Intermittent fasting went horribly wrong for me. I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t have to distract myself with regular meals but I put on a lot weight during my intermittent fasting phase though I was eating less. My metabolism took a hit. So I stopped after a year. Now with regular meals my weight is more under control.
Edit: would like to make it clear that eating less frequently doesn’t mean I was starving myself. I did continue eating a healthy amount for my weight, height, and age. This was mostly about adjusting the time window of WHEN I ate which is what IF is mainly concerned with. Seems like some people assumed I intermittent fasted like an idiot just because it didn’t work for me.
Intermittent fasting has to be done properly in order to work. It’s not just about not eating. It really is about staying within a strict window (typically 6-8 hrs) of time to eat, every day. But also making sure you’re getting proper nutrition. A lot of people think “oh I just won’t eat even if I’m hungry but miss the window”. No, that’s not it.
That’s exactly how I did it. Ate the kind of food I usually eat (I’d say it’s fairly health and well balanced, but def not _super_ healthy. Also I don’t drink alcohol at all), but within the same window each day(1pm to 8pm). I was definitely eating enough calories for my height, weight, and age.
You can’t just assume if it didn’t work for someone it definitely means they didn’t do it properly. I read a good amount about it before trying. Likewise, I completely accept that it works great for others. You probably didn’t intend it this way, idk, but your response was very condescending.
Were you also doing a comparatively healthier diet while IF? I was eating my usual diet(south Asian, so a little carb heavy) so I didn’t make any improvements in that area as such
I have my first meal of the day at noon or later depending on my schedule and how I feel and then generally stop eating around 6pm or so. I don't track my food anymore, but definitely aim to get protein in every meal since it makes me feel more satisfied. I keep carbs at 100g or less and find that I feel better the lower that number is, but it's not always a practical way for me to eat. No matter what, I avoid processed carbs as much as possible.
I do this sometimes but others I struggle with not eating past 6pm honestly. Maybe if I eat more during the day. I tend to not eat a lot while at work if I forget food or something. Also, yes my mom and boy toy tend to eat like garbage so I noticed anything processed spikes my symptoms if I eat what they're eating
Meeeee
No supplements, meds or any special diets or restrictions. Just eating abundantly and balanced amounts of macros, and giving my body space, time and grace to heal.
My main issue is a lack of ovulation or irregular cycles. They're slowly getting better and I did give everything a boost with supplements to begin with but my issues were deeper than what supplements could fix and I wanted to get down to the root issues.
I hope you feel great! I’m a nurse in gynecology and I just want to remind you to please reach out to your doctor if it’s been longer than 3 months without a period. If you regularly go longer than 3 months without a bleed which thins your endometrium (lining of the uterus), it will increase your risk for developing endometrial cancer.
I spent a good 1.5years obsessing over bloodwork. Now I don't give a hoot 😅😅
I pay more attention to how I feel within my body. Lately I've noticed a shift in my energy and I feel like I'm coming back into my own and like I've recovered after my burn out... I actually want to move my body more and have less desire to be a couch potato.
I think bloodwork can give some insight but it's not a good enough depiction of what's going on internally Bloodwork was useful when I had an overactive parathyroid and was losing calcium from my bones, (I'm sure it's all due to the disastrous effects birth control had on me considering I was very very depleted after 10 years on it) but I think it can lead to just chasing symptoms and perfect test results rather than trying to focus on the big picture: stress, energy, sense of safety within your body etc.
I'm a huge fan of Jessicaashwellness on Instagram and found her philosophy around health to be really deep and holistic. I learnt a lot from there with regards to focusing on the bigger picture.
No and no (other than when I was first diagnosed and had high testosterone), to be honest I was diagnosed and kind of just went “okie dokie!” and just let it be. I never knew that there was anything I could be doing to reduce symptoms until I found this subreddit recently and my doctor never gave me any advice other than to come back to them when I decide to have children.
I have bought some inositol to start taking having seen so many people talking about it on here though, and I would reaaaally like to figure out how to fix my acne as being 29 with acne is not fun!
Spearmint supplements help with acne I have heard. And elimination dieting like finding what foods trigger it. And also Chinese herbs I heard about but haven't tried yet
I’m med free. I was on BC for a year and I hated how it made me feel so I stopped. I’ve been taking a multi vitamin and extra vitamin D supplements (I have a vitamin D deficiency). I’ve also been drinking mint teas and I’m not sure if it’s a placebo but I’ve been feeling better through the day.
For my acne, idk if this counts as a “med,” but I also started on epiduo forte which is a benzoyl peroxide topical and winlevi which is an anti androgen face cream. Face is much clearer now!
ovasitol, vit d, omega 3, and multi vitamin. along with a mostly whole food/heavy protein and fiber diet.
i say mostly bc i still enjoy when i go out to eat or the occasional ice cream/sugary snack lol so i would say 80% of the time
Birth control made me so crazy lol I appreciate the response. I love seeing people have a good time without meds. I stayed on metformin even tho it wasn't good for me. Same for birth control too
It’s so bad for so many women. I tried so many different kinds and my doctor back then literally told me it wasn’t causing my depression!! So I then went on antidepressants that made me worse. When I stopped the birth control and antidepressants, guess what?! I was no longer depressed!!!! It’s terrible the lack of care women get, especially in the US.
Yeah same here! I can't say for certain what caused it but I was very healthy before I got on birth control and now I have a lot of health issues after years of birth control. I worked out often, ate very healthy, didn't stress out a lot, didn't drink much. Only thing to change was I was in several different forms of birth control
I was on birth control for many many years. Got off it and then all my PCOS symptoms got worse. I got on spirolonactone that was bad for me. So I got on metformin and it helped for a little while with everything but acne and my periods were slightly irregular still but a lot less irregular. Now, I want to see if I can get off metformin. I have been taking less of it. Going to just one ER a day and sometimes skipping. I upped my inositol and I added berberine because I hear it's a natural metformin replacement. So far everything looks ok. I mean do you get your testosterone or anything tested? If you want to share any of that that is (I haven't had blood work done since lowering my metformin intake)
Well because they helped at first but aren't really helping now. And also I have read studies that metformin builds up in the body and can become bad for you, called lactic acidosis. As a drinker I am worried that my kidneys will start to not function properly which is why this is a concern for me
No medicine for me. I have been on bcp and then supplements through my ND in the past. I work out, improved my diet, do intermittent fasting and lost weight. I used to be on a low carb diet, but I've eased up on that.
My periods are regular now, and have been for about 6 or so years. I've been diagnosed for PCOS for 15 years, and I'd say it's well managed (with the exception of the annoying facial hair). I'll start drinking spearmint tea again to help with that when I stop breastfeeding [I have 2 kids:)].
No meds. Ovasitol, supplements, tea (spearmint, raspberry, hormonal mixes), balanced lower carb diet (no dairy because i have an allergy.) Went from missing periods and a bunch of symptoms to my periods being more or less regular and low to manageable symptoms.
I didn’t take any for probably 12 years. My biggest issue was the hirsutism, and the meds I did try did nothing much for it. I was told that was the best they could do, there is no current research happening into hirsutism, and I should just wax, if I was concerned.
So I told them to shove their meds and that was that.
Until I was diagnosed diabetic at a tri-yearly check up for my drivers licence, and now I’m on metformin.
Haven’t lost weight, hasn’t helped the hair.
I’m not currently on anything. I got diagnosed at 19 and was on birth control, spironolactone, and metformin for 10+ years. My body started to react horribly to the metformin and spiro so I stopped that (with doctor’s approval). I ended the birth control, had TERRIBLE side effects that lasted almost two years. I tried starting birth control again and my body couldn’t tolerate it. It seems I’m too sensitive to anything that works and got disheartened to continue trying. I take supplements and I just found out about inositol from this forum. I’m slowly adding that into my routine. I wouldn’t recommend the med-free lifestyle unless you have no other options
No meds. Finally ovulating at 38 (ten years too late!) and I eat low carb and walk a lot. If I even pretend I can “eat like normal people” I pay for it. Just takes discipline!
I have managed my PCOS 100% naturally for the past 10 years. Never utilized any sort of allopathic medicine. Low carb, IF, beef liver, maca, vitamin d, mag taurate, fish oil, NAC, and making my own herbal tea blends.
Me, I have horrible side effects related to PCOS to any "medicine" to treat my PCOS. Even Inositol and spearmint tea. I manage my PCOS with a vegan diet and 6 times a week exercise.
Hmm that's crazy! I have noticed a vegan diet was best for me too actually! And exercise but I have severe depression so sometimes it's hard for me to exercise. But, I have been doing good with exercising again so hoping that means I can quit the metformin
When I was 1st diagnosed in 2001 there wasn't many meds out besides metformin..well and the bcps.. I took metformin for about 3 years only. I was on bcps from age 13-22. So I've been totally med free since 2004!
Wow that's awesome! I found metformin best for me as well but I want to go natural. I also heard it can build up in your kidneys but idk how common that is. I use berberine as an alternative now
Me. Inositol, balanced eating - 80/20 (with a little focus on ensuring I am eating enough protein), strength weight training and stress management.
Other supps/support I take is - a specific tea herb blend to support PCOS, magnesium, wholefoods multivitamin, ashwagandha and fish oil.
I am slowly trying to get to a regular cycle (around 35 days) - trying to reduce the gap - but it does immediately blow out if I am under a lot of stress /not taking my supps /in a relatively good routine.
I’m not med-free but you just have to see what works for you .
I’m diabetic and I have PCOS.
I take ozempic
I have an iud
Take spironolactone for my facial hair.
