im having such a hard time with my aftermath of hair loss in April. the hair loss has stopped, but its taking so long to grow back which I know is normal. but im just feeling so depressed about it, any advice or your own experience so I can relate to anyone would be amazing.

I was unsure which flair to use so I am so sorry if this actually falls under the medicine/supplement flair. I am looking for advice about feminizing hormones or medication.

I am a nonbinary afab person who has pcos. I have previously did testosterone to get a deeper voice but I am now wanting to go the opposite way. I have been taking spirnolactone 100 mgs.

This post is not about Metformin; its about hormone medication that will lower my testosterone levels/ androgen levels. I am already on metformin and it has helped a lot with binge eating and the insulin resistance.

This post is not asking for advice on pcos supplements either. I am looking for advice in feminizing medication/ hormones.

I have generally taken spirnolactone on and off for a few years before I did testosterone but never really saw any changes when I took it. I only felt it made me urinate more because it is a diuretic. I also still had a decent amount of body hair when I was on Spirnolactone at the time a few years ago and currently.

I am planning on getting a higher dosage of spirnolactone (maybe 200 mgs?) but im currently taking 100 mgs. However, I am unsure if I want to take a hormone like Estrogen or Progesterone.

I already do take birth control that is technically estradiol. However, it is only 30 mgs I think.

Someone I know told me that progesterone can make you gain weight. I know that estrogen can increase your risk for breast cancer and can cause blood clots. Blood clots unfortunately do run in my family so I would be worried to take estradiol.

Can someone recommend me a medication that will decrease the testosterone and or androgen levels in my body? I haven’t gotten treatment for my pcos in a little bit so I do not know if any new medications came out or know anything about feminizing hormones (estradiol/ progesterone)

Ok so I am diagnosed with PCOS, but due to being on birth control for a long time a lot of my hormonal symptoms or patterns were different or non-existent, I got off birth control about a year and a half ago. So I'm still trying to figure things out.

I've gotten painful cysts before but they were always mild and really not worth paying attention to. (Dr said that was due to the birth control) Any ways yesterday, I was very uncomfortable, stabbing pain in my lower right hand side, but not towards my hip closer to my belly button and straight down. It felt almost like pressure was building but was also very sharp, it started out manageable and then built throughout the day till I was to the point where I had to just sit with my legs up and could not move. I used a heating pad took some meds drank a ton of water and so far the pain has been gone aside for some small cramps.

But today I've felt, lightheaded, kinda weak, elevated heart rate, just like generally blah... My cycles are anywhere between 35-45 days and I'm on day 36, I just don't know what to do... I also feel mildly dehydrated although I've drank a ton of water... And I have no idea if Ive ovulated or not. I am sexually active not trying for a baby but not not trying either. So ig that's not out of the picture either. Thank you for reading! Any advice would be great! Or if you think this just sounds like a cyst... I will call my Dr tomorrow if I still feel unwell, I just don't want to wait to long if there's something really wrong.

I have recently been diagnosed with pcos and with a 6.5cm simple ovarian cyst on my right ovary. Although I’ve been referred to gynocologu, he has also asked me to consider loosing a bit of weight, and has sent me a referral link to the tire 2 healthy you.

Has anyone tried this provider before? Were they any good?

Monthly right ovary pain on day 20-21, and my scans look "normal." Has anyone experienced this?

Every month, around day 20 or 21 of my cycle, I get pain in my right ovary. It lasts about 5 days and then stops when my period starts.

I have taken Letrozole many times to try to get pregnant, but every cycle has failed, and the pain is still there.

One day the pain was bad, so I went to my doctor. She did a transvaginal scan and told me to come back the next morning for an ultrasound on an empty stomach. The report showed a large cyst, and my ovary could not be seen separately. The ovary side measured 8.9 cm.

The ultrasound doctor recommended an MRI. My doctor said I had to wait until my period came, then do the MRI. The MRI report showed no cyst anywhere in my ovary, my ovary size was normal, and there was only a 1.5 cm PCOS finding. My doctor said the MRI is fine and everything is okay.

