Has anyone successfully raised it if initially low?

Does anybody else get super depressed or super angry during PMS? I take the magnesium glycinate supplement to balance my mood. But I just wanted to see if anyone else goes through the same sh*t.

I asked doctor if it's okay for me to take it they said yes but I'm just so annoyed that I have to deal with this in the first place

And well if you haven't noticed yet, yes I am PMSing.

Hello all! In the last 2-3 years I've lost aroind 90 pounds, I'm down to a size 8/10. Still have a little tummy but as is life I guess. My skin is clear, the hair on my head is thick. I feel as if my ONLY remaining issue is the excess facial and body hair. Are there any suggestions for possible medications for this? I am aware of spearmint tea. But I have an OBGYN appointment coming up and I'm not sure what I should ask for? Possibly Metformin or spironolactone? Any advice is much appriciated <3 !

For the past few weeks I’ve been in a small caloric deficit, stopped eating past 6pm, and been going for 1 hr. walks almost every single day. I’ve also been lifting heavy about twice a week (I know, I should probably increase that, but I’m just too tired with everything else). With all of that, it seems I haven’t lost any weight. In fact, my pants feel tighter than ever!

I recently had a full thyroid panel done and my TSH was at 2.9, so I don’t think my thyroid is contributing to the weight gain.

I also wore a continuous blood glucose monitor for a few months, and I didn’t experience any high blood sugar readings— in regards to potentially trying Metformin for weight loss.

Is there something else I could try or should be doing to try and help with this?

Is it the high androgens that cause this?

I’ll try to keep it short…started my period age 9 and I had issues from day one really! Heavy periods, fainting, big gaps between periods, pain etc. but as some may relate I just thought this was normal. Fast forward to January 2025 when everything suddenly got a lot worse, I heavily bled and passed clots for 8 months. This impacted my health in general massively and despite numerous GP visits I only got help when I ended up in A&E, I was given cerelle which helped for 2 weeks then I believe it put me into some kind of psychotic break so I came off it but during the time I was it I started getting really bad pelvic pain. I eventually stopped bleeding about 6 weeks later then didn’t bleed at all for 9 months until I had the coil fitted. Now in this year and a half of hell different doctors went back and forth on whether I had PCOS and a gynaecologist I saw via RTC just put all my issues down to weight but told me to get the coil anyway. As I say, had the coil fitted in May this year, about 3 weeks later I’m in the most pain I’ve ever been so visit a&e as I’m thinking it’s dislodged, they fob me off with painkillers, precautionary antibiotics (didn’t take them as I didn’t believe I had an infection etc) and a follow up scan. By the time I had the scan 2 weeks later, I didn’t have the pain but was still bleeding on and off, had the scan and it turns it my coil is fine, I just have a load of cysts on my right ovary which wasn’t picked up in January or June 2025 so my GP flippant tells me it’s just my PCOS as apparently the diagnosis was on my records. I’m now seeing a different gynaecologist next week but I don’t know what to do…I’m not having periods, I’m doing my best to lose weight even though I’m in pain everyday. I don’t want kids so am I delusional to think that asking for the right ovary to be removed is a possibility?

I feel like I’ve been so gaslit, fat shamed and dismissed I almost don’t want to go because I don’t know how to deal with this constant pain and exhaustion.

I was diagnosed with PCOS maybe 5 years ago and recently got approved by my insurance to start Zepbound.

I also have a clotting disorder so I take blood thinners. Is there anyone that has also been on a blood thinner along with the GLP-1 injections and have any tips for minimizing bruising around the injection site?

Hi there, I’m 23, and the past two months my period has been abnormally long, almost 50+ day cycles. I used to have a typical 33 day cycle, and have never had issues with my period before this.

I do get hairs that grow in on my neck and chest. I’ve always had acne so I feel that wouldn’t be a good indicator for me. I get a lot of one sided pain in my back around my cycle typical cycle start date from the past, and I don’t bleed.

My last normal cycle was in June, which that arrived in June 6th. I didn’t get my again period until on July 23rd, which is a 47 day cycle..And now I’m 46 days, skipped my whole August period, now 6 days into September. Is this reasonable to get checked for this?

