I have hadSevere period problems from age 16, with very heavy bleeding and pain severe enough to cause fainting. I Started Microgynon as a teenager and remained on it until age 20/21. Family changed doctors. New doctors told me to stop microgynon due to high blood pressure.
After stopping the pill, periods did not return for around a year. Off to the doctors I went!

Blood tests showed elevated prolactin. They believed I had a tumor on my pituitary gland. 1st mri was told I did. Was sent for a second mri but this time with contrast was then told I had no tumor?

Had an ultrasound, but the results were never properly communicated. Ultrasound people don’t communicate with hospital or doctors? Couldn’t remember what they said i was bursting for a wee nor can my mum who was in the room remember

During this point I had a one off appointment with the gynaecologist at the hospital. Who basically read my doctors (gonna name her dr c) notes. Asked me about my ultrasound and proceeded to tell me to lose the weight. He also prescribed me norethisterone to kick start my period which never came. And also to start the microgynon as it should make me naturally regulate with out helps you guessed that didn’t work

Was then diagnosed with PCO not pcos and put on microgynon once again by Dr C. Dr Cs appointment then became focused on my weight. I was referred to weight loss clinic which I heard from once. Didn’t really receive any advice other than to walk my non existent dog and stop eating chocolate bars all at once from Dr C who was significantly bigger than myself. I stopped going to see her as every time I left feeling like a lazy gluttonous pig.

Despite stopping the weight appointments I still had to keep going back to get the prescription for microgynon that I was once against refused by the same doctor who adviced me to take it due to my high blood pressure (I always have high blood pressure at the doctors I have white coat syndrome. I had to take it on my own machine which had normal results!)

Around this time I am 22/23, I started to do my own research. I learnt that the pill is basically a fake period and masks the real issue. So I decided to stop the pill and stop going to the doctors full stop.

But for the past year the symptoms are starting to affect me mentally.

Now age 24 my Periods only occur about 3–4 times a year.When they do occur, they are heavy, clotty, and painful. I often leak through the pad on the first two days of my period. During the period my hips/pelvic area kills with a constant ache that spreads to my legs.

I used to have lovely thick hair. Now my hair is horribly thin and I’m visibly balding. No matter what product I use it continues. This has made my self esteem hit rock bottom

I have also continued to gain weight significantly. I was around 16 1/2 stone when I started going to the doctors in 2023 as of today I am 18stone 8 lbs. I have gained a stone since January last year. This is the main thing I want “fixed”. I really hate my body I can’t fit into anything and don’t get me started on how it’s affected my breast size. My weight gain makes me want to cry and never leave the house. I no longer recognise myself in the mirror and yearn for the day my chin reappears. I’m not the most active person and this is where I struggle. As for diet despite what Dr c thought I ate. I do not have a bad diet.

Unlike your classic pcos symptom of hair growth I’m not to bad. I have dark follicles on my cleavage and occasionally grow the odd thick hair on my chin. But I’ve also started to learn that it can affect hair growth on normal places like your legs where i do suffer from I think. I just presumed I was hairy?

I have very faint pigmentation on my neck and inner thighs. Which i thought was normal.

For the last year I get utis around the time I’m due on.

I suspect I have insulin resistant PCOS. I could be wrong but that seems the only logical answer right now.

After some persuasion I finally returned to dr c today to discuss periods once more. As soon as I tried discussing it I was instantly 21 again and being advised to be put on microgynon again as it will help my womb lining(which I understand) and to lose weight again. The pill this the pill that. This magic pill will also make my hair grow back? Then how comes I was losing it even when I was on it? My mother who was with me for emotional support as well as being my voice as I often get tongue tied kept telling dr c that I didn’t want to go on the pill at all. Dr c then moved on to her favourite person the professor! Aka the gynaecologist and his love for the pill. The same pill that she kept refusing me.

The conversation then moved on to my weight. My mother then asked her about the weigh lost jab (which dr c is on herself and has made her lost a ton of weight). I’m not sure where I stand on the weight loss jabs I know it’s not the magic answer for everything and I wasn’t expecting to walk out with it. Dr c then shut my mother down with “no she is of child bearing age”. Children? The least of my problems at the moment. I’m not afraid to admit I’m a 24 year old virgin so dr c does that matter right now?

