What are my chances of children?

Question

I'm 19 and have had my period since I was about 12. Its always been irregular and when I was 15 or 16 I went to the doctor after not having my period for roughly 18 months. I wasn't worried that I could be pregnant, as the sex wasn't unprotected, but I'd been warned by my mom that I could become infertile if I didn't have my period. So after several tests and a vaginal ultrasound, it was determined I wasn't pregnant and that I had poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. I've done very minor research on this and wasn't really worried about it. I had resigned myself to the fact that my chances of children were nearly nonexistent. I was on birth control for a while to keep my periods regular, but was told by my doctor that the longer I was on birth control, the lower my chances got, but the longer I wasn't having periods, the lower my chances got.
I've been a steady weight for the past 5-6 years, and prior to that only weighed about 20 pounds less than what I do know (roughly 180 pounds now). But even before gaining that weight, my periods were NEVER regular. I was told by my mom that she had the same problems with her period and had problems conceiving all her children (only two carried to full term). A similar problem seems to be seen on my father's side of the family.
I know that by looking at your ancestors you can sometimes tell how the future will play out. So now I'm wondering if my chances of having a child are as slim as what I've been told? Will I have the same problem carrying to full term like my doctor thinks when looking at my family history?
I've been trying to exercise and lose a bit of weight, and I'm eating healthier (not a lot, but definitely better) than I have in years, and I'm starting to sleep regularly and I'm cutting caffeine from my diet (except when at work, but I'm not drinking as much as I used to). If my weight is the problem why I'm not having periods, how much should I lose? Am I on the right track to losing it?
No, I'm not looking at trying to get pregnant now, but I want to know if  my chances are as low as I've been led to believe.

Garth B · Accepted Answer

Do not make any assumptions.  Live your life as happily as you can and if you are blessed with children, be thankful for it.

My wife has always been irregular and was told prior to our marriage that the chances of her becoming pregnant were almost zero and that she could forget about birth control.  We were married in mid-February.  Our first child was born in early December.  She was told that this was a fluke and that it would not happen again.  

She then went back on birth control.  Three years later, she stopped taking the pill again for health reasons.  A little less than a year afterwards our second child was born.  

While we have tried unsuccessfully thereafter to have more children, we are thankful for the two we do have.

MrsM57 · Answer

well hun everyone is different. i have pcos and i am 25. i am also a very normal weight. my husband and i have been trying for years. still no luck. i have had test after test done. the doc tell me that your chances go down each year you get older. if your concerned maybe you should talk to your doctor. some gyno's put pcos patients on the pill bc it controls the hormones that creat the cysts... not sure....i would seriously talk to a doc though. bc i had the same thing with the no periods for months and months when i was younger and now its soooooo hard to get prego!!!

Anonymous · Answer

Your understanding of your situation is more or less completely accurate. If it's true that this runs in both sides of your family, then your chances are actually lower than any of your individual ancestors, since you have increased odds of having inherited two broken X's instead of just one.

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What are my chances of children?

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