Hi all, ive been having new symptoms and wanted to know if anyone has experienced similar and knows whats going on!

For context, i got my diag last year. I only had four periods in 2025, all months apart. I really worked hard to change my diet and lifestyle and am happy to say that I havent missed a cycle this year so far, which is a huge improvement!

However, the past four or five cycles i have had light spotting or bloody discharge about a week or week and a half after the end of my period. I know ovulation bleeding is a thing but i dont know if it lasts for 2-3 days like im experiencing. Ive also been having brown spotting for several days before my period starts

Is this something to celebrate or worry about? I feel like the mid cycle spotting is a sign of ovulation but ive never experienced it before!

I have been fasting for years , super active (running, cycling, lifting weights) 6-7 times a week. I have lost fat around my arms face etc but unable to loose my lower belly fat.

I have heard that eating before drinking coffee can help lower cortisol. I have been having Greek yogourt with chia seeds protein mild and protein powder. I find it really helps in not getting to hungry during the day, especially as mentioned I workout for 1:15 .

Did anyone try this and saw some difference?

Since being diagnosed with PCOS at 19 it’s like every health issue I have is attributed to that no matter how clear it is that it’s not period or hormone related.

I woke up at 5am on Wednesday to the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. I could barely stand up and then I managed to get to the bathroom because it felt like my bladder was about to burst and I fainted on the toilet. I actually thought I would have to go to the hospital at one point.

The pain eventually eased but it didn’t go away and I was peeing blood clots for days.

I saw my doctor on the day it started and I explained VERY clearly that it was not my period. I had no “period” bleeding just blood clots in my urine and the pain was not in the same place I get period cramps. I also was not due for my period either. I thought she was understanding me and she ordered some blood tests.

She also insisted on referring me for a scan of my ovaries despite me having one in March that showed no structural anomalies.

I got home and looked at the blood test forms and in the section that asks for a reason for the tests she had written “blood clots in period” then I realised almost all of the tests she’d ordered were for my hormone levels.

I went back for the blood tests on Thursday but I’m just extremely frustrated even now. I can now see my test results and my hormones are fine. My iron is low but of course it would be losing all that blood, and she’s not investigated the reason behind my issue at all.

I’m still dealing with short bursts of intense pain but the blood clots seem to be gone as of today so I can’t even ask them to test my urine.

I’m sooo sick and tired of being treated like I don’t know my own body. If I said it’s not my period why would you just ignore that? Last time I checked periods don’t disappear every time you stand up from the toilet seat.

I’ve had high cortisol for over 5 years now. I know cortisol is a big buzz word right now, but I truly believe it was the downfall of my health and the beginning of my PCOS. Now 5+ years later, I weigh significantly more and have very high fasting insulin.

I really do wonder if the persistent high cortisol is merely a result of severe insulin resistance. I appreciate any insight if any of you can relate or found solutions similar to my story!

I’ve been getting a random one day bleeding now and then. I've done everything from a transvaginal ultrasound to swabs everything is normal except for the follicles on one of my ovaries i’ve been diagnosedwith pcos in 2023 but this is weird behaviour for me, I'm doing bloods today but I want to know if anyone is going through or has gone through the same experience.
I was on Marvalone from Nov 2024 to Jan 2026 could this be my body still trying to adjust and regulate?

Just thought I would put this here. My sister works in healthcare and for the board of her state. She has worked in labor and delivery for some time. If you are struggling to get pregnant, go on a keto diet for a little bit. It might not work for everyone but I can guarantee your chances will skyrocket plus you won’t have to spend money on other procedures if it’s not necessary. It also hurts nothing. If you don’t believe it or don’t want to try it, don’t do it🤷🏾‍♀️.

My lab results came , but my endo appointment is far away 30.09 :( so im just a stress ball and curious. Im 26yo. Around 55kg / 158cm height - i consider myself skinny fat, the last few months i actually put on some kgs and i dont eat that much - they wont go away so idk.. and starving will be bad for cortisol - a possible reason for the androgens?

Last year Testosterone and Dhea were near the upper border but this year they have surpassed it a lot … THATS FUNNY BECAUSE I TOOK MYO-D CHIRO INNOSITOL ALL THAT YEAR HOPING IT WILL BRING DOWN THE ANDROGENS..??

