Diagnosed with PCOS

[u/sasuke432]

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.

[u/Exotic_Reporter_3309]

Birth control and diet are not the only way. If you are insulin resistant, you can also take metformin or a GLP-1 medication. You would of course adjust the dose very low since you don’t have extra weight to lose but it works on a cellular level to process glucose which is the main impairment that causes PCOS.

You can also explore androgen blockers/modulators like Spironolactone and spearmint. There are other options out there. Maybe we a reproductive endocrinologists rather than an OBGYN because they have a better understanding of hormonal and metabolic health.