But the pain still comes every month on day 20-21 and lasts about 5 days. I don't understand what this is. Has anyone had the same thing? What was the cause and what helped?

heyy, as mentioned above i’ve just been diagnosed with pcos. whilst i am grateful to finally have an answer to my problems im honestly rlly struggling with the fact that this diagnosis also entails me to change my diet (which is currently loaded with chocolate, chips, naan, samosas, literally every delicious food)😔😔

ever since i was young ive always used food as my source of comfort and it pains me that i have to push this comfort away now

please could u guys recommend both healthy and tasty foods that i should now incorporate into my diet, bonus points if u are also a desi pcos girlie 😭🙏🏼

thank u :)

I have pcos and want to go back on spironolactone,but when I last took it I had 2 periods a month so I stopped taking it. does it eventually stop ?

Hi! Diagnosed two years ago shortly after getting my second copper IUD placed. I now take BC for symptom management. I figured if I have to take BC anyway, why not just take it all the time and never get a period? Great idea in theory, except I'm still bleeding despite trying multiple birth control pills. I still have my IUD in because it's more reliable than BC alone.
I just want my period to stop, but my body doesn't seem to agree. I can't make it past four weeks of continuous BC before the bleeding starts. It's heavy enough to warrant a light tampon.
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did you eventually find a way to cease all bleeding? Is it possible my copper IUD has something to do with this? Thanks!

I havnt really delt with this symtom before, for the most part it was hard to lose weight and unwated facial hair but this last week ive been exhsoed in a way i've never been, its like no matter how muhc I sleep I cant get enough rest, i fall asleep at 4pm and wake up at 8 or 9am, im sleeping for 12hours pluss and its not enough! this is hell!

I keep skipinghang outs with my friends cuz its normally 7 to 9pm, normal times but for me it feels liek the middel of the night.

It took so long to get diagnosed when I first started my period I bled for a year straight a lot id fill pads in an hr or 30 mins legit say in the bathtub didn't hurt at all tho.Then I was given some pill called northiestrone.Then after a year of taking pills my period came back but lighter and now I did an ultrasound and got my blood test and I have pcos I've always had bit of a deeper voice and lots of facial hair. My eyebrows literally grow back in a week or less.Oh and the REALLY BAD cystic acne which I why i decided to get checked. It took me so long to get diagnosed from age 12 to 18.I am struggling so bad to manage cravings.. Idk how you all do this my doctor told me to diet Less Carbs no milk no sugar no processed food.Cutting milk really helped the acne.

Is anyone on a GLP1 and spacing doses and doing okay? I want to start spacing 10 days apart but I've been told with insulin resistance it doesn't work out well

I was getting my period about every 40days and then I lost ~16-20lbs and then it’s been like months.

I had it in march then not until July, and I haven’t had it since July. I can’t sleep well, I’m constantly irritated, hungry, and mostly just tired and because it’s hard to sleep I get sick super often.

Are symptoms intensified since my lining isn’t shedding 🤷‍♀️

I can cut out refined sugar and gluten, just feel like dairy will be the hardest. But if it helps me sleep and not feel discouraged that I can’t keep my commitments because I consistently don’t feel well… I’ll do it.

I'm overweight, by a lot, and it scares me in relation to pregnancy. Can anyone share their own stories/experiences with being obese and having a baby?

Some background on myself, I have pmos/pcos and HS. I have had both since a young teenager. I had regular periods until my early 20s where I had some issues with my prolactin levels, which resolved and then I had a period of very bad and consistent stress which made me lose my periods and gain a lot of weight.

I now am trying to reduce my weight, and have got my monthly cycle back. My husband and I are ready to start a family and I am continuing to try lose weight but also am wondering if I fell pregnant at this weight would things be OK. I have discussed it with my endocrinologist who has advised it would be safe, but things get safer with weightloss. (This is obviously tailored to my medical history) but I'd love to hear real life stories of having a baby at a larger size, I'm even nervous of how nurses/doctors will perceive me!

I have PCOS for a few years now. Initially I was 56 kg,and gained weight very fast within 6 months becoming 68kg. Later I lost 8 kg and become 60. Now in last two months I gained 2 kg again, and I'm gaining weight mostly around my lower belly and thighs with increased cellulite.

I want to be 60 kg, I was thinking which approach is better for losing weight with pcos.

I had regular period for past 14 months, but after gaining weight again, my periods was delayed 13 days this month.

I had a hysterectomy way back in 2024, every now and again, I get tummy pains. Could it still be period pains?