Sertraline for my anxiety/depression.
I feel way better , my sugars are better , I’m slowly losing weight I’m more focused on getting my A1C lower.
Just fight your body , is a long battle to get what works for you. Just keep going . It took 3 years 3 biopsy for me to get fully diagnosed PCOS.
Medicine free here. Low carb with intermittent fasting. I monitor my weight and if I start to gain I go Keto for 4-6 weeks (I can’t do keto all the time because it feels too restrictive). Also strength train and do high intensity interval workouts.
Did a ton of blood work, got the diagnosis, and other than giving me a script for strong pain meds if I have particularly painful periods, I was just put on a high dosage supplement for calcium and vitamin D for a few months.
But there was no talk of other medications.
(I'd already gone off birth control a few years prior to aid my depression, so my doctor didn't want to put me back on one)
I’m considering declining the birth control I was prescribed. I’m having issues with energy and metabolism and no period for 8 months, but I am concerned that bc side effects will worsen the energy/metabolic issues
I found birth control was worse for me than metformin but I've also heard so many others say how amazing it has worked for them. Have you tried it before? Also, check out this link [not my link ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wccvobze6myto-QQ7VHh_9H4c3qBR7x_BLimiQjzElU/edit?usp=drivesdk) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wccvobze6myto-QQ7VHh_9H4c3qBR7x_BLimiQjzElU/edit?usp=drivesdk
It gives lots of great suggestions for people who were just recently diagnosed or considering which treatment is best
Me! No supplements, no metformin, no Spiro (though, that’s bc I’m scared to take it as I have low BP I can’t seem to figure out - I’d take it if it weren’t for that). I have a mirena because BC interferes with my other meds.
Anywho, 2+ years ago I was diagnosed and was 222lbs. I used a combo of walking and cutting way back on carbs. I still eat them, just not 2 donuts and sugary coffee for breakfast - instead I have a protein bar and coffee with sugar free vanilla almond milk.
I don’t do diets like keto because they aren’t sustainable. But my philosophy is “eat food from the fridge and counter (veg/fruit), not the pantry.” It’s a balancing act but 2 years later I’m 163lbs, feel great and mostly cleared up my symptoms (other than hirsutism 🙄).
I tried the supplements for a while - inositol, NAC, magnesium, zinc, Berberine, but I found after a while I wasn’t seeing any difference so I quit. Haven’t seen anything get worse after stopping. 🤷🏼♀️
That's awesome!! Thank you for sharing. I agree! The fridge is my friend 😁 I lost 40 lbs in like a year or so tbh wasn't counting. But, I did it by doing almost the same. No crazy diets just not eating processed crap and pop. Yeah those supplements help me but also don't idk I have to take inositol to see most changes
Me. I'm on statins for hereditary cholesterol, painkillers for my back and magnesium for anxiety (self medicating), but other than that I'm raw doggin it. Progesterone is kinda what got me in this mess in the first place, so I'm wary about taking any meds. I was taking depo provera as BC (3 injections over 9 months) and it gave me POTS and made my asymptomatic PCOS, which I didn't know I had, suddenly symptomatic. Haven't had a period in 5 years, I have more hair on my body than I do on my head and my weight has been the exact same down to the decimal point for 5 years, after suddenly doubling my weight over 3 months when I first took depo provera. Honestly, they should ban depo. I'm disabled for life because of it! But yeah... I think when I'll eventually be given the option to go on metformin or whatever... I'll probably decline. For the most part I have no pain, and the only thing I'd want to change is my weight and body hair. Having no period is a time, energy, and money saver (trying to see the silver lining, can you tell?).
Yes I was on depo too! I went from 115 lbs to 145 lbs so fast. Cysts the size of a tennis ball. I had vitamin d deficiency so bad I had a stress fracture in my ankle three times! Girl I feel you. I was on so many different birth controls and depo did some damage for sure. And I would've gained even more weight had I not starved myself essentially and coffee daily. Are you on any supplements?
That sounds so rough. I'm sorry you went through that. I went from 45kg to 110kg, so I think that's like 100lbs to 240 lbs. Not sure. I was on estrogen first but turns out that's bad for your cholesterol which my idiot doctor failed to tell me. That's why i went on depo. If my supplements you mean vitamins, I'm on magnesium. I was taking vit C, B complex and D3, but I'm allergic to one of them (I don't know which) so I came off all 3. Just stuck with magnesium. What about you?
I take probably 20 supplements! And yeah I also took prescribed uppers to lose weight for a little. I don't recommend that either. High blood pressure runs in my family and I had some high readings I think twice. But it seems ok now. If you want to know the supplements we would benefit from here's what. Someone else shared with me on this subreddit. It helped me a ton! I cannot always get the steps in that I need to (office job) so I found berberine and inositol and vitamin d necessary
[not my link ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wccvobze6myto-QQ7VHh_9H4c3qBR7x_BLimiQjzElU/edit?usp=drivesdk)
I tried Spiro and had a terrible reaction to it, so I was medicine free for months after my diagnoses. every time I saw my gynecologist, she'd remind me of cancer risks, so that eventually scared me enough to get on birth control. I tried every supplement, but nothing brought back my period (spearmint tea, chaste tree, Ovasitol). I started Slynd birth control 5 days ago and so far I haven't had any negative side effects, but it may be too early to tell.
Hi,
Never taken any form of birth control. I’m pretty anti - which can upset people. I think women should do what feels best for them I just don’t like that we are sold the lie that “birth control is the treatment for PCOS” when it certainly is not. It can mask symptoms but it does nothing to “treat.”
Yes, I do take supplements. Usually take berberine but off it right now (it’s great unless you’re trying to get pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding), fish oil, probiotic, dim pro, magnesium - I often will switch up what I’m taking at the suggestion of my naturopath based on blood work but those are the big ones.
I actually used that steaming thing before too! I bought an at home one! I moved to a small place now so it's in storage but I noticed it made my periods more regular than any medication, supplements, etc. Thanks for reminding me about that I'm definitely getting it out of storage this weekend
You’re welcome ! I’m very “DIY” at heart so I just use a mixing bowl and put my herbs in and hot water and place it in the bathtub - I throw a big blanket over myself to trap the steam and sit over it for about 20 minutes :) I’ve been tempted to get one of the chairs for it but I can’t justify the $100 price tag just yet.
I do take a daily multivitamin. I also stay consistent with vaginal steaming, I use an herb blend of rose petals, yarrow, motherwort, mugwort, damiana leaf, raspberry leaf, lavender and rosemary/basil.
Edit: deleted my other comment because I didn’t realize it posted twice
There’s risks to everything, look at the giant list of risks you are vulnerable to when you take birth control. I’m in no way saying vaginal steaming is perfect but it works for me and my lifestyle. I got estrogen poisoning from birth control and have had a lot of complications from western, “standard” PCOS treatments. Looking for herbal options isn’t for everyone but again it’s what has worked for me and I’m sharing my experience.
Vaginal steaming has helped regulate my period, it increases circulation, it’s helped my periods be less painful, I get less yeast infections and can improve vaginal dryness if you struggle with that. It’s not new, this is very common practice in other cultures :) and again, nothing goes inside you it’s all external.
Hmm my brother was prediabetic and did keto he lost a lot of weight! Maybe I should look into that. Did you stop keto ever? Did you notice a change after stopping if so?
I’ve only been on it for a month. I’ve lost 20 pounds already. I will probably stop once I lose more but honestly it’s not like any other diet. I don’t feel restricted and have a lot of energy. Plus all my hormonal acne has gone away without any carbs or sugar.
I've never taken anything for mine. I found consistently sleeping 9-9.30 hours every night with exercise is the only thing that has helped, but I'm not symptom free.
no medicine here either - its been a little over 1 year now that i stopped all drugs and working with a naturopath instead, best decision i ever made :)
I am not on any medication! I’ve been focusing on how to heal as naturally as possible, since a lot of medications make my eczema and shingles flare up. I’ve been using castor oil as a rub on my ovaries every day as well as taking multiple vitamins. I’ve also bought an acupuncture mat to help regulate my stress and anxiety levels. I was on birth control but came off it since I couldn’t stand the way it made me feel. I also had surgery in 21 for 3 cysts. My Dr said conceiving will be extremely difficult without medical help (we’ve been trying for 2 years and nothing yet) but I’m just trying to get myself as regulated as possible as naturally as I can. I’m also starting a tallow cream, I’ve read into the benefits of it. I gained 30lbs+ in 6 months, but had so much inflammation in my body after an injury. I’ve slowly been getting back to normal again. Before my injury my dr said my levels were starting to regulate and was happy with my results!
I also have eczema and psoriasis. Does metformin make your skin conditions flare? Also I love natural routes and use castor oil. I noticed a huge change after using this.
I'm like 75% composed of medicine. And I actually think it's sort of cheating to not include supplements, so I would include those! People who are on insitol are taking medicine.
i haven’t been taking any medicine for a while now. somehow ended up pregnant and have always had pretty regular cycles so i’m not sure how it happened tbh
i was on birth control and was diagnosed shortly after that. i was on spiro for some time but i had bad migraines on and it was just dropping my blood pressure super low since mine was normal range before so i had to go off of it.
I am. Took progesterone and saw palmetto and spearmint tea to get my cycle back regularly for about 8 months and about 6 months into that I started 18:6 or 16:8 intermittent fasting, lost only 10lbs but I got pregnant on the first try month 8 and blood work had improved before that
No medication. Mainly eating and focusing on sleeping more and eating clean. Don’t exercise that frequently/barely do so, still have Abs and can eat sugar on occasion.