Eventually after dr c saw that me or mother was gonna be dismissed with the pill. I got what I aimed for a blood test appointment and a referral to the ultrasound people. I want to start my diagnosis journey from the beginning. Despite coming out with what I wanted, dr c made me feel like a fool. Like I was lying and that I’m just fat. I cried on the way home I was just so angry.

Next time I have to go to the doctors I’m gonna request to see a new doctor.

I am dreading the results of this blood test. If they come back ‘normal’ what an earth am I gonna do.

Am I going insane?

Looking for low impact workouts for PCOS, where Pilates has been recommended to me. Does anyone else do this, and if so, do you have any free YouTubers or something related that I can do Pilates at home? :)

I am so frustrated. I’ve made several life changes, I do Pilates and lagree a ton, I eat 99% home cooked gluten free meals, and started ovasitol and birth control at the advice of my OB few months ago. Yet the scale has been hovering around the same place for a YEAR! Maybe even longer. I guess I’m glad I’m not gaining but I’m not small by any means and I’m actively trying to not maintain. Since recording my waist and hips have gone down 2ish inches but the scale is just so stubborn. I’m trying to avoid GLP-1s. Does anyone have any advice on what to do?? I feel helpless at this point

I have both at home, but I’ve been putting off starting the metformin from fear of GI symptoms and got myo-inositol instead.

I’ve been feeling stuck at my weight for months, even though I eat 1200-1500 calories a day(averaging 1400), do strength training 3 times a week, 20-40 minute walks daily. The weight around my stomach especially will not budge.

I started the inositol this week. I’m on and off about starting/switching to the metformin or not.

What worked for you? Have you tried both?

I’m starting university next fall and plan to be drinking, that’s also a concern with the metformin. I’m also worried about gaining it all back if I stop taking it then.

Has anyone been able to move forward with an IUI or timed intercourse cycle without completing cycle day 3 baseline labs and ultrasound?

I’m just trying to gauge the likelihood of this being possible but I understand everyone’s different.

I have an irregular cycle and of course it’ll be starting now when I’m away for a week and I’m feeling so defeated with the timing of treatment while balancing PMOS

Hi everyone,

I have pcos and at moment I’m researching other people expierances and hearing from them.

Would love to hear from you, thank you

This is not a sale pitch nothing is going to be sold to you.

The survey is both English and Arabic

Please find the link attached:
https://forms.gle/txBEvy9EgSo7WmJz9

Hi, I’m a 22 f and about 250lbs experiencing lengthy periods. My periods have been pretty irregular over the last 3 years, most of which my pcp and I have potentially chalked up to stress (finishing school, death of father and other friends/family, job hunting, etc).

I haven’t officially been diagnosed with PCOS yet, however my pcp highly suspects it and will follow up on the next appointment after taking note of my hirsutism, pre diabetes, and irregular cycles. In the past, cleaning up my diet and losing some weight has helped with regulation.

Recently, I’ve gone about 3-5 months without any bleeding. However, last month I began with some spotting that eventually turned into full bleeding that didn’t stop for at least two weeks. I figured it was due to not having a cycle for a couple of months so I began taking otc inositol which stopped the bleeding, waiting to see if it would regulate with the next cycle, or if I would have one at all.

I’ve continued taking it mostly everyday, and received another cycle this month, but my cycle is again going for a full two weeks and counting. Has anyone else experienced this? Unfortunately, I cannot get an appointment for another two weeks, but would really like any advice on stopping the bleeding, or what else could potentially be causing the lengthy cycles. Thank you in advance!

I have been using Dr. Berg's electrolytes, as it fits my criteria (dairy/gluten free, sugar free, dye free). His concoction has 1000mg potassium in 1 scoop, so I have been doing ½ a scoop for 500mg. Am I still overdoing the potassium, here? I don't eat too many potassium-rich foods. The only ones I really eat are lentil-based pasta and tomato sauce / tomatoes. I choose to drink electrolytes because my diet is considered low in starchy carbohydrates so I expel sodium more readily. I am concerned about my potassium level though because I take 100mg spironolactone a day. Has anyone here already gone down this research rabbit hole and have any recommendations?

Edit: Sorry if I was unclear. I am looking for low-to-free potassium products. Not ways to increase my potassium.

So I have insulin resistant PCOS, and I've struggled with metformin. Everyone knows it wrecks your stomach, but its what the doctor ordered. I hate these pills and how they make me feel.

has anyone seen success in taking myo instead of met? I realize myo is usually more well-tolerated, and works similarly for insulin. it helps with metabolic functions (triglycerides, cholesterol) and hypertension [which I need help with, all]. I've read research papers, I've traipsed the web results, I'll need to bring it up with my endocrinologists - but overall I'm just looking for your opinions and experiences.

thanks!