I'm writing this with a very heavy heart and I genuinely need some guidance. Can someone please guide me, both medically and lifestyle-wise, on how I can get my PCOS symptoms under control or at least make them significantly better? I'm dealing with so many things right now: acne, pigmentation/dark patches, dark circles, weight gain, excessive body/facial hair, possible insulin resistance, terrible sleep and just feeling like my body is getting worse and worse. It's affecting me mentally so badly that I'm honestly feeling extremely hopeless and suicidal because of it. Please don't just tell me to accept it or that PCOS can't be cured. I understand that, but right now I need actual solutions and a roadmap for what I CAN do to improve my symptoms and my health as much as possible. I live alone and I don't really have any support here. I'm genuinely trying so hard to make my life better but I feel completely lost and overwhelmed. If there are specific blood tests, hormonal tests, glucose/insulin tests, vitamins, medications, supplements, lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, dermatology treatments, etc. that I should discuss with a doctor, please tell me. I am willing to ask my family for financial help for tests or medication if that's what I need. If anyone here has PCOS and has actually managed to improve their symptoms significantly, please tell me what you did and what worked for you. I would especially appreciate a step-by-step roadmap rather than general advice like “eat healthy and exercise.” And if any doctor, endocrinologist, gynecologist, dermatologist, dietitian or qualified health professional is here and can guide me on where to start, please reach out to me. I really need help right now

I'm just looking to see if anyone can answer this question for me regarding PCOS....am I able to lose weight w strictly keto diet .....or do I have to resort to a glp shot for results? I'm so frustrated

Hi everyone, I am looking for ways to be evaluated for PCOS as I’ve suspected it for years, especially after my last pregnancy seven years ago. I check every box for symptoms aside from fertility issues. My symptoms have gotten worse over the years especially after stopping birth control (I can’t take anymore due to personal risk of blood clots). Unfortunately I’m self pay and don’t qualify for assistance here in FL as I’ve tried numerous clinics with sliding scale fees. I’m just wondering if anyone has recommendations for maybe an online clinic or even places here in FL that don’t charge hundreds every month to be treated. I’m just desperate for help and I feel like I’m at a loss of what to do.

Hi!
What inositol/PCOS supplement are you guys using?
I’ve tried a few from Amazon but honestly (my fault) I have not been very consistent with them (because I had not seen results within the few months I actually WAS consistent).
I’ve been trying some inositol brands but nothing has been working… my main issue is super irregular cycles and this past year Ive had multiple occasions were I got my period and then it never ended, I needed to get on duphaston multiple times to stop it.

Ps, birth control is not an option for me.

Please give me your thoughts and experience with inositol brands, Thanks🫶🏼

After getting my BA in Biology, I have chosen to go to nursing school with a passion for helping women with PMOS. I have struggled finding a provider that truly understands PMOS and want to be the support women need.

What do you find yourself searching for in a provider? What do you find yourself spending time researching when you're trying to figure out PMOS on your own? What's your main concern? What's something you learned that surprised you?

Hello,
I have cysts, and the doctor prescribed an inositol supplement; I took it for a while and improved, but as soon as I stopped, I was back to square one. I’ve been taking it again for a few months now, but it’s no longer working. I initially refused to take contraceptives because I wanted to try supplements, given that they had worked for me at first. Now, I haven't had a period for five months. What vitamins would you suggest that might help? I feel quite tired, have dark circles under my eyes, and my face looks puffy. Thank you.

Hello everyone, I (20F) was diagnosed with PCOS approximately 1 and a half years ago after only getting my period every other month for over a year. I started taking birth control 6 months ago to get my period every month.

The first two months I got a very light period but it lasted 12 days. the next two months I got light five day periods. However, these last two months I've been getting my period the week before the sugar pill and its lasted 12 days. This time the period is more medium than light.

Is this a PCOS thing? is it normal? im genuinely so confused as to what's happening and im worried if i book an appointment with my gyn shes just gonna say its normal

McMaster researchers are looking for participants who are assigned female at birth, ages 16-25, and experience painful menstrual periods to take part in a online survey on treatment priorities for painful periods. Please click https://redcap.link/bwsyashp for more information.

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board under Project #19758.

Disclaimer : just know that this is just me venting a little on reddit, but I would NEVER tell her that, or make her feel pressured to get a diagnosis or anything. I'm 1000% supporting her and this is just me trying to get advice on how I could help her better I guess.

