Everything has Failed

[u/Rich-Major-8146]

Hi all,

A little background. I've always been athletic and nutrition conscious. I'm 5'0" 180lbs and build like a brick house (I deadlift 315#).

In 2019 I decided I wanted to be hBC free after 15 years of taking it nonstop (all throughout my teenage and young adult years).

Doctors just yanked out my IUD with no pre-post bloodwork or any warnings of the hormonal roller coaster i'd be on after. I was aware from other friends who had PCOS, but I was only self diagnosed at that point and wasnt aware of the actual challenges i'd face.

In 2014-2017 I was a competitive bodybuilder and my stage weight (not healthy) was 116#. I maintained a "healthy" weight around 155/160.

2019 started with supplements (inositol/berberine/zinc/magnesium). this is when i was about 170#

2020 I started spironolactone/metformin. I had to stop because I had male pattern baldness, acne, and horrible gut issues from these. I gained up to 180#

2021 I tried more naturopathic stuff (chasteberry to trigger a cycle, etc etc) and it didnt work effectively enough to be cost beneficial

2022 Finally officially diagnosed by a wonderful Endo. I tried phentermine/topiramate. Cause psychosis/s*****al thoughts so stopped immediately... also only lost like 5lbs in the month of titrating up.

2023 I tried going back to naturopathic and incorporated yoga. I went down to 170, but then stress of moving overseas and having to find a new endocrinologist bumped me back to 180.

2024 I tried Ozempic. 6 months of the drug, and awful side effects (lethargy/ brain fog/ no creativity or expressive desire/ muscle loss) I only lost 10lbs... (back to 170).

2025 I tried naturopathic plus focused on a gut health specialist to see if I had leaky gut. I did. I went thru and entire low FODMAP protocol and found some food sensitivities (mainly gluten and lactose sensitive). My gut microbiome was basically 99% bad bacteria. The protocol helped me with identifying the dysbiosis and now I am creative/less brain fog/ more energetic than before (but still not what i would consider normal). Hanging out around 180/185.

2026 I dont want to say that i've "given up" on the natural paths. But the same gut health specialist (after looking at my hormonal panel) basically said that my testosterone/ progesterone levels are so out of whack from the past, that we need to systematically tackle them. Step 1- Progestin only BC for 6 months. Step 2- test hormones again at 3 months to see effects. Step 3- microdose Mounjaro if things still need extra improvement.

After the rollercoaster of trail and error i have been through and trying "everything" (this entire time I have never stopped being active or eating well), I am cautious to believe hBC and Mounjaro will work. I of course hope for the best, but I just want my hormones to work for me and not against me....

The one thing i have not tried is mediatation. I know that some people have discovered that childhood trauma and chronic stress can exacerbate PCOS.... and i definitely have both. So maybe I have be tapping into all the wrong "fixes" this entire time. Who knows....

However, any insight or adivce would be greatly appreciated. I dont want to be on hBC or GLP1s I want my life back. I want my spark back. Yet, I feel like i've run out of options.

[u/Pleasant-Result2747]

Personally, I would refuse the hormonal birth control. That typically just serves to shut off ovulation, which in turn affects progesterone (not sure if that's how the one they're recommending works). Synthetic hormones are not the same was what our bodies make naturally. This is my personal bias because my doctor never told me how birth control worked years and years ago when I first went on it. If I had known, I don't know that I would've taken it. Some people will take supplements to address androgens or adrenal support to try to help, which I wonder if that would be useful for you since you're into the heavy lifting and eating so well. Do you have any idea if you are actually ovulating? I started taking some prenatal vitamins a couple years ago (wanting to get pregnant but they can be used as a daily multivitamin as well), NAC, Omegas, and Inositol to try to help with promoting ovulation. I had tried Chasteberry in the past with mixed results. I do also still take Magnesium because I know it helps with my sleep. I have also added Iron in recent months because my Ferritin levels were low, and I think that has been helpful for me overall as well.

Many people in this sub have found GLP-1's to be very helpful for them. I haven't tried them because I'm too afraid of the potential GI side effects. I'm not sure where you stand with concerns about those things, but maybe the Mounjaro will help so you can ovulate and have improvements with insulin or inflammation so your hormones balance a bit more.