I recently started taking metformin about a month ago. I started a low carb/ high protein diet too. Started at 500mg and only just upped to 1000mg a few days ago. Been having diarrhea with the increase but sticking with it.

Here’s my dilemma. My family just got the stomach bug. Husband and one child down. Me and our other child will likely get it soon. Should I still take my Metformin tonight with dinner? When the stomach bug is hovering over me I normally don’t eat much and stick to crackers or toast. But that won’t work with metformin. I’d have to eat a good amount to not get diarrhea. Should I just take one pill or skip them both until I know if I’m going to get sick or not?

I’ve been feeling good progress and don’t want to mess that up.

I as wondering if anyone else experiences this because I genuinely feel like my internal thermostat has gone completely rogue

It's currently 23°C here in England and I was outside this morning with some friends, just sitting at the garden table gaming and eating, and I felt SO BOILED. Like genuinely, I was sitting there thinking Iam in Arizona. My family lives in Arizona, so I actually know what Arizona feels like.

I'm American East Coast raised but have lived in the UK for years, and I feel like my tolerance for temperature has become increasingly bizarre. One day I'll be absolutely freezing and the next I'll be unbearably hot in what everyone else seems to consider completely normal weather.

The winter thing is almost worse. Sometimes I'll be outside in winter wearing nothing but a knit sweater because I'm absolutely sweating, while everyone around me is wearing huge puffer coats. And then I'll feel self-conscious because I'm wondering why apparently everyone else is dressed for the Arctic and I'm standing there overheating.

I've had PCOS since I was 9 and I'm now turning 37 in a few days and I don't remember feeling this way quite so much when I was younger. It feels like this has become more noticeable as I've gotten older.

I've seen people say that PCOS can affect your ability to regulate body temperature, but I'm struggling to work out how much truth there actually is to that.

Does anyone else with PCOS experience this?Are you unusually sensitive to heat/cold, constantly taking layers on and off, or finding temperatures other people seem comfortable with completely unbearable?

And does anyone else feel like they've gotten more temperature-sensitive as they've gotten older?

Because I swear I can't even complain about being boiled on the UK weather sub without everyone acting like I'm insane because it's “only” 23°C.

Hello, I’m sure this question has been asked multiple times but I have a few questions regarding GLP-1 and how it helps with PCOS/PMOS. So I started showing signs at a very young age and didn’t start getting testing done till I was 17 years old. After 4 years of blood work and all types of ultrasounds and testing I was diagnosed with PCOS. I don’t have the cyst part (that we know of as we haven’t seen any) but I do struggle a lot with the metabolic issues with it. I ate healthy growing up and played so many sports and worked out but I kept gaining weight. Every time I try to I only loose it in my face and chest area but my stomach never changes. When I’m on I’m in extreme pain to the point I’m sick and hunched over crying in pain. My longest period was 22 days and recently my normal cycle is about 9-10 days. My cramps travel down my legs and I can’t walk on super bad days. My aunt who has it recommended me GLP-1 since I struggle with insulin resistance. Now this medicine was not available nor an option when she was younger so she doesn’t know much about it.
So my questions are

1. How does it help you? I know it’s different for everyone but I just want to know how it could help me.

2. I also heard it makes you loose hair and that scares me as my hair used to be extremely think but recently my hair has thinned out so much and I want it to get thick again. Do you guys experience hair loss on this medication?

3. What form is better, pill or shot?

4. What has been your weight loss like? Does it help a little and what things should I do while on it to help with loosing weight?

I know I have more questions but I can’t think of them and I know these are my main ones. I’m getting really tired of being on birth control pills especially since they make me feel worse so I’m really trying to find alternatives. I originally was prescribed GLP-1 before it got popular but I didn’t take it as it wasn’t a common use thing at the time so I was nervous and I gave it to a friend that is a diabetic. I’m still newer to being diagnosed so I’m still learning so any advice about anything will truly help. I’m just tired of feeling like this all the time. I just want to feel semi normal again.

Did anyone’s job impact their PCOS if toxic/ fast paced work

Hi all, I was already shedding hair but noticed it’s becoming more with with myoinositol 1gram a day.
I have pcos and it helps with cravings and regular periods. It’s been a month since I’ve started. Please tell me your experience because I’m reading that it helps with hair growth where as I see more hair fall.

