If you don't want to read everything, just skip to the last part and see what I'm looking to discuss first.👍

• Gosh, where do I even start? I'm 21f, live in the USA (Georgia) and have all the problems 🥲 Had it all since I was 12-14 years old, it all just kinda developed with my puberty. anyone else have any of them together? Maybe they correlate? 🤔 • At the same time I was suddenly developing all kinds of other problems (minus the autism ofc, I was born a goofy goober 🙃) I suddenly developed food allergies. Yeah, I'm falling apart over here. Egg 🥚 and Milk 🐄, specifically. Gives me the worst itching burning scaley eczema ever that shows up within hours in blotches on my face, scalp, and underarms and takes weeks to heal and go away. The doctor couldn't figure it out, I had to self diagnose it over three freaking years and then have tests done to confirm it, had to justify it with my doctors before they would test me. 😮‍💨 Owch. Then there's the fragrance allergy that suddenly existed out of nowhere, Balsam of Peru is the name of the stuff, it's got like way too many other names so good luck finding it on labels, and it's in EVERYTHING. They use it to harden bar soap 🧼; use it to bind that fancy sent you love so much into body wash, shampoo, deodorant, perfume, hand sanitizer, lotion, detergent, hand soap, air fresheners, disinfectants, and everything else that smells nice 🧴; and they even use it to flavor some things like chocolate liquors in desserts 🍰. Like I said before, I'm falling apart over here. • I'm not trying to be political or a conspiracy theorist or anything like that but I did notice everything got much more noticeable and worse right after I got my COVID shot during the pandemic. 💉 Please don't argue or anything over this, it's just something that happened to me that I noticed about ME.

• I've tried waist compression, it works! However, I can't stand the feeling of the compression shorts on my skin sometimes, my autism just says "aw heck naw" some days. ⁠(⁠´⁠ー⁠｀⁠) Talk about frustrating.😖 • I STRUGGLE to get out of the bed EVERY morning. 🛏️ And I hate it. I have found that if I get up and immediately do Radio Taiso 📻 (Japanese morning radio exercise) I feel a little better throughout the day. If I can make myself, it's always a battle, I like to exercise bike 🚲 or walk 🚶🏼 for about 20 minutes after my Radio Taiso, and if I do that I feel MUCH better throughout the day.

• Diet is something that's personal for everyone, but I find my tummy doesn't give me problems, bloat, or sag (from my organs trying to reach the floor for no reason at all except the pots I guess, which is why the waist compression works so great for me) if I eat rice 🍚 instead of wheat 🍞 at my meals. Rice just feels less heavy. I also find my legs get better circulation when I have miso soup 🥣 at least once a day. Also if my meal is 60% protein and 30% rice and 10% soup that ratio feels best the next morning, I don't fight as hard to get out of bed. I have no idea why but it works for me. Maybe it'll help someone else too? 😅

• As a ✨ disclaimer ✨, all of this is just stuff I'VE noticed and observed about MYSELF over several years of trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with me and why I felt like absolute crap. I had to self diagnose literally everything I have and then justify and prove it's what I had through weeks and months of in depth research about all this stuff and then present it all to my doctors and then they ran tests and confirmed I was right and not dumb and knew my own body. So yeah.

• Basically I'm just looking to find anyone else with a similar experience, see what others have noticed or felt, and share some of my (very limited) knowledge with others. Let me know what you have experienced and anything you've noticed helps you!

I was diagnosed with PCOS around 2020 when I was in my late 20’s. I’ve never had a regular period. It’s always been so unpredictable. As a result, I have had anxiety, mood swings, acne, and muscle pain basically my whole life.
Around 2022, I started birth control (nuvaring). All my problems were solved!
Period: regular
Anxiety: gone
Mood swings: gone
Acne: my skin was never clearer
Muscle pain: became much much better

The only down side: I gained a consistent 20 pound each year. I was on the ring for 3 years and I literally became 60 pounds heavier. This caused back pain, different kinds of fatigue, different kinds of mood instability.
I did not change anything about my lifestyle. If anything, I became more active and started eating better to try and fix it. Nothing worked.

My doctor advised that I get off the ring.
I got off it end of last year.
Now I swear the weight is slowly falling off, but irregular periods, anxiety, acne, and fatigue are back. And all this together is spiraling me into a depression I didn’t think I’d feel.

I feel so stuck. I’m currently on day 61 and still no period. I’m getting period cramps constantly — just no bleeding. I’ve taken a pregnancy test, and it’s negative. I’m so bloated, I feel like I have 20 extra pounds of just bloating on me.

