Hello, I have PCOS and my doctor refuses to prescribe anything for it. They say that my weight is "not a problem" therefore they won't give me Metformin. I still have all the other symptoms of PCOS. Is this right, or should I be on Metformin?

are you on birth control pills already?

have they done any bloodwork on your to check your hormone levels etc ? they can not "rule out" PCOS w/out doing the bloodwork....

If you are insulin resistant, then the insulin resistance should be treated. Fortunately for you, it's entirely possible to treat it with diet and exercise alone; you don't NEED Metformin or other medications. I'd suggest checking out the South Beach Diet, or the Insulin Resistance Diet, or another low-glycemic type of diet.

Get a second opinion. My OBGYN said flat out that Metformin isn't used to treat PCOS. My regular doctor said it is and that PCOS is linked to all sorts of problems, including diabetes, heart attack, stroke, etc. He said that I will likely be on it for life. From what I've seen, it's a basic problem with how my body is put together, possibly genetic or a birth defect, so it isn't something that will just go away. However, there was some question as to whether my insurance company would cover it because Metformin wasn't formally approved for PCOS.

Have you had an ultrasound to examine your ovaries for cysts?

If you don't have insulin resistance (did they check you?), and you're not significantly overweight (I think 20-30 pounds is a minimum), then you most likely do not need to be on metformin.

However, if you do have other signs of PCOS, you should be on birth control to deal with your hormone levels.

If they didn't do tests on you, go back and demand they do, or go to another doctor.

I would also recommend seeing an endocrinologist if possible. It wasn't until I started getting treated by my endo for a thyroid problem that I was formally diagnosed with PCOS. All the other gyno's and doctors I ask about it wouldn't even touch the subject. As for the metformin, I'm no doctor, but from my understanding is that the metformin blocks the overproduction of androgens (male hormones) as a by product of keeping the insulin levels in check. Just because your weight isn't a problem doesn't mean that you may not have problems with your insulin and therefore overproduction of androgens that cause the PCOS symptoms. I would definitely get the blood work ran and read by an endocrinologist just to see where everything stands and see if you need the metformin. No need to go on it unless it is warranted because believe me the side affects aren't pretty. They get better over time as your body gets used to it but I'm of the school of thought that there is no need to medicate unless it's truly needed.

I've had blood work, my bloods were normal but an ultrasound reveals cysts.

Then what is your doctor's plan for dealing with the cysts? If your doctor doesn't have a plan, then you need a different doctor.

When I had cysts the doctor put me on birth control- I don't think metformin helps with cysts.

You don't seem to be someone who is overweight since you weigh 119, so I wouldn't recommend getting on medications either.

If you are trying to conceive then I still think you need to be "trying" for a year before your doctor will give you anything to help with pregnancy.