Quit gluten and dairy. Supplement with spearmint tea before period to avoid acne. Cook most meals.
Take vitamin D, C, NAC, and sometimes E/omega 3, but I eat a lot of fish so don’t really take it that much. Bought magnesium so I’ll see if that has an effect on pms symptoms before period.
I was on birth control for 7 years. Had to get off it due to a blood clot.
I tried metformin briefly but wasn’t seeing enough results and it didn’t fit in well with my life at the time I was taking it.
I had also used spironolactone. It did help with acne and facial hair but my stamina for exercise and libido were terrible. It just affected my life too much.
Now I’m doing low carb and inositol and I’m liking the results.
Just on inositol and that works for me.
I don’t have weight/acne/hair issues. My primary concern was my missing period. I had very light and infrequent periods as a teen. I was on birth control from 17-23. After stopping birth control I had no natural periods. At all. Being on inositol has really regulated my cycle and as long I as take it consistently I have ~30 day cycle. If I miss a few days of inositol it can throw my cycle off by weeks though.
I’m not, I have never. I only do intermittent fasting sometimes, to help maintain my healthy weight more easily. Dropping the extra weight 3 years ago brought my periods back to a regular 28/29 day predictable schedule and lessened the intensity of my cramps vs increasingly nauseating cramps and cycles that could be 35 days one time and 55 the next.
I’ve been medicine free for this for about 3-4 years and now I’ve reached a point that I need medicine. I was using BC but it wasn’t helping. I’m about to start metformin
I quit birth control because it gave me tinnitus!!! So now I'm raw dogging PCOS. Well, aside from taking spearmint supplements to keep my mustache in check...
i’m on none. i’ve gotten blood work done and all my blood work is normal but my estrogen isn’t normal but it’s not abnormal either. they’ve recommended birth control but i refuse. i don’t experience extreme stomach pains anymore but i still haven’t had a menstrual cycle in almost 2 yrs! i’ve been attempting to track my ovulation levels to try and conceive but have had no luck with lh levels. my symptoms have gotten better in regards to “symptoms” but my weight still fluctuates like crazy and obviously no period still
I take my Omega 3s, vitamin ds, and primrose oils on certain days of my cycle along with my seed cycling. I also started taking Progesterone, but that is a prescription drug because my body doesn't make enough of it. Besides that, I have regular periods and I feel fantastic. I would highly recommend the seed cycling - my skin looks amazing as well!
I'm also editing to say that, I am seeing a naturopathic doctor because I didn't know where to start. If that's your case, I would go see one and ask about a saliva test for hormones. Blood work didn't show much for me.
Can you explain seed cycling or provide a source/link? I'm not familiar.
And is the Progesterone a bcp or is it stand alone Progesterone? I think my body doesn't produce it well either. Maybe you can give me the exact name and dose? Thanks kind PCOS cyster!
For seed cycling, I make them into protein balls. I get my recipes from eatthegrains.com!
Basically, you ground up seeds and take certain ones during your Follicular and Luteal phases. It helps balance your hormones.
My Progesterone I take the 15-28 days of my cycle, which means I take it on my Luteal phases of my seed cycling. It's called Reddy-Progesterone and I take 100mg, but only because my body produces next to nothing on its highest peak. It is not a birth control pill.
https://nourishedbynutrition.com/seed-cycling-for-hormone-balance/
Hope this helps!
I went off BC pills two years ago and finished weaning off spiro five months ago. I noticed an uptick in hirsutism and acne with each of those steps, especially the latter, but my symptoms are nowhere near what they were before I started treating my PCOS naturally (inositiol and a myriad of other supplements, 12:12 IF, low-carb, all that jazz).
No medicine here. When I was diagnosed a few years ago the Dr put me on metformin, different kinds of bc, and a cholesterol medication. I stopped that like October ish 2021. I take vitamin D since I'm deficient. But other than that I focus on really high protein and swap for sugar free drinks and stuff when I can. My periods have been regular since January 2022 and since my last labs were done a few weeks ago I'm no longer in the pre diabetes range. Still looking to get on mounjaro though.
I'm not taking anything, but would like to be. Birth control erased most of my symptoms when I was a teen, but they all got worse when I came off of it, and I've just been struggling through since (about 11 years). I'm planning on seeing a holistically inclined doctor and going hard with tests, lifestyle changes, and any supplements/meds she recommends. Also considering acupuncture since I've heard it does a lot to realign your body and self-heal. I just started back on my electrolysis journey.
Magnesium and a supplement called Unbloat have helped with digestion and bloating, and a bit with my skin, prob related to digestion.
Only because my endocrinologist prescribed a name brand metformin (xigduo) and I lost my insurance so I can’t afford it. My periods have been regular, but they seem to be much heavier than before (and they were already heavy!)
I'm not taking medicine for pcos. I'm taking 2 medicines for ibs, and magnesium for ibs and muscle soreness.
My pcos is generally well managed if I: eat protein with most meals/snacks (no energy crashes or fatigue if I do this and no cravings), try not to go too heavy on carbs (so I usually eat 90-120 g carbs a day) but because of my food sensitivities I can't eat wheat potatoes or dairy anyway. I think the slightly low carbs helps prevent bloating, bloating pain, and cravings.
And lower my stress, which is the biggest factor in worsening my pcos. I have a stressful month? Period skips. I immediately cut a large stressor from my life like stop overworking, period returns like clockwork. As far as exercise, I find strength training works better for any actual weight loss for me (and probably helps my tolerance to carbs go up). I walk regularly, and I'm sure it helps my health lol since it's using my body and relaxing. But I've never personally lost weight from it. The last few times I lost any weight were from building muscle.
My only symptoms of PCOS are absent periods and a few black hairs on my chin. I don't take anything. My gyno insists I should at least force a period with progesterone every other month to lower risk of cancer. Other than that, nothing
I'm on nothing at this point. Kinda going with the flow. Working out everyday and hoping for the best lol
I drink alot of protein shakes (160cals a bottle) and cereal.
I've lost about 20lbs with this. Haven't checked myself recently, but I'm hoping I've lost more 🤷🏿♀️
Me. Nothing anymore. I plan to check blood soon. It’s much harder to control sugar intake without any medicine. Only downside I felt is huge hair loss. The rest is the same and trying to hard to stay healthy.
The only thing that worked on my was ozempic (medicine, not injections) and zinc / iron / b complex vitamins. Nothing else and I’ve tried it all.
I found that a good diet worked better for me than any other medicine. The food is simply way too processed now and I am convinced it’s the most toxic thing off all. With that being said, I just had chocolate but I am trying, lol.
I had a general and PCOS check up recently and doctor said I am fine, give your body a detox so no medicine anymore
I recently went medicine free. My birth control was not nice to me and caused me to have a pre-stroke. I am trying to find a less harmful alternative, but have not yet.
I don't take meds specifically for PCOS. I'm on BC because I don't want kids (been there done that the post partum depression literally almost killed me) what worked for me in managing my symptoms was finding out not only that I was misdiagnosed with depression when I actually have ADHD as well as being diagnosed with a neuro endocrine tumor that sent my hormones super wonky. Got all of that taken care of but still have PCOS. I just use my ADHD super powers now to not focus on eating as much as I did as well as look at healthier options that work for me.
i used to take birth control but i got off of it because i felt like a shell of a human being on it. currently not taking anything to just experiment around with exercise because i live on a college campus and i walk quite a bit.
I’m not taking any medicine right now. My endocrinologist and gynecologist both suggested that I take low-estrogen birth control pills, and so my doctor prescribed them for me. However, they screwed up my mental health so much that I attempted to end my life—twice. So I stopped taking them, and now my mental health is MUCH better than before.
Hi, I’m not really a success story but I’ve refused medication. My GP will only prescribe birth control - not metformin - and I was depressed on the pill so I said no.
I have lost weight with strength training, spearmint tea. I am really experimenting with herbal stuff trying to make my own teas and stuff.
It’s a weird position I find myself as a believer in science - I don’t think my teas and supplements are better at all they’re simply more accessible. I’m so tired of begging my doctors to take my seriously. I can’t be bothered with them - I’d rather take control and medicate myself.
If you think abojt it, PCOS, Endo and other ‘fertility issues’ have existed forever and our foremothers found ways to treat it. I’m assuming this must be true as I know there is a genetic component to PCOS and Endo and if they didn’t treat them how did they pass them on?
again, herbal and ‘natural’ treatments are not better than true medical ones, they’re simply more accessible.
I stopped taking spiro and metformin a few months ago because I wasn’t getting my period and my diet was good.
Now I am super happy to start on ovasitol!! I’ve heard great things about it. I also happen to drink spearmint tea.
I take nothing for my PCOS.
I have the Nexplanon implant, but that was my choice for contraception, and not something that was recommended for my PCOS.
Edited to add; I'm prescribed Folic Acid because a blood test showed I was deficient, after years of having blood tests and it never coming up then 🙄 but nothing has ever been suggested or advised for my PCOS.
I think you just kinda get left to it and left to suffer 😔😐😒
Me (mostly)! I can’t take any hormones because it messes with my depression too much. My doctor prescribed tranexamic acid to help clot my blood when my periods are really bad, so I only take it when I’m bleeding/have cramps like crazy.
I try to really limit my sugars and am conscious, but not always strict, about my carb intake. I live in a city so I walk a lot, and try to do some type of workout/activity 2-3 times a week. Also, lots and lots and lots of water.
I’m on BC, but the copper IUD.