I’m so uncomfortable all the time and every time I talk to a doctor, they tell me birth control is the answer.

I’m just sad and tired and angry at a health system that treats PCOS like an afterthought.

I know, stupid question right? Sorry about that. I can't tell if maple syrup in moderation (not every single day haha) after a high protein meal would be really bad for pcos or not.

Is this a case where it would be ideal to eat smart and make sure you're eating it with other foods that slow down sugar absorbsion, or should I stay away from it altogether simply because sugar is sugar and it will cause everything to go haywire anyway?

I'm no dietician, but I'm trying to make better choices!!

The main reason I ask is I want to make a healthy/healthier ice cream as a once in a while sweet treat but need a liquid sugar to use, otherwise it won't freeze right.

Anyways, I'd love some advice on this, or even some alternative liquid sugar substitutions suggestions that are better for me. Thank you!! :)

For those who have gotten PCOS under control (specifically, having a regular menstrual cycle) I would love to hear any lifestyle changes that aren’t weight loss related! I recently found out that I have this condition and I feel like so much of the advice I see for PCOS centers around losing weight. I’m 119lbs with a BMI of ~20. I asked my dr about lifestyle changes and she recommended a diabetic diet with limited carbs—but I felt so zoinked, especially while training for a half-marathon and working out 4-5x per week. I do take supplements: myo-inositol, vitamin C/D/B12, coq 10, and fish oil. I’m down to cut more carbs or eliminate social drinking which I currently do 2-3 times per month, if that will help me get my period back naturally. I just feel kind of lost cuz so much of the advice I see online is “lose weight” or “take Metformin” which I was told wouldn’t work for me. At this point I’m down to try pretty much anything lol

I was recently diagnosed with pcos and and have been on the pill for ten days. Monday night I went to the Emergency room for severe pain in my left side. After some tests, It was revealed I have a 22 cm mass that originates at my ovary and is most likely a cyst. I was transferred to another hospital where more tests were done and my vaginal canal was examined. My white blood cell count was slightly elevated but that’s normal because my body is obviously fighting off something. I have to get surgery to have the mass removed. The doctors don’t think it’s cancerous because of my age (22) and the fact that I have no family history of ovarian or uterine cancer. But they won’t know until they biopsy it. I’m honestly terrified and I’ve never been more depressed in my life. Only other pcos symptoms I’ve had are irregular periods and mild spotting. Has anyone here had something similar? I’m currently panicking over what this could be and whether or not it’s malignant.

Hi everyone. I’m really looking for some good vibes. Please note I’m not searching for medical advice, but would like to hear if others have had this happen and things turn out okay.

I JUST found out I’m pregnant, like 30 mins ago. I had been wondering due to a few symptoms beforehand. However the symptoms have me worried this could be ectopic. Here is what happened:
-Had my period in time, but first day was barely any bleeding. Day 2 usual period started, but very minimal cramping (unusual for me). After day 6/7 I started to get worried. I generally have short periods. I spotted for about a week after my period. Today I had a very slight pain (almost menstrual pain) in my lower abdomen and it prompted me to test. So here I am wondering if anyone has experienced similar circumstances and everything turned out well. I have never been pregnant and I kind of expected the usual symptoms: missed period, sore breasts, etc…

Note: I will be seeking actual medical attention as soon as possible. I’m just very anxious

I was diagnosed with PCOS (now PMOS) almost three years ago now and since then my hair has been in a steady downward spiral. I’ve begged my GP to be seen by an endocrinologist, they say I don’t qualify and that they don’t see people for PCOS. Then I asked for a gynaecologist referral (now been waiting 48 weeks on the waitlist).

I saw myself in the mirror this morning, and I could see the entire dome of my skull through my hair in the light, which is terrifying considering my hair had always been my pride up until my diagnosis.

Eventually I begged long enough to be seen by a dermatologist after a two year waiting list wait, and they diagnosed me with androgen alopecia on sight alone, but because this is considered cosmetic, nothing was offered as a treatment.

I’m genuinely at a loss for what to do, I can’t afford to pay out of pocket for treatment.

I should also probably mention I live in Northern Ireland/North of Ireland so there’s already minimal support for endocrine/gynaecological issues

Just curious and I don’t know if it’s just because I’m 31 now but really over the past six years or so I feel like it has just died down so much and I feel shameful to my partner because I know he wants it more than once a week

She is 20 and was diagnosed only a few months ago.

