Can birth control pills affect PCOS?
Many women with PCOS are often prescribed oral contraceptives to help regulate an irregular or absent menstrual cycle.
However, this merely regulates the period artificially, without changing the underlying problem causing PCOS, namely Insulin Resistance. When the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
In addition, a new study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility showed that birth control pills may exacerbate Insulin Resistance.
The study examined 36 adolescent girls with PCOS. Half the group took an oral contraceptive containing synthetic progesterone and the other half took a birth control pill with an anti-androgenic (a substance that suppresses the male hormone testosterone).
Both groups showed an increase in Insulin Resistance. Furthermore, the group taking the oral contraceptive containing the anti-androgenic showed an increase in both insulin secretion and blood levels of insulin.
With Insulin Resistance being the root cause of PCOS, women must think twice before considering the use of birth control pills to control irregular or absent menses. Not only do oral contraceptives not address the cause of PCOS but they actually may worsen the problem with Insulin Resistance.
It is important to remember that PCOS is a complex syndrome that requires a multi-faceted approach. There isn’t a single pill out there that will cure PCOS. Women with PCOS need to address Insulin Resistance through lifestyle changes like improved diet and a regular exercise regime.
I have been using Insulite for a while now and have physically felt better, but I have no idea whether I will get my periods on my own. My OBGYN has always told me that I would need to be on birthcontrol to induce my periods and control my high androgen levels.
I have been considering coming off the pill for a while just to see if after 9 months of using Insulite, my periods would be more regular without the aid of the pill. After reading this article, I am even more eager to stop using the pill.
I’m wondering if anyone else out there has had luck getting their periods back after using Insulite and stopping the pill? Have you noticed improved blood sugar levels/insulin sensitivity?
My OBGYN also told me that by taking birth control pills, it does suppress ovulation, and therefore stops the formation of cysts on the ovaries (temporarily)and helps you shed the lining of the uterus as a period, otherwise it could become old and puts you at risk for cancer. That is why she told me to stay on the pills… you have to outweigh the benefits vs. and the costs in the long run… Has anyone else been told this?
I was told to get back on the BC and I did for awhile. I still had a lot of problems even though I took them for quite sometime. Sure it may help you get rid of this and that but being on Birth control pills, or any medication for that matter, prevents your body from fixing itself. I was told by my new Gyn to not go back on. Symply because it contols your body but when you get off the birth control for lets say wanting to have a child, your body no longer knows how to produce what is needed on its own. For me, prescriptions have always been a last resort. My BF had giving me some multivitamins. I have been taking them for almost 6 months and have finally had a consecutive cycle now for that whole time period. Stick to your vitamins and try not to stess.
If anyone wants to chat you can reach me at MelodyRey@hotmail.com ….does anyone know if this site has an open forum and not just blogs?
Hi Christina,
You asked if this PCOS Support blog had an open forum.
I’m pleased to report that we will be starting an open forum in the New Year, along with other online features. We feel it’s vital to provide women with a place where you can voice your concerns, enhance your education and, most importantly, feel supported.
In the meantime, we love hearing from you.
Watch this space!
Your Editor
Can an anti-diabetic pill help with PCOS?
Hi Madeeha,
Thank you for your question. I posed it to Dr. Ha Dang, ND from the Medical & Advisory team at Insulite Laboratories. Please see her answer below.
Your Editor
Dear Madeeha,
Most anti-diabetic medications work as anti-hyperglycemics. They help to reduce glucose levels, thereby reducing insulin levels. These drugs are often prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by Insulin Resistance.
An example of an anti-hyperglycemic is Metformin. You may have heard of this medication. It is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs to women with PCOS.
Some women with PCOS respond well to metformin in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on metformin and other anti-diabetics, we hear many women have NOT noticed dramatic results in weight loss, infertility, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS. These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of Insulin Resistance and PCOS.
Hi
My Doctor put me on metformin 2 months ago after a good deal of resistance from myself for 12 months even though my GYN had wanted to put me on it 18 months ago. Even with Christmas, New Year and various parties and celebrations going on 1 have lost 3kg (7lbs) in 2 months. My craving for sugar has gone and the acne on my back is gradually going. He has increased my dose from 500mg to 850mg daily and hopes I’ll lose around 6kg (14lb) in the next 3 months. My BMI has gone from 30.3 to 29.7 which is great news for me as I’ve been trying so hard to lose weight for years
I have had PCOS for 11 years—2 kids later I am having more harsh “symtoms” of PCOS and I am on the mirena IUD. Should I get my DR to recheck my hormone levels and go off the IUD or would that matter? Please help.
Hi Vanessa,
Thank you for your questions. I’ve asked Dr. Sari Cohen of Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
to respond.
Your Editor
Dear Vanessa,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog. It is always a good idea to ask your doctor if you are unsure if a medication is right for you.
Also, if your symptoms are worse and it has been awhile since your hormone levels (LH, FSH, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, glucose, and insulin) were checked, you might ask your doctor to recheck them.
In general we at Insulite Laboratories don’t recommend
contraceptives to treat PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses with contraceptives does not treat the
underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives for inducing menses.