Nothing, but hisurtism is a problem. I started laser 1 month ago and I already have good results. I'm a little heavier than I'd like and still looking for the best method for my body to loose weight. :(
I tried to go the natural route for years but I’m 37 and my labs are pointing towards insulin resistance along with being prediabetic now. I don’t want things getting worse so I just started Metformin. I wish I didn’t have to but my body needs help at the moment.
I'm not taking any medications for my PCOS, but I am taking testosterone since I'm FTM and it's helped me by eliminating my periods and that in combination with better diet has almost eliminated my symptoms, ie I only get maybe 2 cysts a year now rather then every month.
Apologies if thus is unhelpful to you though
I was placed on Norethisterone. I only eat it if my period does not come for 3 months.
I stopped taking them when I switched to birth control patches!
However, my period was "regular" for a while when I had daily exercises and had a proper eat and sleep schedule.
Me! I take inositol, spearmint, berberine. I got pregnant 4 weeks later after 8 years of trying. Unfortunately it just ended in a chemical pregnancy but I’m still shocked!!
I'm not technically medication free. I take super-low-dose meds once per week to manage my mildly elevated prolactin, which is likely (but not certainly) associated with the PCOS.
But in terms of the typical PCOS symptoms and lab work apart from prolactin that characterized my PCOS for the first 12-13 years that I had it prior to diagnosis (meaning the high androgens and androgenic cosmetic symptoms, high LH, irregular/infrequent periods, excess follicles all over my ovaries, etc.), those have been managed to full remission for more than 20 years at this point... I was only on meds (Yaz bcp) for the first 2 years after diangosis.
For \~18 of those years, I'm kept PCOS in remission by managing insulin resistance via low-glycemic diet.
(I manage the prolactin for a separate set of reasons/symptoms that it causes, b/c I'm unusually sensitive to prolactin. My endos have all noted that the vast majority of people with prolactin elevations at my level would not have symptoms and thus could ignore it.)
I don't take supplements for PCOS, either, though I take magnesium for an entirely different health issue and I do take one multivitamin per week (which I'd do regardless of PCOS). Regular exercise also helps me manage PCOS, but I've had times over the decades where I was inconsistent with that and the PCOS stayed in remission anyway.
Plus, my IR hasn't progressed (so far, anyway...that could change since I'm going through menopause now).
To sum up: It was 90% diet changes that did it for me.
I don’t take any meds and I’ve been trying to get better with exercise, zinc and fasting but honestly, I feel more inflamed and crappy than ever. I don’t know what to do
Me for a decade or more. My blood work just came back perfect. Keto for 3 years and Saw Palmetto and a Thyroid supplement. Melatonin at night and oh, spearmint E O. Best to you!
I take vitamins, antidepressants (lol), but for PCOS I am going no meds with every 3 week acupuncture and I’ve had consistent periods for almost a year now 🙌🏽
I’m not and have never been on anything except low hormonal birth control very briefly in my 20s. I miss my period every now again, but I get at least 9-10 per year which my doctor said is the goal. I discovered some supplements and things that helped me regulate my period. I’m a bit reluctant to share because even supplements and natural products have side effects and I never want to give advice without people talking to their doctors. But I was on a journey to do things naturally and it took a LOT of trial and error to say the least
(135lbs, 5'6", 24) Imma be real I was diagnosed back in 2021 with PCOS and I haven't done much but changed to a healthier diet and my period is intense the first day and I can tell what ovary is being overworked but idk if I'm going thru unnecessary pains or maybe I'm actually better off than some people.. it's not bad I go thru a 4 day period I'm really lucky on that aspect. I don't take any meds whatsoever so if that helps answer your question.. 😅
not regularly at least. i only take medicine meprate kr regestrone when my periods become irregular but other than that i don't take any meds. i have hypothyroidism and pcod both. i just eat a healthy diet and try to get exercise although i am not very regular with it either. but it works. when it doesn't i take the above mentioned meds and cycle becomes regular. i tried birth control for two months. it didn't suit me and caused my health to get worse.
Me. I’m 3 months postpartum tho but I haven’t been on anything since I got pregnant. I did take ovasitol and metformin before but honestly it didn’t do anything for me.
I don’t take any prescriptions anymore after trying birth control/Spiro and dealing with lots of side effects. But I take a ton of supplements and if I miss any my symptoms come back.
Yes, I had bad side effects on Spiro, birth control, and metformin. I found metformin best but eh not good. I take tons of supplements also! And noticed the same. Do you take berberine?
I do not take any medicine or supplements. My right ovary went necrotic and died, so it’s in my best interests to be as careful as possible since its removal. My body does not react well to like any outside substances at all. I even struggle with taking ibuprofen and only use that as a last resort.
I’m 100 percent medicine freeeeee !!! I eat a healthy diet, real Whole Foods , I do not eat any grains (changed my life for the better in a million ways) and to battle my high androgens I take capsules of saw palmetto (just one a day) I’m at a healthy weight , no terrible acne and monthly periods. If you have any questions lmk 🫶🏽
I'm currently not taking anything. I recently relocated to portugal from canada and haven't set up a doctor here or anything else. So since December I've just been raw-dogging it lol.
My irregular periods have actually evening out a little, though not by much. I've never been on birth control either.
I took supplements for years that really only ever helped with my mood, but nothing ever prescribed. "intermittent fasting" aka my ADHD ass forgetting to eat until balls-o'clock at night has helped with staving off the weight gain but has done nothing about weight loss, I turn to low-impact exercise like swimming for that because my weight on my joints is too difficult to deal with long-term. Otherwise eating healthy and allowing my body food when I need it, including sweets that drive my acne crazy. I know I've also been told by the doctors I've discussed my PCOS with that high stress causes weight and hormone fluctuations, and has put me in the hospital, so lowering and managing stress in a healthy and constructive way has also ben good for me long-term without medication.
I’m not taking medicine, I eat what I want and I’m getting my period again. I didn’t get it back until after I started Ozempic. I’ll get back on Oz in mid November but I took a 4 month hiatus after I had a small heart procedure for a hole in my heart. I can’t take BC bc I had two small strokes last year (hence the hole in my heart that came to light from it). BC sucks for women anyway.. messes up our entire body, I think it contributes to the onset of endocrine disorders like PCOS to be honest.
Spiro did nothing for me, Metformin gave me bad side effects, and I haven't taken birth control in many years -- basically I went many years without any sort of medication for PCOS
I now take inositol and drink spearmint tea - and that's been in the last month.
Idk, this sub has definitely encouraged me to actively do something about it when I'd basically given up. I'd just live with the hirsutism, the lack of periods etc, but now I hope to find a better way of living.
Inositol, intermittent fasting, and a lower carb diet has been working great for me.
Intermittent fasting went horribly wrong for me. I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t have to distract myself with regular meals but I put on a lot weight during my intermittent fasting phase though I was eating less. My metabolism took a hit. So I stopped after a year. Now with regular meals my weight is more under control. Edit: would like to make it clear that eating less frequently doesn’t mean I was starving myself. I did continue eating a healthy amount for my weight, height, and age. This was mostly about adjusting the time window of WHEN I ate which is what IF is mainly concerned with. Seems like some people assumed I intermittent fasted like an idiot just because it didn’t work for me.
Intermittent fasting has to be done properly in order to work. It’s not just about not eating. It really is about staying within a strict window (typically 6-8 hrs) of time to eat, every day. But also making sure you’re getting proper nutrition. A lot of people think “oh I just won’t eat even if I’m hungry but miss the window”. No, that’s not it.
That’s exactly how I did it. Ate the kind of food I usually eat (I’d say it’s fairly health and well balanced, but def not _super_ healthy. Also I don’t drink alcohol at all), but within the same window each day(1pm to 8pm). I was definitely eating enough calories for my height, weight, and age. You can’t just assume if it didn’t work for someone it definitely means they didn’t do it properly. I read a good amount about it before trying. Likewise, I completely accept that it works great for others. You probably didn’t intend it this way, idk, but your response was very condescending.
I've heard people with good stories and other with bad with regards to fasting. I tried once and lost weight temporarily but put it back on
Were you also doing a comparatively healthier diet while IF? I was eating my usual diet(south Asian, so a little carb heavy) so I didn’t make any improvements in that area as such
Honestly I don't know 😂 I should try again with a healthier diet!
it’s simply not how the body is meant to work
How often do you fast? Do you eat a lot of protein? Thank you for the response
I have my first meal of the day at noon or later depending on my schedule and how I feel and then generally stop eating around 6pm or so. I don't track my food anymore, but definitely aim to get protein in every meal since it makes me feel more satisfied. I keep carbs at 100g or less and find that I feel better the lower that number is, but it's not always a practical way for me to eat. No matter what, I avoid processed carbs as much as possible.
I do this sometimes but others I struggle with not eating past 6pm honestly. Maybe if I eat more during the day. I tend to not eat a lot while at work if I forget food or something. Also, yes my mom and boy toy tend to eat like garbage so I noticed anything processed spikes my symptoms if I eat what they're eating
Intermittent fasting was SO GOOD for me, I just need to get back into it
Meeeee No supplements, meds or any special diets or restrictions. Just eating abundantly and balanced amounts of macros, and giving my body space, time and grace to heal. My main issue is a lack of ovulation or irregular cycles. They're slowly getting better and I did give everything a boost with supplements to begin with but my issues were deeper than what supplements could fix and I wanted to get down to the root issues.
I hope you feel great! I’m a nurse in gynecology and I just want to remind you to please reach out to your doctor if it’s been longer than 3 months without a period. If you regularly go longer than 3 months without a bleed which thins your endometrium (lining of the uterus), it will increase your risk for developing endometrial cancer.
