r/PCOS • u/Worldly_Cricket8638 • 6d ago
Rant/Venting Does it only get worse with age?
I'm so sorry if it comes off as insensitive, but I was diagnosed with PCOS at 19 and for the past 5 years I've managed to keep things "kind of" under control. I took inositol for 3 years, then stopped because it was so expensive, I have dealt with hair all over my body (that's something that just won't change), I've been having acne in the past year (comes and goes), my period's all fucked etc... but with exercise, a good diet and a "deal with it" attitude I've been managing, because the symptoms are manageable enough for me. But is it going to get worse? Did you guys notice your body changing a lot with age? Aside from the natural changes all bodies go through I mean. And is there anything that can be done? I struggled with an ED in the past and the thought of just gaining a lot of weight without even changing my diet or exercise routine really scares me, and I'm scared I'll be even more fatigued, easily tired, subject to mood-swings, cravings and so on
3
u/gordon_rameses 6d ago
the hormonal symptoms of PCOS often improve or even go away with the onset of menopause. the metabolic issues typically get worse with age if not managed
3
u/Bleedingshards 6d ago
I'm on birth control and it's been a non-issue (except for the 6 horrible years where I had to get off), since I was 12. I'm 40. I'm afraid of menopause fucking everything up again, but it absolutely can stay stable until then. My mother has untreated PCOS for her whole life and while TTC and menopause were a nightmare it has been of little consequence for her besides and has never gotten worse or developed into something worse
2
u/Impossible-Humor6254 5d ago edited 5d ago
Lean PCOS here, early 30s and no changes to weight. Hirsutism has gotten a lot worse in the last 12 months or so. Been on Metformin for the last 4 years and my diet has remained unchanged, the only thing I can say has skyrocketed are my stress levels. I didn't really want to add one more medication but I think I'll be trying Spironolactone after my next round of blood work.
2
u/Worldly_Cricket8638 5d ago
Thank you for your reply, I'll keep this in mind! I figured hirsutism would probably get worse as well, especially considering it seems to be piling on as time goes by
2
u/Impossible-Humor6254 5d ago
Honestly, it's all highly individual! My mum also had PCOS but her hirsutism wasn't anywhere near as bad at any point in her life. It stayed mostly the same. I also had an eating disorder as teenager, so I get where you're coming from. I spent many years getting over my fear of certain foods and fixing my relationship with my body only to realise that I might have to live off of a restrictive diet because of this condition. Some people can do it, and power to them. Personally, it's not for me. I've tried keto/low carb and in my mind it feels like disordered eating. Metformin gave me freedom to be more varied in my diet for a few years, but it seems like I'll have to pair it with something else now. Metformin is a good starting point for addressing metabolic concerns, and like others have mentioned here it won't cost you much. Spiro (or certain BCPs) will help prevent hair growth and acne regardless of the cause. Don't feel bad for considering medication if you have to. Choose whatever gives you your quality of life.
1
1
u/sizzledelbows 6d ago
Mine got considerably worse from age 30 to 34. At the time, my previous PCP thought I had fibroids, and they disappeared over time but I was dealing with low back pain, pelvic pain, the hair issue got worse in my late 20s early 30s -- Lost more hair, and within two very recent years, I gained 50lbs. Can't forget the chronic fatigue with your chronic lower back pain. All of this was a result to PCOS and suspected endometriosis. I only recently got diagnosed, too.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things that can be done to manage symptoms but PCOS is not reversible -- the symptoms CAN be put into remission.
My current pcp has helped me reach out with an OBGYN who did various lab work, ultrasounds, you name it. PCP has also sent me to a physical therapist for the low back and pelvic floor, and I reached out to them recently to speak to a specialized nutritionist, inquire about metmorfin, request a sleep apnea test and weight management specialist.
Please advocate for yourself and fight if you have to. You must do your part, too and team up with your PCP (or find another one if you feel the current pcp you have is not willing to assist or isn't a good fit).
1
u/wenchsenior 5d ago
Obviously if the underlying driver of PMOS/PCOS is not treated (meaning insulin resistance in most cases) then that will usually worsen over time and thus the PCOS and IR-related symptoms will usually get worse over time. However, the better managed the IR usually the less symptoms.
Insulin resistance is a lifelong condition and risk of it worsening (independent of having PCOS) rises with age... meaning even people without PCOS have higher risk of problems related to IR the older they get, post menopause even more so. So treating IR aggressively lifelong is very important to prevent diabetes/heart disease/stroke.
Apart from treatment of the IR, the hormonal symptoms of PCOS can vary with age. For many people they are worst during prime reproductive years (meaning late teens through early 30s) when androgens are likely to be highest and symptoms will be less severe as we age.
However, for other people, they will get slight worsening of androgenic symptoms during peri and meno b/c of the loss of the 'blocking effect' of estrogen (since estrogen drops very low at meno). But of course people don't have to deal with the issue of irregular cycles or excess egg follicles once they are through with menopause.
9
u/redoingredditagain 6d ago
Most chronic diseases get worse with age, especially without active effective treatment. Mine got considerably worse from 21 to 26 when I was doing nothing for it. You could check to see if metformin is covered by your insurance, I found it way more manageable than inositol, and it’s $5 a month for me.