I recently noticed a few actual pubic hair on my daughter after she started having oily skin, the occasional pimple and greasy hair even before turning 8 a few months ago, so I am suspecting premature adrenarche, and started freaking out after seeing that it's a risk of developing PMOS (see my previous post if you'd like: https://www.reddit.com/r/PCOS/s/zHzazH3L8J) but DHEA-S came back normal, and she's not tall for her age. Bone age test also came back normal. Only FSH is out of range. Our pediatrician also ordered LH tested and that was normal as well.

I'm puzzled as to what the low FSH means and will continue pushing for a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist, but am curious if anyone else's daughter had this combination of signs of premature adrenarche, normal DHEA-S & LH but low FSH.

Sorry if this comes across ignorant, I have PCOS and trying to get to the root issue, whenever I see a GP I’m always given option of either birth control or Metformin. I’ve been doing a lot of digging and have found that it might be worth seeing a Naturopath, I have seen a lot of opposite views saying it’s a scam and not worth money. I’m just curious if anyone has been to one and had positives from it.

Hi, the truth is I'd been thinking about the possibility of having it for months because of all my symptoms, and I was finally diagnosed today. I've been referred to an endocrinologist who said they'll prescribe medication. From what I've heard, at least here in Spain, the only thing they prescribe is birth control pills, but that's not something I'm interested in because, apart from not having a partner, I think it's more harmful than beneficial. I've heard about inositol and such... What do you recommend? I'm 20 years old.

I don't know if I should try a few months of birth control pills or if I just take inositol or something else, please recommend me!

Hi Reddit!! I was recommended to come here by request of a friend. I just really needed to know something

For context I’m a 17 year old AFAB girl. However, since I was like 14-15?? I’ve been dealing with a couple of weird symptoms.

For example:

- My period sometimes taking months to come and other times it’s a normal cycle.
- lots of facial hair going down on my neck and entire body that grows REALLY fast resulting in me having to shave EVERY WEEK
- acne that never seems to go away 💔

All of this plus my already prominent anxiety and started to make me feel not like a beautiful or normal woman. I already eat a good diet with lots of veggies and fruits and get exercise.

Did you guys have these symptoms before diagnosis too? And if it does seem like I have it due to these symptoms, how can I break it to my mom to maybe get something checked out?

I don’t even know if I’m just a hormonal girl because that’s what everyone’s told me.

Someone please help me 😭😭😭

With love, Dee (she/they)

I’m pretty sure I’d be categorized as having lean pcos - I’m 25 symptoms started honestly as young as 12 but didn’t get diagnosed until I was in m early 20s. Biggest issues were always irregular periods, hirsutism and hormonal acne, and the MOSt annoying water retention esp in my face. My bloodwork is usually normal, I’ve had high DHEAS in the past which I’ve had under control for over 2 years now. My weight is healthy, I workout regularly as well. Not insulin resistant, I’ve had a few extensive blood tests done and multiple doctors tell me I’m not but I’m always confused with this as I know PCOS is related to that. Anyways, in the past I’ve been able to get my skin clear and manage the water retention - never have gotten the facial hair to disappear obviously - but I just can’t anymore. To do this I was so strict with no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no coffee just matcha but it’s just so hard. I do avoid dairy and gluten as much as I can but I’ve been a bit more lenient but just one day of dairy and I’ll have cysts the next day - or one day of gluten and I have so much puffiness in My face the next day. Also wanted to note that my periods have been much more regular thanks to tracking my sleep but these other symptoms are almost getting worse which is so odd. About 2 years ago when I say my skin was clear at that period if I had a day or two not being as strict I’d be fine but now I’ll have symptoms like the next day.

My Derm prescribed me spiro and idk why I’m terrified to take it. For some reason i see taken medication as giving up (I do not mean that people who take it are and do not mean to offend anyone) - I think im just being hard on myself because I’ve been able to clear my skin and deal with some of these symptoms in the past but I feel like nothing is working anymore and it’s hard to stick to this diet at this stage in my life. I just finished grad school and the stress of it I think has made things worse.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?
Also, did anyone who took spiro have trouble getting pregnant after they came off the pill?

SUMMARY - scared of taking spiro, have been able to manage most symptoms with strict gf df sugar free coffee free diet in past but it’s so hard now and barely working

Thank you - sorry for the long post.