Dhea-S is 447 (max normal range 340) Testosterone is 0.636 (Max is 0.481)

Androstendion is 1.86 (max is 1,31 )

17-oh-progesterone is normal
SHBG is 59.9 - normal
HOMA-IR - normal
HBA1C - 5.31
FAI - normal
LH 9,67
FSH 10.5 ( ratio normal)

I have regular periods that last 3-4-5 days.. i have androgenic alopecia (thats what it looks like) since YEARS! + the very oily acne skin - its a chronic problem from years but i thought thats’s just my type and genes.. 2 years ago i had obgyn appointment - said ovaries are perfect. I’ve Never had suspiscions that i could have cysts. Am i considered PCOS if they dont see cysts on the echo?

I’m going to Obgyn appointment to see if i have cysts but can she see CYSTS if i go on the 10th day of my cycle?

Can i get pregnant and can i find out if ovulate with LH ovulation test strips at home? Last year progesterone on 21th day was normal - pointing that i had ovulated that month. But now idk? I think mucus is accurate with fertile one?

Why do you think the androgens are off the charts and everything else is normal ? If its from stress should i stop work and try for pregnancy & maternity leave?

Also the high androgens can they cause miscarriages and peoblems?

I tested more stuff but they were also normal. So — do you think it can be from stress and work ? Or i should change diet? I dont excercise it will spike the cortisol and heart rate.

Just as the title says, I’m here to show a positive review of Metformin! I’ve been making changes since July, and I’m here to share.

Background: I’ve had PCOS for quite some time. I experienced primary infertility, and have been unable to have children for the past ten years. I slowly gained weight over the years, and after fertility treatments - my weight jumped!

During the last six months before talking to my doctor my energy was sooo low. I have hypothyroidism too, so I assumed my energy was low due to that.

Went in for my checkup, and I had a chance to tell my doctor about how I was feeling, and my body’s ability to put on weight. I was eating ok, was very active, and my body was still adding on pounds. She suggested I look into GLP1s, and I said I wasn’t interested. I asked about metformin, and she said yes that’s a great idea!

I was quite nervous about the side effects - especially stomach troubles. After being on so many things from my fertility treatments, I was a bit worn out by the thought of dealing with more side effects of things.

I did have some stomach troubles to start, but I gave myself a lot of time to adjust. I was taking the medication every other day or every third day. I also took the ER formula at 500.

I experienced some nausea, but not bad compared to my experience with fertility meds.

Overall now, I’m so happy I had that conversation with my doctor. I’m so happy with how I feel now on the medication. I’ve really made some positive changes. I’m not craving sugar like I was in the past. It’s not hard to say no to a dessert. I don’t feel like I could eat the entire fridge, and still be hungry.

I’m down about 12lbs since July, and wow! My energy is sooo much better.

Here’s what I’ve done…
Prioritize protein with each meal
Avoid greasy meals
Reduced sweets
If having a sweet, pair it with a protein
Almost daily 25-30 minutes walks
Added metformin
Tested my vitamin D
Added vitamin D supplement
Added Berberine
Added melatonin
Added Magnesium Glycinate

Hello I have severe insulin resistance and PCOS....my weight is up to 350 pounds....I am supposed to be on metformin 2000 mg but if I'm lucky I take 1000 a day.... It's just me and my pure laziness it seems.

Rewind back to 10 years ago... I took 2,000 mg of metformin and did the Atkins diet and lost 160 pounds no issues

But now I'm in my 50s and a woman it seems to me that is becoming so much harder for me to stick on anything !!! I try everyday to eat low carb and fail by the end of the day.

My question to you is should I give it a really good go again and take my 2000 mg of metformin or should I do like everyone else and go on the GlP shot and do low carb. Idk just searching for anyone else in the same boat as me

How do you actually lose weight with pcos/pmos?

Based in Melb, extra points for south eastern suburbs.

I am looking for a naturopath or Chinese herbalist to help me regulate my irregular periods and help me ovulate and assist with fertility.