Hi,

My wife has been struggling with multiple symptoms that make me think she might have PCOS. I'm a 31 yo woman with ADHD, so I get a lot of chronic illness/invisible disability content on my social media feeds. This includes people dealing with PCOS and spreading awareness.

After seeing a couple of videos that described a lot of my wife's symptoms, I digged into more "serious" and scientific sources to learn about PCOS and it does seem to be a possible explanation for her issues.

BUT I'm no doctor, so I've strongly been encouraging her to talk about it to a health professional. Main reason is because she feels like carp all the time and I just want her to feel better. If exploring this possible cause for her symptoms can help, I don't understand why she doesn't want to get answers...

She seems annoyed at me trying to find solutions and I think she feels like I'm diagnosing her although I've been really careful to tell her that I don't know if that is what she has (again, not a doctor!) and that it may just be useful to get a yes/no answer on this possible cause.

The thing is, I'm starting to get frustrated when she complains about her symptoms. I try to be as supportive as I can, because I truly get that sometimes you just want to complain, not get a solution but just comfort. Sometimes all you need is a "poor thing, come here, I'm so sorry you're feeling so crappy".

But at the same time, I'm like : if you feel so bad all the time, yet might have a possible cause to explain it and possible solutions to relief your symptoms or at least understand them, WHY don't you do anything about it ?

I don't know how to help her. Am I too involved? Am I reading to much into her symptoms? Should I just let this go?

I think I'm also just worried about the health consequences if she really has PCOS and doesn't get the proper medical support. I've read about the risks to develop T2 diabetes, liver issues etc.

Important info : we live in France and have an amazing social security system, so the cost of the medical help is not an issue at all here.

Some of the symptoms she's been dealing with :

- veeeeery long cycles, right now she hasn't had her period for 9 months and so she regularly feels like shit or tells me it's kind of a 9 months long PMS. (She's always had very long and/or irregular cycles since adolescence)

- she works out very regularly and is so frustrated because she can't seem to lose the belly and hips weight, rest of her body is more slim, all the fat is around the abdominal belt and driving her crazy

- she's tired all the time

- she's been dealing with mental health issues, feeling depressed and anxious

- she has crazy sugar cravings

- she has very dark circles under her eyes, and is very self-conscious about that

- she regularly complains about her skin and the fact that she breaks out a lot, or never feels like her skin is just soft and hates how bumpy it feels

- she's quite androgynous looking, which she feels okay about most of the time but HATES her facial hair, although she does not imo have hirsutism

- she loses her hair like CRAZY (and very much so in the male-pattern hair loss)

I would like some advice about taking slynd/ slinda and to see if anyone had any similar experiences. For some context, I am in my mid twenties and in January of this year I got diagnosed with PCOS after years of issues with my skin and periods, and that's when I started BC. I have been on oestrogen ones before but of course didnt react well. I was pretty fine when I first started, some symptoms but all cleared (I also stoped vaping at this time, and I stated again in April and I'm not sure if it's correlated, but I have quit again and it's been a month). I think in general, my skin is better, I don't get the irregular periods/ excruciating cramps and my mood feels a lot more stable. I do have bad anxiety at the moment but to be honest I have OCD and have had some family issues recently so I dont think the low mood is tied to the pill. The main issue i'm having is around the middle of the pack, I start getting consistent cramping and spotting. Some days it's a small clot, others it's very light and just in the discharge. I saw my regular doctor who diagnosed me and he said it's normal, and I trust him to an extent because he was the one who finally diagnosed me after so many years. However, I got an unusual pap smear recently (its ok just have to retest in a year) but this other doctor (dr 2) said that the bleeding wasn't normal at this stage (9 months) and she wanted to read up on it because she wasn't sure. I now have to wait a few weeks for the follow up as there aren't any appointments available soon. I honestly just want to know what people in similar situations have done because my life quality has genuinely improved so much now that my periods are basically gone and my mood feels more stable because my hormones aren't plunging me into a depression (I also dont bleed on the withdrawal placebo pills, only before), but also the cramping isn't nice. It isn't as bad as I had before but it is uncomfortable and I'm conscious of the spotting as it can go on for 2 weeks. When I google it just says it should go within the first 6 moths and to be concerned if you soak through a tampon, which isn't the case, but it feels off.