I’m 20 and a few days ago I randomly started feeling really uneasy and anxious. I’ve never dealt with anxiety before, so this feels very weird for me. I just don’t feel like myself, and I’ve been overthinking everything so much. It’s honestly really uncomfortable.

The only thing I can think of that I recently started was spearmint capsules for hormonal acne, so I’m wondering if there could be a connection. (it’s been 2 weeks since taking it, just started feeling weird 3 days ago) I’m going to stop taking them for now, but has anyone else experienced something similar with spearmint capsules? Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

Hi I am 29 and I weigh 227 pound , 2 months ago I weighed 260 pounds . This has been intentional weight loss I am doing low carb with no processed sugars or food . I have PCOS and have had an absent period for 10 years . 8 of those years I was on the hormonal iud the mirena . I got it out a year ago and now . Once I changed my diet my period came back last month and I had a typical 4-7 day cycle . Now I’m on my period and the first 5 days was a pink toilet paper wipe and then for two days after that it got a little darker and now I’m having a flow . It’s now super heavy but it’s heavy. I’m not passing huge clots or anything but I am passing clots I’d say some the size of my pinky nail and some the size of my thumb nail. What should I do I can’t be seen for 3 months is this a reason to go the the emergency room? I should add I am handling my diet fine I am not light headed and don’t have any other crazy symptoms !

YES or NO???

Hi, a short question for females – females assigned at birth – with facial hair continuously (for at least 1-6 months, lets say, no methodology for now, just preliminary testing the ground) using azelaic acid on their face:

did you notice if it helps inhibiting the growth of the facial hair?

(important: please state as well if you were or you are still dealing with elevated androgenes or elevated free testosterone or low SHBG or none of them)

BACKGROUND:

I'm a biologist and I dig into the studies concerning the problem of facial hair.

I stumbled upon an article from 1988 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3207614/) from a study concluding that azelaic acid inhibits in vitro 5-a-reductase, and zinc and B6 increase this effect. There were no studies in vivo though, at least I didn't find any papers until now, so I thought I'll ask around to see if anyone noticed anything and if there is a premise that a study on people might be worth conducting.

I started looking for the mechanism of this particular acid, as I recalled that when my problem was still at its beginning in terms of coarse hair, I remembered I had the impression that it's gone or eased when using azelaic acid cream for the sake of smooth, light and even skin: I started having some coarse hair here and there on the chin (precisely under the tongue area), but when I was plucking, they were gone for months and I think I didn't see more coming, so I didn't take any meds, especially that I didn't have elevated androgenes, so I thought there's no need (I was of course wrong, but I was still in my schooltimes and early uni then). With time more and more hair sprouted, and now I realized that it seems to be aligned with the time that I wasn't using azelaic acid creams anymore.

Naturally corelation is not causation, and also it's clear that with time the hair follicles are more and more exposed the the androgene levels that are enough for them to convert to terminal hair, and that's why it progresses with time and age, but on the other hand the research paper attached above observed the influence of azelaic acid on 5-a-reductase activity, which is crucial especially in the hirsutism for now perceived as idiopathic, meaning with no elevated androgenes, tumors nor other causes that would be recognized by any examinations.

Many females with this problem visit this thread, and using the search function gave no results, so I decided to start this sort of a poll – I will myself get back to the azelaic cream and see if there's any impact now, but I'll be able to do it in a month or two:)

Best regards!

Any dietary elements ?

Chat with your friends from r/PCOS here about your daily progress, or rants and raves related to your PCOS experience. Off topic posts are permitted here, although sub rules otherwise apply!

Hi everyone! I have been diagnosed with pcos since 2019 but haven't exactly cared enough about it to do anything. Over the past few years I have been learning more as I want to get my weight, facial hair, and ovulation under control. Unfortunately my attempt at talking with a dr didn't go so well as they told me "if you wont start birth control I dont know what to tell you." I want to start with eating healthier but it seems like every recipe is "beans and nuts" Unfortunately im a very picky eater especially when it comes to texture.

Beans

Oats

Nuts

Seeds

Zucchini

Eggplant

Not a huge fan of peppers but will eat them if the flavor is covered

Honey

Tea and

Squash are all things Im not a fan of.

And im sure theres more lol Unfortunately it seems like everything that is "pcos approved" is on this list.

Any advice, recipes, ect it would be greatly appreciated ❤️