Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

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I'm doing my own mini study to see if there is a link between PCOS and autism. I have both, and when another "cyster" turned up on another autism board that I'm on, I got curious. I started a thread on a PCOS forum, and immediately got a response from someone who has PCOS and a son with autism. I also read that many auties have insulin resistance, which is connected to PCOS.

So my question: how many of you are autistic/Aspergers and also have PCOS?

Well there is a possible link with testosterone. PCOS is linked to testosterone, ASD is linked to testosterone during gestation. So it make sense that somebody who has it, and then was able to conceive, might have an ASD child. PCOS may also be linked to the testosterone during gestation. I should mention that my sister has it and she is hyper NT. Like with any agent introduced during gestation timing is everything. There are whole hosts of conditions that could be related to testosterone during gestation. They don't necessarily overlap, but could.

I know that that there a quite a number of women on this board that mentioned PCOS and/or other gynecological/obstetric problems. If the search wasn't so crap, you might be able to have a good look. May people (including myself) have offered to help alex fix the search and pretty much everyone wants him to, but that is another story.

Oh thanks 0_equals_true, that's useful information. In 15 minutes on my PCOS forum, 4 people have answered my thread - all have autistic children. I have a feeling I'm onto something here. I've also heard talk about a higher incidence of autism in IVF babies, and years ago a childcare worker I knew mentioned to me that she thought IVF children were "not quite right." Since a lot of cysters need to use IVF, perhaps there is a link there. I'll keep digging, thanks for the info.

I'm an autie who has PCOS. It would be interesting if these two are somehow related.

i have pcos.

I have PCOS. Its possible to have PCOS without elevated testosterone levels (its a syndrome, so you only need some of the symptoms to be diagnosed), but I'm of the sort with really high testosterone levels. I've not been diagnosed with AS, but I'm 99% sure I'm on the spectrum.

Around 10% of women have PCOS so it wouldn't be meaningful or surprising if there were lots of responses here.

/raises hand

My sister does too, but she is neurotypical.

There is a possibility that I have PCOS...without major symptoms..aside from infertility and a slight weight problem...

My mom has POS and I am an aspie.

Both my mother and I have it, and I'm an aspie.

It does make one wonder. A formal survey would be interesting.

I am also looking at the connection between PCOS and autism spectrum. I have PCOS and my son is on the spectrum. I am quite convinced there is a link. I would be interested to see hown many PCOS have aspie children and likewise how many aspies have PCOS mothers.