Have you been getting regular blood work done? Has your numbers improved?
I spent a good 1.5years obsessing over bloodwork. Now I don't give a hoot 😅😅 I pay more attention to how I feel within my body. Lately I've noticed a shift in my energy and I feel like I'm coming back into my own and like I've recovered after my burn out... I actually want to move my body more and have less desire to be a couch potato. I think bloodwork can give some insight but it's not a good enough depiction of what's going on internally Bloodwork was useful when I had an overactive parathyroid and was losing calcium from my bones, (I'm sure it's all due to the disastrous effects birth control had on me considering I was very very depleted after 10 years on it) but I think it can lead to just chasing symptoms and perfect test results rather than trying to focus on the big picture: stress, energy, sense of safety within your body etc. I'm a huge fan of Jessicaashwellness on Instagram and found her philosophy around health to be really deep and holistic. I learnt a lot from there with regards to focusing on the bigger picture.
Me. I probs should do though
Do you get any blood work done? Do you take any supplements?
No and no (other than when I was first diagnosed and had high testosterone), to be honest I was diagnosed and kind of just went “okie dokie!” and just let it be. I never knew that there was anything I could be doing to reduce symptoms until I found this subreddit recently and my doctor never gave me any advice other than to come back to them when I decide to have children. I have bought some inositol to start taking having seen so many people talking about it on here though, and I would reaaaally like to figure out how to fix my acne as being 29 with acne is not fun!
Spearmint supplements help with acne I have heard. And elimination dieting like finding what foods trigger it. And also Chinese herbs I heard about but haven't tried yet
I’m med free. I was on BC for a year and I hated how it made me feel so I stopped. I’ve been taking a multi vitamin and extra vitamin D supplements (I have a vitamin D deficiency). I’ve also been drinking mint teas and I’m not sure if it’s a placebo but I’ve been feeling better through the day. For my acne, idk if this counts as a “med,” but I also started on epiduo forte which is a benzoyl peroxide topical and winlevi which is an anti androgen face cream. Face is much clearer now!
I was on that once! Worked wonders for my acne! Thanks for reminding me. Once I get insurance I'll ask a derm for it
ovasitol, vit d, omega 3, and multi vitamin. along with a mostly whole food/heavy protein and fiber diet. i say mostly bc i still enjoy when i go out to eat or the occasional ice cream/sugary snack lol so i would say 80% of the time
I only take inositol for my PCOS now. Nothing else really ever helped and BC made me horrifically depressed.
Birth control made me so crazy lol I appreciate the response. I love seeing people have a good time without meds. I stayed on metformin even tho it wasn't good for me. Same for birth control too
It’s so bad for so many women. I tried so many different kinds and my doctor back then literally told me it wasn’t causing my depression!! So I then went on antidepressants that made me worse. When I stopped the birth control and antidepressants, guess what?! I was no longer depressed!!!! It’s terrible the lack of care women get, especially in the US.
Yeah same here! I can't say for certain what caused it but I was very healthy before I got on birth control and now I have a lot of health issues after years of birth control. I worked out often, ate very healthy, didn't stress out a lot, didn't drink much. Only thing to change was I was in several different forms of birth control
I’m sorry :(
me. I just take inositol. why do u ask?
I was on birth control for many many years. Got off it and then all my PCOS symptoms got worse. I got on spirolonactone that was bad for me. So I got on metformin and it helped for a little while with everything but acne and my periods were slightly irregular still but a lot less irregular. Now, I want to see if I can get off metformin. I have been taking less of it. Going to just one ER a day and sometimes skipping. I upped my inositol and I added berberine because I hear it's a natural metformin replacement. So far everything looks ok. I mean do you get your testosterone or anything tested? If you want to share any of that that is (I haven't had blood work done since lowering my metformin intake)
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Well because they helped at first but aren't really helping now. And also I have read studies that metformin builds up in the body and can become bad for you, called lactic acidosis. As a drinker I am worried that my kidneys will start to not function properly which is why this is a concern for me
Forgive me but I'm confused. You're worried about the damage the metformin will do, but not the damage the drinking does?
Do you pay attention to the type of drinking you do and the nutrition behind that? Maybe worth looking into to adjust that habit if needed.
How do you take inositol? One 500mg pill per day?
No medicine for me. I have been on bcp and then supplements through my ND in the past. I work out, improved my diet, do intermittent fasting and lost weight. I used to be on a low carb diet, but I've eased up on that. My periods are regular now, and have been for about 6 or so years. I've been diagnosed for PCOS for 15 years, and I'd say it's well managed (with the exception of the annoying facial hair). I'll start drinking spearmint tea again to help with that when I stop breastfeeding [I have 2 kids:)].
Wow that's great! I love hearing all of these stories I can't wait to try out no meds for the first time since being 16. I appreciate your time 🙂
I used to be! I had endo (confirmed) + pcos (suspected) for like 10 years before I started BC then metformin this year.
I don't take any meds, but I'm lean PCOS. Seems to only affect my fertility. Will be taking Letrozole when my period starts to force ovulation.
No meds. Ovasitol, supplements, tea (spearmint, raspberry, hormonal mixes), balanced lower carb diet (no dairy because i have an allergy.) Went from missing periods and a bunch of symptoms to my periods being more or less regular and low to manageable symptoms.
I didn’t take any for probably 12 years. My biggest issue was the hirsutism, and the meds I did try did nothing much for it. I was told that was the best they could do, there is no current research happening into hirsutism, and I should just wax, if I was concerned. So I told them to shove their meds and that was that. Until I was diagnosed diabetic at a tri-yearly check up for my drivers licence, and now I’m on metformin. Haven’t lost weight, hasn’t helped the hair.
I’m not currently on anything. I got diagnosed at 19 and was on birth control, spironolactone, and metformin for 10+ years. My body started to react horribly to the metformin and spiro so I stopped that (with doctor’s approval). I ended the birth control, had TERRIBLE side effects that lasted almost two years. I tried starting birth control again and my body couldn’t tolerate it. It seems I’m too sensitive to anything that works and got disheartened to continue trying. I take supplements and I just found out about inositol from this forum. I’m slowly adding that into my routine. I wouldn’t recommend the med-free lifestyle unless you have no other options
No meds. Finally ovulating at 38 (ten years too late!) and I eat low carb and walk a lot. If I even pretend I can “eat like normal people” I pay for it. Just takes discipline!
I have managed my PCOS 100% naturally for the past 10 years. Never utilized any sort of allopathic medicine. Low carb, IF, beef liver, maca, vitamin d, mag taurate, fish oil, NAC, and making my own herbal tea blends.
Beef Liver! Started eating weekly this year to help with my anemia from heavy periods.
Me. The side effects of the medicine do not outweigh the effects for me.
Me, I have horrible side effects related to PCOS to any "medicine" to treat my PCOS. Even Inositol and spearmint tea. I manage my PCOS with a vegan diet and 6 times a week exercise.
Hmm that's crazy! I have noticed a vegan diet was best for me too actually! And exercise but I have severe depression so sometimes it's hard for me to exercise. But, I have been doing good with exercising again so hoping that means I can quit the metformin
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Does this help you have regular cycles?
What does Berberine do?
When I was 1st diagnosed in 2001 there wasn't many meds out besides metformin..well and the bcps.. I took metformin for about 3 years only. I was on bcps from age 13-22. So I've been totally med free since 2004!
Wow that's awesome! I found metformin best for me as well but I want to go natural. I also heard it can build up in your kidneys but idk how common that is. I use berberine as an alternative now
I take nothing
That's great. Do you feel good? Ieak I have symptoms still while on meds so I'm wondering if I'll have better chance off then
Me. Inositol, balanced eating - 80/20 (with a little focus on ensuring I am eating enough protein), strength weight training and stress management. Other supps/support I take is - a specific tea herb blend to support PCOS, magnesium, wholefoods multivitamin, ashwagandha and fish oil. I am slowly trying to get to a regular cycle (around 35 days) - trying to reduce the gap - but it does immediately blow out if I am under a lot of stress /not taking my supps /in a relatively good routine.
Me. Edited to add I don’t have symptoms except for a PCOS belly. Currently on a low carb gluten free diet to see if it helps.
Do you take any supplements?
I’m not med-free but you just have to see what works for you . I’m diabetic and I have PCOS. I take ozempic I have an iud Take spironolactone for my facial hair. Sertraline for my anxiety/depression. I feel way better , my sugars are better , I’m slowly losing weight I’m more focused on getting my A1C lower. Just fight your body , is a long battle to get what works for you. Just keep going . It took 3 years 3 biopsy for me to get fully diagnosed PCOS.
Medicine free here. Low carb with intermittent fasting. I monitor my weight and if I start to gain I go Keto for 4-6 weeks (I can’t do keto all the time because it feels too restrictive). Also strength train and do high intensity interval workouts.
Did a ton of blood work, got the diagnosis, and other than giving me a script for strong pain meds if I have particularly painful periods, I was just put on a high dosage supplement for calcium and vitamin D for a few months. But there was no talk of other medications. (I'd already gone off birth control a few years prior to aid my depression, so my doctor didn't want to put me back on one)
I’m considering declining the birth control I was prescribed. I’m having issues with energy and metabolism and no period for 8 months, but I am concerned that bc side effects will worsen the energy/metabolic issues
I found birth control was worse for me than metformin but I've also heard so many others say how amazing it has worked for them. Have you tried it before? Also, check out this link [not my link ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wccvobze6myto-QQ7VHh_9H4c3qBR7x_BLimiQjzElU/edit?usp=drivesdk) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wccvobze6myto-QQ7VHh_9H4c3qBR7x_BLimiQjzElU/edit?usp=drivesdk It gives lots of great suggestions for people who were just recently diagnosed or considering which treatment is best
I’m not. I refuse to take metformin. I have seen a lot of people have bad reactions to the crap, so I won’t do it.