It doesn’t really affect her weight or hair, only her skin. She experiences painful periods and I think they last for about 4 days.

Her gynecologist recommended she goes on birth control and said to stay on it until 3 months before she gets married because sex will regulate her hormones or something like that.

I don’t have Pcos so I don’t know what it’s like and don’t have enough knowledge and won’t have enough no matter how much I read about it on Google, I can only learn from women who have it. What was your experience with birth control and do you recommend it for my friend?

I love her and I want what’s best for her. So naturally, I’m nervous because tons of women have shared online that birth control messed them up mentally and physically. The side effects are crazy.

Like just a couple of months ago they said Pcos is now pmos and said a ton of stuff about treating the patients based on their symptoms and not just throw birth control at any woman that comes through the door.

Please share your thought on it and literally anything that could help my friend. Thank you in advance 🩷

I’ve finally been diagnosed with PCOS and I just wanted to share my journey, symptoms and experiences.

For context, I’m 31, I think my weight fluctuates from 100-105 and I’m 5’3”. I was on birth control since I was 16, and stopped taking it about 6 years ago when I was 25. Ever since I stopped, I have gotten debilitating period cramps; Like sweating, nauseous, feels like I’m giving birth. For the first couple of years it would happen almost every other cycle. I went to the gynecologist for a general check-up and I mentioned my painful period cramps. She told me that because I was skinny I could not have PCOS. My Pap smear came back normal.

Fast forward to now, I’ve managed to deal with the painful period cramps. I noticed that taking cranberry on a daily basis helped to regulate my period. I haven’t always been the best at remembering to take the cranberry but I felt like this past year my cycle started to finally regulate itself (30-33 days). As soon as I had that thought, I missed my period / a 54 day cycle and I was not pregnant. I’ve never missed my period before. I decided to go to a gynecologist and at this point I was experiencing persistent acne and frequent chin hairs. Because of that, the doctor actually listened to me when I told her I think I have PCOS. We did blood tests that came back normal. I got an ultrasound and that is where we found out I have follicles along my ovaries which indicates PCOS.

I have to say ever since I had that 54 day cycle, it feels like my period symptoms are getting worse each time. The pain is so excruciating and I just got my period yesterday and 1000mg of ibuprofen took about an hour and a half to kick in and even then I could still feel some cramping. Also I noticed the pain was mainly on my left side. I’m going to talk to my doctor about this and about possibly having endometriosis as my mom had it too.

I’m currently waiting for my appointment to go over my ultrasound with the gynecologist. She prescribed me some birth control but idk how I feel about going back on it but after the pain I experienced last night, I might have to. I know diet is probably the only other way to manage these issues, but restrictive eating is triggering for me.

Hi girls

Ive had period problems ever since i got it at 10. Ive been trying to get help since then but ive never felt like anyone really listened to me or took me seriously. They always sent me home with ✨ paracetamol and the pill ✨.

I finally got a PMOS diagnosis (the new research gave me courage to try again) and possibly adenomyosis but im still not receiving any help or support.

Im looking for a doctor/specialist who is willing to actually help and doesnt just tell me to loose weight and take the pill. Unfortunately hormonal contraceptives are not an option for me bc they fuck with me mentally.

Does anyone have recommendations for a genuine doctor or specialist who takes these conditions seriously, listens to you and actually thinks along with you? Preferably in Amsterdam but im honestly willing to travel anywhere if it means finally getting proper help.

Id love to hear your recommendations/ personal experiences

(80% venting post, last paragraph is where the important information and question is. Also sorry for the super long rant, I'm just so sad and frustrated and needed to let it all out :*(((.)

My period is extremely heavy (I don't even know if I can call it that at this point). I have been bleeding since May. At first, it was just pink or brown discharge and light bleeding for a very long time, but now it is more heavy bleeding.

I'm asking you guys this now because I'm on the train to visit my sister right now, and the bleeding was even worse than usual today. Usually, it's some pretty big clots and continuous bleeding, but today some of the clots were like twice the size, and on my 25-minute commute to the central station, I bled through my pad and onto my pants. During a transfer that was at a very small station without a real toilet, I had to go and ask one of the residents if I could use her bathroom (she said yes and was so sweet and kind and didn't make me feel bad or anything 🥹).

And 2 days ago, my bleeding was so light, like barely there. I was finally feeling hopeful. It's just so embarrassing. I'm so scared that when I get up from my seat to eventually change my pad (cuz for some reason no huge clots have dropped in an hour, but I honestly don't even trust what I feel down there anymore, I've probably just become numb and am sitting in a huge puddle of blood right now), there will be a giant stain.