Don’t forget that using the Insulite PCOS System does address the underlying cause of PCOS: insulin resistance! For information, visit http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com
Best wishes,
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not
and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I have just found out i have pcos. My doctor has never explained what it actually means and after reading all this I’m worried that the pill I’m on is not helping. I have lost weight but does this pcos condition mean I will have to be on a strict regime all my life if I want to have children?
Hi there,
I have just stumbled across this website and am very impressed!
I am taking Dianette 35 to help with my skin, give me regular periods and at the same time it is a good form of birth control.
I am really keen to start using the products on this website but am slightly paranoid of going off the pill incase my skin turns bad!! – Has anyone used these products while still being on the pill and have they helped…??
Any responses would be much appreciated.
Hi Lisa,
I also have PCOS and I’ve been trying to have a baby for more than 3 yrs, I got pregnant once but miscarried. I never really tried to control the PCOS until now that I saw this website I’ve been taking these pills I haven’t noticed a whole lot, but everyone is different.
Many doctors don’t know what to do when you have PCOS believe me because I’ve been thru it too. What pills are you taking? Feel free to email me d2lope@yahoo.com
Hello Ladies,
You are right a lot of DR’s don’t know much about PCOS. I went through four Gyn before I found one who had some sort of idea. You have to really go out there and get as much information as you can yourself. I knew more information than my regular Dr did. I have read and bought books on PCOS and they have really helped me. I got tired of expecting them to just had me the answers and solutions. So I went out and informed myself. For Lisa- its a life change that you have to make. It’s not like a diet you can go on and then get your results and go back off. You have to change your life style to keep it under control. You have to control your illness or it will control you and get way out of hand. If you want children believe you will do what ever it takes. Finding an overal balance with food, exercise and medication will be your key. Good day to you all and I have posted a few links to help. The herhairloss site if you browse around you can find a PCOS section.
~*Christina*~
http://www.herhairlosshelp.com
http://women.webmd.com/tc/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-PCOS-Medications
I have been diagnosed with PCOS and I am taking birth control pills. Should I take the metformin also or is that a health risk? I have a prescription for both but from two different Dr.s, I’m confused, I don’t know if I should take both pills or choose only one of them.
Hi,
I am a fit and healthy 29 years old woman (50kgs, 1,60m) and have been diagnosed with PCOS since I am 14 years old. My only visible symptoms were my irregular periods. I am now experiencing infertility problems. After 1 year of trying I got pregnant in December 2005 (after taking metformin for 15 days only) but lost my unborn baby 4 months and a half into my pregnancy for unknown reasons. Since then, my periods have been very regular.I have since July 2006 been trying again without success. I would like to know what the most effective fertility treatments for PCOS women and also whether the late loss of my pregnancy could be explained by PCOS. I have started to take metformin alone- 850g per day. I am really a bit desperate to find a solution as I would never have thought that it could take so long and it’s heartbreaking to lose a baby on top of it. Thanks for your help.
Regards
M
I was recently diagnosed with PCOS but I do not have an insulin resistance! The major factor of me being diagnosed with PCOS was that my testosterone level is too high and I have gained a lot of weight around the middle. I was wondering if in my case if birth control pills would work for my hormones. But I would also like to get pregnant!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing in with your history. I have asked
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team to review your comments and respond to your questions.
See below.
Your Editor
Dear Amy,
Thank you for contributing to the PCOS Support Blog.
May I ask how it was determined that you do not have insulin resistance?
One way to test for insulin resistance is by doing a blood test for fasting insulin. We usually consider that a fasting insulin above 9 or so is showing signs of insulin resistance even though some labs will say
that the normal range is from 0-20 ng/dl.
Insulin resistance is very hard to diagnose with lab work. The gold standard in research studies is to use something called the glycemic clamp, but nobody does that in a clinical (private practice) setting.
We just have to rely on symptoms and on the fasting and/or post-prandial (’after eating’) insulin levels. Some symptoms of insulin resistance include the following: skin tags, acanthosis nigricans, PCOS, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, weight gain
around the middle, high blood sugar or low blood sugar or reactive hypoglycemia, family history of diabetes or PCOS or obesity.
We cannot recommend that you start or stop any medications- a decision like that needs to be discussed with your doctor. I can tell you that
oral contraceptives do not treat the cause of the problem, with PCOS.
They may assist in regulating your menses, but once you stop taking the birth control pill, your menses would again be irregular. Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives for inducing menses.
With regard to becoming pregnant, we cannot promise that the Insulite PCOS System will reverse infertility although we do know it can address several of the causative factors behind this condition. As stated on our website, losing weight and getting your insulin
regulated will reduce ovarian cysts and additional hormonal imbalances, thereby enhancing your ability to conceive.