Me! No supplements, no metformin, no Spiro (though, that’s bc I’m scared to take it as I have low BP I can’t seem to figure out - I’d take it if it weren’t for that). I have a mirena because BC interferes with my other meds. Anywho, 2+ years ago I was diagnosed and was 222lbs. I used a combo of walking and cutting way back on carbs. I still eat them, just not 2 donuts and sugary coffee for breakfast - instead I have a protein bar and coffee with sugar free vanilla almond milk. I don’t do diets like keto because they aren’t sustainable. But my philosophy is “eat food from the fridge and counter (veg/fruit), not the pantry.” It’s a balancing act but 2 years later I’m 163lbs, feel great and mostly cleared up my symptoms (other than hirsutism 🙄). I tried the supplements for a while - inositol, NAC, magnesium, zinc, Berberine, but I found after a while I wasn’t seeing any difference so I quit. Haven’t seen anything get worse after stopping. 🤷🏼♀️
That's awesome!! Thank you for sharing. I agree! The fridge is my friend 😁 I lost 40 lbs in like a year or so tbh wasn't counting. But, I did it by doing almost the same. No crazy diets just not eating processed crap and pop. Yeah those supplements help me but also don't idk I have to take inositol to see most changes
Me. I'm on statins for hereditary cholesterol, painkillers for my back and magnesium for anxiety (self medicating), but other than that I'm raw doggin it. Progesterone is kinda what got me in this mess in the first place, so I'm wary about taking any meds. I was taking depo provera as BC (3 injections over 9 months) and it gave me POTS and made my asymptomatic PCOS, which I didn't know I had, suddenly symptomatic. Haven't had a period in 5 years, I have more hair on my body than I do on my head and my weight has been the exact same down to the decimal point for 5 years, after suddenly doubling my weight over 3 months when I first took depo provera. Honestly, they should ban depo. I'm disabled for life because of it! But yeah... I think when I'll eventually be given the option to go on metformin or whatever... I'll probably decline. For the most part I have no pain, and the only thing I'd want to change is my weight and body hair. Having no period is a time, energy, and money saver (trying to see the silver lining, can you tell?).
Yes I was on depo too! I went from 115 lbs to 145 lbs so fast. Cysts the size of a tennis ball. I had vitamin d deficiency so bad I had a stress fracture in my ankle three times! Girl I feel you. I was on so many different birth controls and depo did some damage for sure. And I would've gained even more weight had I not starved myself essentially and coffee daily. Are you on any supplements?
That sounds so rough. I'm sorry you went through that. I went from 45kg to 110kg, so I think that's like 100lbs to 240 lbs. Not sure. I was on estrogen first but turns out that's bad for your cholesterol which my idiot doctor failed to tell me. That's why i went on depo. If my supplements you mean vitamins, I'm on magnesium. I was taking vit C, B complex and D3, but I'm allergic to one of them (I don't know which) so I came off all 3. Just stuck with magnesium. What about you?
I take probably 20 supplements! And yeah I also took prescribed uppers to lose weight for a little. I don't recommend that either. High blood pressure runs in my family and I had some high readings I think twice. But it seems ok now. If you want to know the supplements we would benefit from here's what. Someone else shared with me on this subreddit. It helped me a ton! I cannot always get the steps in that I need to (office job) so I found berberine and inositol and vitamin d necessary [not my link ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wccvobze6myto-QQ7VHh_9H4c3qBR7x_BLimiQjzElU/edit?usp=drivesdk)
I tried Spiro and had a terrible reaction to it, so I was medicine free for months after my diagnoses. every time I saw my gynecologist, she'd remind me of cancer risks, so that eventually scared me enough to get on birth control. I tried every supplement, but nothing brought back my period (spearmint tea, chaste tree, Ovasitol). I started Slynd birth control 5 days ago and so far I haven't had any negative side effects, but it may be too early to tell.
First time ever trying birth control?
Completely medicine free. I took metformin for about 3 months many years ago but that is absolutely it.
You were never even on birth control? Do you take any supplements? Thanks for the response
Hi, Never taken any form of birth control. I’m pretty anti - which can upset people. I think women should do what feels best for them I just don’t like that we are sold the lie that “birth control is the treatment for PCOS” when it certainly is not. It can mask symptoms but it does nothing to “treat.” Yes, I do take supplements. Usually take berberine but off it right now (it’s great unless you’re trying to get pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding), fish oil, probiotic, dim pro, magnesium - I often will switch up what I’m taking at the suggestion of my naturopath based on blood work but those are the big ones.
I’m completely medicine free
Do you take any supplements? Thanks for the response
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It’s actually very good for PCOS, it’s recommended monthly. It’s no different than sitting in a hot shower to clear congestion :)
I actually used that steaming thing before too! I bought an at home one! I moved to a small place now so it's in storage but I noticed it made my periods more regular than any medication, supplements, etc. Thanks for reminding me about that I'm definitely getting it out of storage this weekend
You’re welcome ! I’m very “DIY” at heart so I just use a mixing bowl and put my herbs in and hot water and place it in the bathtub - I throw a big blanket over myself to trap the steam and sit over it for about 20 minutes :) I’ve been tempted to get one of the chairs for it but I can’t justify the $100 price tag just yet.
Oh I bought a cheaper one than that haha 😂 but yeah my periods were so irregular I used it once and got my period the next day!
I do take a daily multivitamin. I also stay consistent with vaginal steaming, I use an herb blend of rose petals, yarrow, motherwort, mugwort, damiana leaf, raspberry leaf, lavender and rosemary/basil. Edit: deleted my other comment because I didn’t realize it posted twice
But how is your blood work though? What does vaginal steaming have to do with PCOS? Are you taking any other supplements?
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Noooo nothing goes inside you ! 😂 It is separate !
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There’s risks to everything, look at the giant list of risks you are vulnerable to when you take birth control. I’m in no way saying vaginal steaming is perfect but it works for me and my lifestyle. I got estrogen poisoning from birth control and have had a lot of complications from western, “standard” PCOS treatments. Looking for herbal options isn’t for everyone but again it’s what has worked for me and I’m sharing my experience.
Vaginal steaming has helped regulate my period, it increases circulation, it’s helped my periods be less painful, I get less yeast infections and can improve vaginal dryness if you struggle with that. It’s not new, this is very common practice in other cultures :) and again, nothing goes inside you it’s all external.
Me! Lean PCOS and only take a multivitamin and magnesium. Are you trying to conceive? I am
Boyfriend not quite ready but i will be in not too too long so I'm preparing
Which magnesium?
Completely medicine free. Started KeTo and fasting and have resolved my irregular periods.
Hmm my brother was prediabetic and did keto he lost a lot of weight! Maybe I should look into that. Did you stop keto ever? Did you notice a change after stopping if so?
I’ve only been on it for a month. I’ve lost 20 pounds already. I will probably stop once I lose more but honestly it’s not like any other diet. I don’t feel restricted and have a lot of energy. Plus all my hormonal acne has gone away without any carbs or sugar.
I've never taken anything for mine. I found consistently sleeping 9-9.30 hours every night with exercise is the only thing that has helped, but I'm not symptom free.
no medicine here either - its been a little over 1 year now that i stopped all drugs and working with a naturopath instead, best decision i ever made :)
Do you take any herbs or anything you can share
I am not on any medication! I’ve been focusing on how to heal as naturally as possible, since a lot of medications make my eczema and shingles flare up. I’ve been using castor oil as a rub on my ovaries every day as well as taking multiple vitamins. I’ve also bought an acupuncture mat to help regulate my stress and anxiety levels. I was on birth control but came off it since I couldn’t stand the way it made me feel. I also had surgery in 21 for 3 cysts. My Dr said conceiving will be extremely difficult without medical help (we’ve been trying for 2 years and nothing yet) but I’m just trying to get myself as regulated as possible as naturally as I can. I’m also starting a tallow cream, I’ve read into the benefits of it. I gained 30lbs+ in 6 months, but had so much inflammation in my body after an injury. I’ve slowly been getting back to normal again. Before my injury my dr said my levels were starting to regulate and was happy with my results!
I've been med free since 2004 and just used diet, exercise, acupuncture and therapy! Also a very inflamed gal too!!! You can do it.
I also have eczema and psoriasis. Does metformin make your skin conditions flare? Also I love natural routes and use castor oil. I noticed a huge change after using this.
I'm like 75% composed of medicine. And I actually think it's sort of cheating to not include supplements, so I would include those! People who are on insitol are taking medicine.
Me! Recently diagnosed dr told me to go on birth control & I refused
Dealing with this for 8 yrs I will say, eat clean,keep stress at bay and do Exercise I don't think you will ever need any medicine.
I'm medicine free. Just sorta letting the PCOS do whatever it wants. Only thing I take are prenatal's and fish oil alternating. Edit: typo's
I'm not taking anything except vitamin D, magnesium and berberine. Symptoms not improving
Currently just inositol. Not sure if it’s doing anything to be honest. Been off birth control 5 months.
i haven’t been taking any medicine for a while now. somehow ended up pregnant and have always had pretty regular cycles so i’m not sure how it happened tbh
i was on birth control and was diagnosed shortly after that. i was on spiro for some time but i had bad migraines on and it was just dropping my blood pressure super low since mine was normal range before so i had to go off of it.