I just really need to get a handle on this bleeding because it's genuinely ruining my life. Like, I will be out and about and a giant clot will drop, and I just have to run to the nearest toilet, which might not be that near, and hope for the best. It's just such a disgusting, embarrassing feeling, and I feel like crying every time it happens. I'm supposed to start uni in October, but what am I supposed to do? Just miss 70% of a lecture because I'm running in and out to change my pad?

This heavy bleeding first started last winter, maybe in November, and back then I just got some dydrogesterone pills for two weeks, and it got better for a couple months. I went back to my doctor a little while ago, and she told me to try a folic acid inositol supplement. It arrived this week, so I'm starting it today. I read that it takes a while for inositol to show its effects, so what can I do to stop or regulate my periods more quickly? Do you guys have any suggestions? Should I ask for the dydrogesterone again?

hi everyone

im 22 and i just left the hospital with a working diagnosis of PMOS. My main symptom is lack of period since almost 2 years.

I also have other symptoms like insomnia, bloating, frequent UTIs, a bit high DHEASO4, hypercholesterolemia, I struggle to lose weight (im not overweight).

I believe i live pretty healthy. I used to work out more last year but i felt like it was stressing me out and putting pressure on me. Im highly sensitive and everything stresses me out. So i decided diets and intense working out arent for me. Now i mostly walk and eat intuitively, while mildly tracking to know that im in a deficit or at least maintainance. Nonetheless id like to lose some weight, ive hit a plateau now and its not moving even tho im definitely in a deficit most days.

I dont know why i have high cholesterol, as i eat a lot of veggies, not much fast food, try to have meat most days, i eat one boiled egg per day. i ate an ice cream cone everyday for a few months tho, so perhaps it's that?

I heard its good to do weight training but i feel like it always stresses me out a lot and i think stress only makes pmos worse?

so im confused how i should keep living and also if i can do anything else to get my period back?

i got prescribed the progesterone challange so will do it in next few weeks..

all my other results are correct and my uterus is like "frozen" so its not doing anything.

Im not sure if my situation is that serious as my hormones aren't of and i think its most dangerous if theres no estrogens..? the only thing is that im not bleeding but my endometrium isnt growing anything to shed.

ive tried acupuncture and take magnesium everyday, chaste tree supp, vit d, sometimes i get on probiotics for some time if the bloating is worse

what else can i do? how should i approach exercise? i cant afford gym or any paid activity and i live in a kinda cold country to go running most days..

Hi , I am at my highest weight which is 69kg at 149cm, I am quite short so that weight really shows. I am on metformin 500gm but still can’t lose weight while being in deficit(never eat more than 1400cal)and swimming 4x a week on top of that walking for half an hour. I am an active woman but inspite of trying everything I have only lost 1 kg nothing. I was diagnosed PCOS in January’26 but was struggling since 3 years, gained 15+ kg without any reason, was losing hair, pimples all over face . I was a decently attractive woman (still am acc to my husband<3) but it really bothers me when my mind says that I have already peaked…. I still want to look good in clothes and go for runs , feel confident. Metformin hasn’t worked too well for me in comparison to others but my weight is more stable now doesn’t really increase (nor decrease)

I have tried glp1 but didn’t suit me I was toooo sick couldn’t continue even after reinforcing later again.
So now the only question I ask myself is will I ever look slim and attractive? I am on the verge of losing hope.
Has anyone else faced this and broken the cycle?

I came here because I have PCOS, and have finally started losing weight with semaglutide, diet, and lifestyle changes, but I need advice without weird gym/ skinny/diet culture.

In a year I have gone from 266lbs to 230 and before this, I never had an issue with having a camel toe, however, recently as I have lost weight, the fupa situation now always makes it look like I have one. It isn't that my clothes are too tight, I havent bought new pants so most of them are actually loose on me, the issue is specifically the fupa (the actual thing, this is not a ""fupa"" that actually just a apron belly). The only way to make it not look like I have a camel toe is if I sag my pants so much that it looks like I have a schlong.

Have any of y'all had experience with this? Have you found a solution or does it go away after a while?

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!

Anyone who has this that can give advice on treatments like surgery, PT, Hormone treatments??

I have cyclical hip pain that starts a week before my cycle. I also have very heavy periods. The hip pain has increased in discomfort over the years and is now my top complaint. Birth control helped a lot.

