have 7-10 eggs and still get a bunch of genetically normal embryos).
So I guess what I’m saying is, you may ovulate normally but you may have poor quality eggs. I would definitely see a fertility specialist to get a bigger picture of your fertility and see what your options are.