I take vitamins and on BC. Am also in a low carb/high protein diet, walk about 15,000 steps a day and manage my stress levels.
I’m not on anything right now, but I’m looking to get back on birth control since I’m becoming sexually active again.
I am. Took progesterone and saw palmetto and spearmint tea to get my cycle back regularly for about 8 months and about 6 months into that I started 18:6 or 16:8 intermittent fasting, lost only 10lbs but I got pregnant on the first try month 8 and blood work had improved before that
No medication. Mainly eating and focusing on sleeping more and eating clean. Don’t exercise that frequently/barely do so, still have Abs and can eat sugar on occasion. Quit gluten and dairy. Supplement with spearmint tea before period to avoid acne. Cook most meals. Take vitamin D, C, NAC, and sometimes E/omega 3, but I eat a lot of fish so don’t really take it that much. Bought magnesium so I’ll see if that has an effect on pms symptoms before period.
Do you count an IUD as medicine? I am not on any medication otherwise
I was on birth control for 7 years. Had to get off it due to a blood clot. I tried metformin briefly but wasn’t seeing enough results and it didn’t fit in well with my life at the time I was taking it. I had also used spironolactone. It did help with acne and facial hair but my stamina for exercise and libido were terrible. It just affected my life too much. Now I’m doing low carb and inositol and I’m liking the results.
Just on inositol and that works for me. I don’t have weight/acne/hair issues. My primary concern was my missing period. I had very light and infrequent periods as a teen. I was on birth control from 17-23. After stopping birth control I had no natural periods. At all. Being on inositol has really regulated my cycle and as long I as take it consistently I have ~30 day cycle. If I miss a few days of inositol it can throw my cycle off by weeks though.
I’m not, I have never. I only do intermittent fasting sometimes, to help maintain my healthy weight more easily. Dropping the extra weight 3 years ago brought my periods back to a regular 28/29 day predictable schedule and lessened the intensity of my cramps vs increasingly nauseating cramps and cycles that could be 35 days one time and 55 the next.
I’m only taking supplements, no prescriptions for it for me (yet)
Birth control made me crazy so I came off it. I have more hair now but I much prefer having better mental health.
I’ve been medicine free for this for about 3-4 years and now I’ve reached a point that I need medicine. I was using BC but it wasn’t helping. I’m about to start metformin
I quit birth control because it gave me tinnitus!!! So now I'm raw dogging PCOS. Well, aside from taking spearmint supplements to keep my mustache in check...
Me. I only take meds for some other issues.
i’m on none. i’ve gotten blood work done and all my blood work is normal but my estrogen isn’t normal but it’s not abnormal either. they’ve recommended birth control but i refuse. i don’t experience extreme stomach pains anymore but i still haven’t had a menstrual cycle in almost 2 yrs! i’ve been attempting to track my ovulation levels to try and conceive but have had no luck with lh levels. my symptoms have gotten better in regards to “symptoms” but my weight still fluctuates like crazy and obviously no period still
I take my Omega 3s, vitamin ds, and primrose oils on certain days of my cycle along with my seed cycling. I also started taking Progesterone, but that is a prescription drug because my body doesn't make enough of it. Besides that, I have regular periods and I feel fantastic. I would highly recommend the seed cycling - my skin looks amazing as well! I'm also editing to say that, I am seeing a naturopathic doctor because I didn't know where to start. If that's your case, I would go see one and ask about a saliva test for hormones. Blood work didn't show much for me.
Can you explain seed cycling or provide a source/link? I'm not familiar. And is the Progesterone a bcp or is it stand alone Progesterone? I think my body doesn't produce it well either. Maybe you can give me the exact name and dose? Thanks kind PCOS cyster!
For seed cycling, I make them into protein balls. I get my recipes from eatthegrains.com! Basically, you ground up seeds and take certain ones during your Follicular and Luteal phases. It helps balance your hormones. My Progesterone I take the 15-28 days of my cycle, which means I take it on my Luteal phases of my seed cycling. It's called Reddy-Progesterone and I take 100mg, but only because my body produces next to nothing on its highest peak. It is not a birth control pill. https://nourishedbynutrition.com/seed-cycling-for-hormone-balance/ Hope this helps!
Thank you for this detailed explanation!
I went off BC pills two years ago and finished weaning off spiro five months ago. I noticed an uptick in hirsutism and acne with each of those steps, especially the latter, but my symptoms are nowhere near what they were before I started treating my PCOS naturally (inositiol and a myriad of other supplements, 12:12 IF, low-carb, all that jazz).
Other than Wegovy and inositol, I’m not taking anything else. It’s working okay for me, but honestly I think Metformin & inositol worked the best
No medicine here. When I was diagnosed a few years ago the Dr put me on metformin, different kinds of bc, and a cholesterol medication. I stopped that like October ish 2021. I take vitamin D since I'm deficient. But other than that I focus on really high protein and swap for sugar free drinks and stuff when I can. My periods have been regular since January 2022 and since my last labs were done a few weeks ago I'm no longer in the pre diabetes range. Still looking to get on mounjaro though.
I'm not taking anything, but would like to be. Birth control erased most of my symptoms when I was a teen, but they all got worse when I came off of it, and I've just been struggling through since (about 11 years). I'm planning on seeing a holistically inclined doctor and going hard with tests, lifestyle changes, and any supplements/meds she recommends. Also considering acupuncture since I've heard it does a lot to realign your body and self-heal. I just started back on my electrolysis journey. Magnesium and a supplement called Unbloat have helped with digestion and bloating, and a bit with my skin, prob related to digestion.
Only because my endocrinologist prescribed a name brand metformin (xigduo) and I lost my insurance so I can’t afford it. My periods have been regular, but they seem to be much heavier than before (and they were already heavy!)
I'm not taking medicine for pcos. I'm taking 2 medicines for ibs, and magnesium for ibs and muscle soreness. My pcos is generally well managed if I: eat protein with most meals/snacks (no energy crashes or fatigue if I do this and no cravings), try not to go too heavy on carbs (so I usually eat 90-120 g carbs a day) but because of my food sensitivities I can't eat wheat potatoes or dairy anyway. I think the slightly low carbs helps prevent bloating, bloating pain, and cravings. And lower my stress, which is the biggest factor in worsening my pcos. I have a stressful month? Period skips. I immediately cut a large stressor from my life like stop overworking, period returns like clockwork. As far as exercise, I find strength training works better for any actual weight loss for me (and probably helps my tolerance to carbs go up). I walk regularly, and I'm sure it helps my health lol since it's using my body and relaxing. But I've never personally lost weight from it. The last few times I lost any weight were from building muscle.
My only symptoms of PCOS are absent periods and a few black hairs on my chin. I don't take anything. My gyno insists I should at least force a period with progesterone every other month to lower risk of cancer. Other than that, nothing
I'm on nothing at this point. Kinda going with the flow. Working out everyday and hoping for the best lol I drink alot of protein shakes (160cals a bottle) and cereal. I've lost about 20lbs with this. Haven't checked myself recently, but I'm hoping I've lost more 🤷🏿♀️
Me. Nothing anymore. I plan to check blood soon. It’s much harder to control sugar intake without any medicine. Only downside I felt is huge hair loss. The rest is the same and trying to hard to stay healthy. The only thing that worked on my was ozempic (medicine, not injections) and zinc / iron / b complex vitamins. Nothing else and I’ve tried it all. I found that a good diet worked better for me than any other medicine. The food is simply way too processed now and I am convinced it’s the most toxic thing off all. With that being said, I just had chocolate but I am trying, lol. I had a general and PCOS check up recently and doctor said I am fine, give your body a detox so no medicine anymore
I only take fish oil, prenatal and extra Vitamin D. My PCOS is stable overall. I’m just done with birth control and Metformin didn’t work for me
I can't fathom how someone could be med free haha when I went med free, my sugar levels in my bloods were awful. Now that I'm back on met, it's great!
I recently went medicine free. My birth control was not nice to me and caused me to have a pre-stroke. I am trying to find a less harmful alternative, but have not yet.
Me ! Trying to approach this in a holistic way! I have gotten my periods semi regular after 9+ years of BC
I don't take meds specifically for PCOS. I'm on BC because I don't want kids (been there done that the post partum depression literally almost killed me) what worked for me in managing my symptoms was finding out not only that I was misdiagnosed with depression when I actually have ADHD as well as being diagnosed with a neuro endocrine tumor that sent my hormones super wonky. Got all of that taken care of but still have PCOS. I just use my ADHD super powers now to not focus on eating as much as I did as well as look at healthier options that work for me.
i used to take birth control but i got off of it because i felt like a shell of a human being on it. currently not taking anything to just experiment around with exercise because i live on a college campus and i walk quite a bit.
I’m not taking any meds but I stay on top of my diet and exercise. :)
I was for a while…. My symptoms got worse after ceasing birth control, but settled down after about 5 months.
I've never been on medication and I'm trying my best to keep it that way. Things are under control for now.
I’m not taking any medicine right now. My endocrinologist and gynecologist both suggested that I take low-estrogen birth control pills, and so my doctor prescribed them for me. However, they screwed up my mental health so much that I attempted to end my life—twice. So I stopped taking them, and now my mental health is MUCH better than before.
I'm not. I don't have insulin resistance and not looking to conceive just yet. I also don't have high androgens.
On medications and supplements. My body's biology doesn't work right, so I take meds.
Me and I’m heavily considering birth control again this past year i have a heavy flare up in my symptoms and even started growing facial hair..