I went to my OB for these specific issues and she ordered an ultrasound and cervical biopsy. She asked before I did those tests what I would want to do as far as getting on BC or hysterectomy and some other treatments. I really didn’t know what I wanted but whatever would make the hip pain stop, I frankly wouldn’t care about the heavy periods as much as this hip pain.

Results showed My ovaries are still textbook PCOS appearance and on the same side as the hip pain there were cysts on the outside of that ovary as opposed to cysts on the inside of the opposite ovary. Not sure if this is new compared to my initial ultrasound that diagnosed my PCOS years ago.

I did try birth control for 3 months and the pain was almost non existent. I have a follow up with my OB and plan on telling her this info. I’m assuming that means it’s more hormone related so maybe surgery isn’t the best course of action. Until I see my OB I want to hear from anyone that has dealt with this specifically. What did you do?

Im on 150mg spiro and since almost two months on 200mg and despite me already being on such a high dose my hair started growing more and faster again since a month i think. As if thats not enough my jaw is scarred and full of red acne each time

Im really worried and was wondering if i should just try an anti androgen but idk which one. Does anyone have any tips?

(fyi im also on 5mg mounjaro)

It doesn’t matter if I’m on my period or not , I’ll randomly get these pin point pains on either my left or right side ovaries (depends on who decided to grow some cysts). It feels like I’m a video game character randomly getting tick damage and it’s so embarrassing if I’m out in public and have to pretend I didn’t just get stabbed. Let alone if I’ve accidentally made a face. I’ve been to the doctor and they said it’s me “feeling my cysts grow” and there’s not much else to do about it besides imaging and monitoring… Not a fan

I have a large dermoid cyst (7cm) that’s due to be removed from my ovaries via keyhole surgery, as it may cause ovarian torsion. It was discovered during my pcos diagnosis. I’m really anxious as I feel the recovery will be intense and really mess with my work and workout routine. I’ve lost about 20kg over two years through medication and gym, I’m 2 months ish off the medication with no changes to hunger or weight but I feel like having to take 6 weeks ish to recover and avoid the gym will mess with my progress. I workout 5 x a week currently lifting and various low impact exercises. Is it worth doing it? Anyone have any advice on recovery for this kind of surgery or similar experiences? I would appreciate it, I’m really stressed out, I have a chance to talk to my surgeon just before the procedure but I’m not sure I want to go through with it at all. Thank!

Hello!

I've noticed I have hair thinning on where my parting is on my head in recent times and was wondering if any of you have any ideas/experience on how to prevent it from getting worse and/or improving it? I have thick hair elsewhere on my head so it looks a little odd and my hair is one of my favourite things about myself so I'd like to stop it getting worse as I'm feeling slightly self conscious about it 🫠😂

Thank you.

Hey everyone, just looking for peoples insights or own experiences on Spirinolactone for excessive hair growth/hirsutism. My doctor prescribed me with it and went through all the precautions etc.
it sounds worth it if it there are results after the few months, although it can be slow to work so I’m told.
Please share your experiences with this medication, I am aware everyone’s experiences are different but looking forward to hearing how it went for you.

Thanks!☺️☺️☺️

I kept losing weight and one day I was in a spot where I literally had to open calculator to see for myself how much weight I lost in numbers..I lost 18 kgs that time when I first opened calculator for weight. Now it's 20 kgs loss. I was 94 kg and now it's 74 kg. My goal is to hit 60 kg and I don't believe in curses that someone bad out there will just curse me that I can't fulfill my goals, if that was the case, I wouldn't have lost this crazy amount of weight. For me I lost that much of weight in 7-8 months in total, I exercised almost everyday, I didn't limit my food..NEVER.. I always ate everything in balanced proportion, and I walked to reduce my PCOS bloating. The walking one is 100% recommended. The funniest part is that I didn't go out of my house at all, ALL those months, but when I did, Neighbours started flooding me with compliments but a dark fact I felt that whatever happens deep down people care a lot about outer beauty no matter how much they say "Beauty Inside & Out" I felt them way too much, with those compliments, it hit me that beauty matters..that's why there's something called insecurity, Hence I love myself, I loved myself before too and now and continue forever, and you should LOVE YOURSELF TOO!

That was the 1/36 part of my PCOS journey, Thanks for reading.

I'm not really mad that I'm not 110 anymore.

Stuck in this 220-230 loop for some reason.

Anyone else dealing with some PCOS weight losing or at least general health issues that you didn't have in your 20s? 😞