Hello! I am new to this whole website, and I have some questions. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed as "borderline" PCOS, and it had to do with the free testosterone was at the high end of normal. I was having major menstrual issues, and they put me on birth control (much against my wishes). I took it for about two months, and my cycle regulated, and my stubborn self quit taking the birth control. From July to October, I was totally regular, and now I haven't had a period since October 11. I have taken one pregnancy test, and it was negative. That was nearly two weeks ago. I plan on going to the doctor just after the first of the year, but I am trying to do some research so I am better prepared than I was last time.

ANYWAY, my questions are:

1. Are there any alternative treatments for PCOS that aren't birth control (aside from Metformin, etc)?
2. What is the best type of doctor to see for PCOS? General Practitioner, OB/GYN, some sort of specialist?

This is all so confusing for me, so any insight any of you might have would be so much appreciated.

Thank you much,
Julie

Welcome fellow Kansan AND PCOS'er...lol

I also quit with the Birth Control, because I don't like being on it. I was on Metformin for about 2 weeks a few years back, but I quit taking it because I got pregnant with my son....prior to taking it, I wasn't ovulating...it helped!

Since my son was born, I had issues with my cycle as well. I was having a period maybe once every 3 months or so, but I just stopped seeing a doc about it.

Since losing weight, however, my cycle has become totally regular, and now the longest cycle I've had has been 30 days, the shortest has been 27 days. I really think it was the weight loss that did it!

As for doctors, I believe that an OB/GYN is the way to go, unless you are referred to a specialist for further treatment.

Thanks for the feedback. It is nice to talk to people who have PCOS who have been able to have children. That is such a huge fear of mine, that my husband and I will never have kids. We have been married (and trying) for almost four years, and sometimes I just want to give up on it all, but hearing from people like you make me feel like there is a chance.

As for the Metformin, I was taking that as well, and I think out of denial, I quit taking it also. Maybe I should go get my prescription refilled... ;o)

Thanks again!

No problem! I went to the doctor in the first place because I wanted another baby, and Metromin worked for me. Hang in there! It's such a frustrating and confusing diagnosis, I know.

Hey jujube!

I have had a cycle consistently for the last 3-4 months AFTER losing 100lbs. I was also prescribed Metformin and birth control years ago and did not stick with it. The specialist I saw was a Endocrinologist. The Endocrinologist may be better than an OB/GYN because the Endo specializes in such issues dealing with the hormones such as PCOS or the thyroid.

Best of luck, keep us posted!

I was diagnosed with PCOS a couple of years ago, and like some of the people here, I stopped taking birth control and metformin after about a month. I just couldn't handle the side effects.

However, after losing weight my cycle completely regulated, and my other PCOS systems vanished (i.e. I used to have terrible acne, and now my skin is perfectly clear 90% of the time).

For my diagnosis and check ups I saw an OB/GYN; he was much more familiar with it than my GP.

So I guess my question is then, to those of you who have seen both an endocrinologist and an OB/GYN for the PCOS symptoms, which would be better to see? My husband has diabetes, so I've gotten to know his endocrinologist, so it wouldn't be hard for me to get in to see him, and I love my OB/GYN, so I don't know where would be best to go. I guess I should just make some phone calls, huh?

One thing I have failed to mention, this all started in May of 2007. My GP and OB/GYN both ran blood work and checked my hormones. The second round of test was compared to the first (after taking birth control) and the OB/GYN said that my blood work and ultrasound of my ovaries looked "pretty unremarkable." The reason I had to see the doctor back then was because I had gone 5+ weeks without a period, and when it DID come, it wouldn't stop, and I was passing decidual casts of my uterus. It was so bad that I, along with everyone else, thought I was having a miscarriage. Thank goodness I wasn't. I don't know how I would've handled that. To stop my period, I ended up taking nearly an entire pack of birth control pills in about 6-7 days (4 pills for 2 days, 3 pills for 2 days, 2 pills for 2 days, 1 pill a day to finish off pack). It worked wonders.

Like I said, I haven't had any problems since then. I quit taking the birth control (Yaz) because I was having two periods per month (one that my body was doing on my own, and another that the birth control pills were doing) and I couldn't deal with it. They said it would take up to 6 months to regulate and, wanting to have a baby, I just couldn't mentally deal with taking birth control.

Sorry for the rambling...it's nice to have some people to discuss all of this with. When I quit taking the birth control pills and it all regulated, I guess I just kind of "forgot" about it, thinking maybe the "borderline PCOS" diagnosis had been wrong, but now I don't know. It's been nearly two months since I have had a period. I'm going to take another home pregnancy test this weekend (I don't think I am pregnant...) and I will go from there.

Again, thank you all for the input.

~Julie~

Hi !

An endocrinologist is vastly more knowledgable on the hormonal end of it - which is the majority of the issue with PCOS. An ob/gyn can certainly be of help - particularly if you are TTC.

Weight loss is the best thing you can do to allieve the symptoms. I use Met, Spiro and Flutamide (diabetic as well but not anymore !!) to help with the IR that seems to go hand in hand with PCOS - the Spiro and Flutamide help with the excess hair and scalp hair loss. I didn't have my AF for over 10 years.

Many docs still are not up on PCOS so you need to ask a lot of questions and make sure yours is - remember - THEY ARE WORKING FOR YOU - so do lots of research and ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. I researched Flutamide and wrote a long letter listing the benefits - latest studies on benefits and risks - and pictures of my hair before it fell out. My doctor agreed to let me try it with careful monitoring and the shedding has almost completely stopped.

Wanted to mention that MANY woman with PCOS do not have the cysts on their ovaries. Its really unfortunate it was named Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome because diagnosis is not based on that alone and it is not necessary to have cysts for a diagnosis.

Hi-
My diagnosis only came a few months ago but I see a natrual GP. From her I am on a new diet to help with the IR and to really get the weight off since that is the best way to go. I saw my GYN when I got the diagnosis but the only suggestion they had was going back on birth control which I didn't want to do since that only alleviates the symptoms not the underlying problem. But I think whichever doctor truly listens to what you want and knows really uderstands the PCOS is the one for you. In the meantime until the weight comes off I am using a naural supplement called Chaste Tree from my GP and I had my first period in 6 months this week but had only been using the chaste tree to create a period for about two weeks. Bonus is the chaste tree helps treat my cysts so they go away faster.

I was diagnosed in Feb with pcos and I've gained 50 lbs since. for those that have lost weight with it what plan did you follow or how did you eat to get some weight off. I can't seem to stick to anything.

For me the best thing that worked was following a limited carb diet. In the 5 years (yes, it's been that long? ), that's what I found always worked the best to control my symptoms. When I'm carb loading, and yes I'm a recovering addict, my cycles are off and I'm sluggish.

For me, when I was on the Pill, both traditional and Seasonale, I spent the placebo weeks in bed with massive withdrawl headaches. As for me, I find the best doctor to see is my internist who's tenured faculty at a teaching hospital. She was the one who actually diagnosed it the first time she did a physical on me.