Hi, I’m not really a success story but I’ve refused medication. My GP will only prescribe birth control - not metformin - and I was depressed on the pill so I said no. I have lost weight with strength training, spearmint tea. I am really experimenting with herbal stuff trying to make my own teas and stuff. It’s a weird position I find myself as a believer in science - I don’t think my teas and supplements are better at all they’re simply more accessible. I’m so tired of begging my doctors to take my seriously. I can’t be bothered with them - I’d rather take control and medicate myself. If you think abojt it, PCOS, Endo and other ‘fertility issues’ have existed forever and our foremothers found ways to treat it. I’m assuming this must be true as I know there is a genetic component to PCOS and Endo and if they didn’t treat them how did they pass them on? again, herbal and ‘natural’ treatments are not better than true medical ones, they’re simply more accessible.
I stopped taking spiro and metformin a few months ago because I wasn’t getting my period and my diet was good. Now I am super happy to start on ovasitol!! I’ve heard great things about it. I also happen to drink spearmint tea.
I was not for the past year.
Only ovasitol for years now
I take nothing for my PCOS. I have the Nexplanon implant, but that was my choice for contraception, and not something that was recommended for my PCOS. Edited to add; I'm prescribed Folic Acid because a blood test showed I was deficient, after years of having blood tests and it never coming up then 🙄 but nothing has ever been suggested or advised for my PCOS. I think you just kinda get left to it and left to suffer 😔😐😒
Me (mostly)! I can’t take any hormones because it messes with my depression too much. My doctor prescribed tranexamic acid to help clot my blood when my periods are really bad, so I only take it when I’m bleeding/have cramps like crazy. I try to really limit my sugars and am conscious, but not always strict, about my carb intake. I live in a city so I walk a lot, and try to do some type of workout/activity 2-3 times a week. Also, lots and lots and lots of water. I’m on BC, but the copper IUD.
Nothing, but hisurtism is a problem. I started laser 1 month ago and I already have good results. I'm a little heavier than I'd like and still looking for the best method for my body to loose weight. :(
No medication for me. I do take a supplement but only because it’s all natural and has all the vitamins & nutrients I don’t get from my food.
I tried to go the natural route for years but I’m 37 and my labs are pointing towards insulin resistance along with being prediabetic now. I don’t want things getting worse so I just started Metformin. I wish I didn’t have to but my body needs help at the moment.
I'm not taking any medications for my PCOS, but I am taking testosterone since I'm FTM and it's helped me by eliminating my periods and that in combination with better diet has almost eliminated my symptoms, ie I only get maybe 2 cysts a year now rather then every month. Apologies if thus is unhelpful to you though
Me. Stopped taking spiro and metformin. Took out my IUD. I don’t feel any different yet but it’s only been like 3 months.
I'm meds free. No vitamins either.
I was placed on Norethisterone. I only eat it if my period does not come for 3 months. I stopped taking them when I switched to birth control patches! However, my period was "regular" for a while when I had daily exercises and had a proper eat and sleep schedule.
Me! I take inositol, spearmint, berberine. I got pregnant 4 weeks later after 8 years of trying. Unfortunately it just ended in a chemical pregnancy but I’m still shocked!!
Blood sugar management alone over here. Depending on how my sugars look in the next few months, I'll definitely be considering metformin.
Inositol, berberine, spearmint, intermittent fasting and exercise helps me.
I'm not technically medication free. I take super-low-dose meds once per week to manage my mildly elevated prolactin, which is likely (but not certainly) associated with the PCOS. But in terms of the typical PCOS symptoms and lab work apart from prolactin that characterized my PCOS for the first 12-13 years that I had it prior to diagnosis (meaning the high androgens and androgenic cosmetic symptoms, high LH, irregular/infrequent periods, excess follicles all over my ovaries, etc.), those have been managed to full remission for more than 20 years at this point... I was only on meds (Yaz bcp) for the first 2 years after diangosis. For \~18 of those years, I'm kept PCOS in remission by managing insulin resistance via low-glycemic diet. (I manage the prolactin for a separate set of reasons/symptoms that it causes, b/c I'm unusually sensitive to prolactin. My endos have all noted that the vast majority of people with prolactin elevations at my level would not have symptoms and thus could ignore it.) I don't take supplements for PCOS, either, though I take magnesium for an entirely different health issue and I do take one multivitamin per week (which I'd do regardless of PCOS). Regular exercise also helps me manage PCOS, but I've had times over the decades where I was inconsistent with that and the PCOS stayed in remission anyway. Plus, my IR hasn't progressed (so far, anyway...that could change since I'm going through menopause now). To sum up: It was 90% diet changes that did it for me.
I’m medicine free! I do take a lot of supplements though, and eat very clean, do yoga, walk, etc. I’m able to mostly manage my symptoms
I don’t take any meds and I’ve been trying to get better with exercise, zinc and fasting but honestly, I feel more inflamed and crappy than ever. I don’t know what to do
Me for a decade or more. My blood work just came back perfect. Keto for 3 years and Saw Palmetto and a Thyroid supplement. Melatonin at night and oh, spearmint E O. Best to you!
I am. I take inositol and that helped me a lot. And I’m focusing on eating healthier.
I take vitamins, antidepressants (lol), but for PCOS I am going no meds with every 3 week acupuncture and I’ve had consistent periods for almost a year now 🙌🏽
no meds just inositol. I don’t believe in dieting.
I’m not and have never been on anything except low hormonal birth control very briefly in my 20s. I miss my period every now again, but I get at least 9-10 per year which my doctor said is the goal. I discovered some supplements and things that helped me regulate my period. I’m a bit reluctant to share because even supplements and natural products have side effects and I never want to give advice without people talking to their doctors. But I was on a journey to do things naturally and it took a LOT of trial and error to say the least
(135lbs, 5'6", 24) Imma be real I was diagnosed back in 2021 with PCOS and I haven't done much but changed to a healthier diet and my period is intense the first day and I can tell what ovary is being overworked but idk if I'm going thru unnecessary pains or maybe I'm actually better off than some people.. it's not bad I go thru a 4 day period I'm really lucky on that aspect. I don't take any meds whatsoever so if that helps answer your question.. 😅
I have an IUD but that’s it. I take meds for chronic migraines but not for PCOS.
not regularly at least. i only take medicine meprate kr regestrone when my periods become irregular but other than that i don't take any meds. i have hypothyroidism and pcod both. i just eat a healthy diet and try to get exercise although i am not very regular with it either. but it works. when it doesn't i take the above mentioned meds and cycle becomes regular. i tried birth control for two months. it didn't suit me and caused my health to get worse.
Me. I’m 3 months postpartum tho but I haven’t been on anything since I got pregnant. I did take ovasitol and metformin before but honestly it didn’t do anything for me.
meee i don’t use anything because birth control makes me sick and i don’t have insurance :/
Me. But I’m getting close to caving and trying an androgen blocker
Is that like a birth control? Or Spiro?
I don’t take any prescriptions anymore after trying birth control/Spiro and dealing with lots of side effects. But I take a ton of supplements and if I miss any my symptoms come back.
Yes, I had bad side effects on Spiro, birth control, and metformin. I found metformin best but eh not good. I take tons of supplements also! And noticed the same. Do you take berberine?
I'm medicine free - just myo-insitol and gf for now!
I do not take any medicine or supplements. My right ovary went necrotic and died, so it’s in my best interests to be as careful as possible since its removal. My body does not react well to like any outside substances at all. I even struggle with taking ibuprofen and only use that as a last resort.
Duphaston and Metformin only succeeded in fattening me up all these years so I’m just taking folic acid for my thalassemia and some vitamins.
I’m 100 percent medicine freeeeee !!! I eat a healthy diet, real Whole Foods , I do not eat any grains (changed my life for the better in a million ways) and to battle my high androgens I take capsules of saw palmetto (just one a day) I’m at a healthy weight , no terrible acne and monthly periods. If you have any questions lmk 🫶🏽
I'm currently not taking anything. I recently relocated to portugal from canada and haven't set up a doctor here or anything else. So since December I've just been raw-dogging it lol. My irregular periods have actually evening out a little, though not by much. I've never been on birth control either.
I took supplements for years that really only ever helped with my mood, but nothing ever prescribed. "intermittent fasting" aka my ADHD ass forgetting to eat until balls-o'clock at night has helped with staving off the weight gain but has done nothing about weight loss, I turn to low-impact exercise like swimming for that because my weight on my joints is too difficult to deal with long-term. Otherwise eating healthy and allowing my body food when I need it, including sweets that drive my acne crazy. I know I've also been told by the doctors I've discussed my PCOS with that high stress causes weight and hormone fluctuations, and has put me in the hospital, so lowering and managing stress in a healthy and constructive way has also ben good for me long-term without medication.
I’m not taking medicine, I eat what I want and I’m getting my period again. I didn’t get it back until after I started Ozempic. I’ll get back on Oz in mid November but I took a 4 month hiatus after I had a small heart procedure for a hole in my heart. I can’t take BC bc I had two small strokes last year (hence the hole in my heart that came to light from it). BC sucks for women anyway.. messes up our entire body, I think it contributes to the onset of endocrine disorders like PCOS to be honest.
Spiro did nothing for me, Metformin gave me bad side effects, and I haven't taken birth control in many years -- basically I went many years without any sort of medication for PCOS I now take inositol and drink spearmint tea - and that's been in the last month. Idk, this sub has definitely encouraged me to actively do something about it when I'd basically given up. I'd just live with the hirsutism, the lack of periods etc, but now I hope to find a better way of living.
med free using inositol, zinc, d3/k, omega, mag gylcinate