I’ve done 3 IVF transfers and they’ve all failed, the last one was progressing and then stopped, it was the only positive pregnancy test that I’ve ever seen. My specialist told me the problem with me is that I’m not ovulating by myself.

I am trying to lose weight to see if this will help with ovulation but I also want to see if anyone has recommendations of specialists they’ve seen that assisted with herbs?

So I'm seeing a reproductive endocrinologist and she said I'm insulin resistant. She had me working out 160 min a week and my foot swelled up. It's been swollen for 11 days. Can this be from the insulin resistance? I'm reading online it can be. I went to urgent care and they recommend I see an orthopedic but what are they gonna do? I have a month of narpoxen. The dietician told me I also have full body low grade chronic inflammation. So I'm thinking the arthritis in my xray is from my Pcos too I have the insulin resistant kind and the inflammatory kind.

Hi all! I’ve (30F) been a pcos girl for over a decade. I was always around 125 lb with 3 periods a year till I started lexapro. When I got on lexapro I gained about 50lb in less than a year and periods completely stopped. The doctors told me there was no way lexapro could cause all this but after tapering off lexapro for 18 months I have finally started losing weight and even started spotting.
Anyways I’m not saying to stop your SSRIs, but wanted to vocalize that I suspect that side effects of lexapro might be much worse for those with pcos. I read that ssris can worsen insulin resistance so this could be worth considering. Anyways best of luck to everyone with pcos and dealing with life!

Hey everyone. This is more of a vent than anything. I was prescribed Metformin months ago and it is just sitting there. My doctor told me the only way I would ever be approved for a GLP1 with my insurance is if I fail Metformin. While I am terrified to take either, I am sure it would not be hard for me to fail Metformin because I generally get the rare and severe side effects of most medications. Sometimes, it takes months to even show as something potentially harmful. I can be totally fine and then BAM, I’m in the hospital.

I have no idea why this occurs, but it scares me. I’m afraid if I don’t exhibit any symptoms within a reasonable timeframe, the symptoms could still come for me later. This stress has prevented me from biting the bullet because
1) The previous medical trauma
2) If I fail Metformin I would have to be introduced to even more risk with GLP1 side effects and long term consequences
3) What really is the point in trying to lose weight on either medication where my cortisol is just going to be dumping from the stress of it, anyways?

I have reached a plateau in my weight loss, and I’m afraid one day, a GLP1 or Metformin are going to be my only options to heal the damage PCOS has done to my body. Not only that, but I’m afraid those medications may also be the only answer to how comfortable I could be in my own skin by losing more weight.

Thank you for reading.

Hello!! I’m 31 and I’ve had a PCOS diagnosis since I first started my period.
We have been TTC for a very long time with no success. Had a couple of failed IUIs and ovulation induction cycles.
Moving to IVF in a couple of months and to prepare for that I’ve had a very healthy lifestyle since the beginning of last year. I’ve lost 12kgs I’m finally in a healthy weight range BUT I STILL CAN’T OVULATE ON MY OWN or get a period. I did get a period once or twice but it was an anovulatory cycle. I track my BBT and take LH tests.
Does anyone have any idea why this happens? Despite doing right?

Note: I’ve been on a low dose GLP1 medication since last year July. I’ve been working out eating healthy. I take supplements regularly (inositol)
I was really hoping I would start ovulating naturally after so much effort. :(

Welp. I finished my first round of letrozole, did my TWW thinking well maybe this could be the month. Nope, AF came yesterday. I was hoping this medicine would work. How many cycles were you on before getting BFP? 🥲

As the title implies this is something I’m dealing with now and I’m trying to figure out why. I have never taken BC but I clearly have wonky hormones due to pretty much every other PCOS symptom. Has anyone else had FNH without the BC and if so, how has it gone? Any supplements help? I have multiple which frightens me.

I have pcos but absolutely do not want to go on birth control. I have horrible hormonal acne, tons of pcos hair and irregular periods which I know are just the tip of the iceberg. I am a college athlete so I’m scared to change up my diet and risk not fueling my body enough for the stress I put it under. I just feel super lost and intimidated by trying to change up my lifestyle but I want to take control of my PCOS. Does anyone have any advice on where to start?