Irregular cycles, mood swings….
Question
Hello,
It all started about five years ago when I lost my son at five months pregnant. Since then my periods have been really out of whack. Now I have not had one for a year. My paps come back fine and no one can seem to tell me what is wrong! I have black hairs growing out of my chin and very bad mood swings. Yes I am a big woman but I have been big all my life and never had a problem before, not until I lost my son and they did a D&C. Could you please help me out?
Thanks
Toni
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Answer
Last Updated: July 10, 2013
Dear Toni:
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your son. It sounds like you have been suffering with additional health problems since then as well. I suspect that you may have been suffering from a low progesterone state for a long time, even before your initial pregnancy.
From what you are describing, one could make a case for polycystic ovarian syndrome which has a range of symptoms of which you are fitting several. PCOS is associated with increased weight, hirsutism (unusual hair on face, arms, etc.), irregular cycles, insulin resistance (prone to diabetes) and acne, to name a few. Also, many women suffer from premenstrual syndrome because of the low progesterone associated with PCOS. PMS includes debilitating headaches, mood swings, carbohydrate cravings (chocolate cravings), depression all within a few days of a period.
Women with PCOS usually have some difficulty becoming pregnant and because of the low progesterone, may be prone to miscarriage. Progesterone is vital to maintaining a pregnancy.
I would strongly urge you to get with a certified natural fertility care teacher who can teach you to chart your cycles. The teacher could then refer you to a doctor familiar with looking at the charts who can make appropriate tests and prescribe the correct medicine. If indeed you have PCOS, the treatment is a diabetes medicine (even though you may not have diabetes) which starts correcting a lot of things in your system. The doctor may also need to have you take progesterone to help replace some. These are commonly done and safe to do.
Of course, your doctor will check you for other things such as infection or thyroid problems as well as do the PAP smear which everyone woman should have done regularly.
I hope this helps you so you can be healthy again! CANFP can help you find a teacher nearest you.
Sincerely,
Gretchen V. Marsh, D.O.
Family Practice
Yuba City, CA
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your son. It sounds like you have been suffering with additional health problems since then as well. I suspect that you may have been suffering from a low progesterone state for a long time, even before your initial pregnancy.
From what you are describing, one could make a case for polycystic ovarian syndrome which has a range of symptoms of which you are fitting several. PCOS is associated with increased weight, hirsutism (unusual hair on face, arms, etc.), irregular cycles, insulin resistance (prone to diabetes) and acne, to name a few. Also, many women suffer from premenstrual syndrome because of the low progesterone associated with PCOS. PMS includes debilitating headaches, mood swings, carbohydrate cravings (chocolate cravings), depression all within a few days of a period.
Women with PCOS usually have some difficulty becoming pregnant and because of the low progesterone, may be prone to miscarriage. Progesterone is vital to maintaining a pregnancy.
I would strongly urge you to get with a certified natural fertility care teacher who can teach you to chart your cycles. The teacher could then refer you to a doctor familiar with looking at the charts who can make appropriate tests and prescribe the correct medicine. If indeed you have PCOS, the treatment is a diabetes medicine (even though you may not have diabetes) which starts correcting a lot of things in your system. The doctor may also need to have you take progesterone to help replace some. These are commonly done and safe to do.
Of course, your doctor will check you for other things such as infection or thyroid problems as well as do the PAP smear which everyone woman should have done regularly.
I hope this helps you so you can be healthy again! CANFP can help you find a teacher nearest you.
Sincerely,
Gretchen V. Marsh, D.O.
Family Practice
Yuba City, CA
Answered By:
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Dr. Marsh graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 1987 in Pomona, CA and is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. She has been certified as a NaProTechnology® Medical Consultant (NaPro) and Creighton model Fertility Care System (CrMS) teacher since 2001. She and her husband, Jon, have 5 sons and live in the Reno region, where she sees patients in person, in addition to her telehealth services offered via MyCatholicDoctor.com