Also, research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of
regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating; therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
I hope this addresses some of your concerns, Amy! Please write in anytime- we are here to help.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not
and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi,
I have not been diagnosed with PCOS by a doctor but while travelling in Australia last year I had blood tests done by a natural therapist while off the pill. I had been off the dianette pill for 5 months and my acne came back with a vengence and i also put on about a stone and facial hair started to grow. This had never happened before, since i started taking the pill at 16, i am now 23. My fasting insulin was only 2.5 and my total testosterone was only 1.1. This made her think i did not have PCOS but i am not so sure as i know more in depth tests may need doing. I am back on the pill now, lost the stone in weight and skin clear (10st, 5 ft 8). Question is should i come off the pill to find out exactly what is wrong? On no other medication.
Thanks
Gemma
Sorry my height is 5ft 8 not 5ft, so at 10st i am quite slim, size 10. Gemma
good day, i was diagnosed with pco about 4 years ago – i am 32 years old – when the doctor gave me the news, he suggested that i start using contraceptive pills to regulate myself – i used it, but later stop because i became so despondent – i am obese, i weigh in excess of 110 kg and i think i am using this syndrom as an excuse to my weight problem – i have not changed my eating habits and my food intake consists of fat,lots of meat, gas colddrinks and i dont exercise – i think that even that i know it is unhealthy i just go ahead – i am in a relationship, but havent discuss my problems with my partner – i just mentioned it without explaining all the consequences – will you please give me more info on pco, what my chances are of losing wieght , what my eating lifestyle should be like, any info will help,thanks, meg
Hello Megon,
Thank you for writing in and for your candor. To offer you some guidance and support, I’ve asked Dr. Heather DeLuca from our Medical & Advisory team to respond to you directly.
Sending best wishes for your improving health and well being,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Megon,
Thank you for being so honest with how you are feeling and dealing with PCOS. We understand that it is difficult as it can affect so many aspects of a woman’s life.
For more information on PCOS I would like to direct you to our website: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/ I think you will agree that we have an extensive site with information on PCOS and its cause, diagnosis, symptoms, complications as well as how we at Insulite treat the cause of PCOS, Insulin Resistance.
As you know, due to genetic variations and the severity of Insulin Resistance, each person on the Insulite PCOS System achieves results in different time frames. Some individuals get an almost immediate response while, for others, results take longer. Therefore, it would be difficult to give you an exact time frame of when you would begin noticing changes. However, the majority of our customers do notice positive changes in the first month of being on the Insulite PCOS System. What most people have reported is that their energy improves, they notice less cravings for carbs, and lose a little weight, if this is something they were struggling with before. Other customers also report in the first few months that their menstrual cycles have become more regular and their acne decreased. However, we have had customers not notice much change for several months.
The Insulite System is not a magic pill, and due to individual variation in metabolism, we cannot predict when someone will start to lose weight. However, in my experience the women who seem to be most successful are those that adhere to the program. Megon, I feel that if you follow the program and make the appropriate dietary and exercise changes, you will loose weight.
We do advocate a very slow weight loss of about half a pound per week. Losing weight quickly is harder for the body to adjust to and often leads to rebound weight gain.
I can tell you very generally that we advocate a “whole foods” diet that is low in carbohydrates. We encourage people to avoid refined carbohydrates like bread, sugar, pasta, tortillas, pastries, cookies, etc. A whole foods diet is one that stresses fresh, unprocessed, and unrefined foods.
All of our customers receive the detailed Insulite Guide that outlines and guides you through proper dietary choices. We will also provide you with recipes that are very useful on the program. Exercise will also be important for your success. We recommend exercising most days of the week as long as there are not contraindications for exercise, working up to 30-45 minutes of exercise 4-5 times per week, along with some strength training exercise.You can start with any exercise you want. It all is beneficial to helping PCOS.
Megon, I hope this is useful. If you need more information please feel free to contact us at any time at info@insulitelabs.com. We are here to help.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am a 42 year old who was diagnosed with PCOS about a dozen years ago. I was on the bcp until another Dr. insisted I stop due to “the blood clotting gene” and my OBGYN then monitored the cystic growths…I have had two surgeries; one to remove a 7×7x11 ovarian cyst growth and another for ovarian drilling. I used Metformin with great success for a few months but lost my insurance and was then denied insurance due to the fact that I was using Metformin.
I am looking for a cellular level process by which I can get the PCOS under control, lose weight & get pregnant. Thankfully, I stumbled across this web site and I’m going to keep researching.
I have been on the Pill to help stop my hair loss, caused by PCOS. It worked for the first few months, but now the hair is shedding again. Can anyone tell me if taking the Insulite Lab PCOS supplements alone will help reverse female hairloss, and excess body hair? Or is there anything else to help the hair to regrow?
When you stop taking the supplements, do the PCOS symptoms return?
I hope someone can answer this for me.
Thanks
Hi,
My docor just diagnosed me with PCOS, i havent had a period in about 7 yrs. I have been doing research on PCOS and i have come to realize that if you limit your carbs, you lose weight. I have only done this for 7 days, but i have had a touch of a period now for 3 days, with each day it flows heavier. I’m so excited about it, but my doctor wants to put me on Provera birth control to give me a good “cleaning out.” Is this a smart thing to if my body is already producing cycles naturally? Please if anyone has more info on this, do respond! I need help with this syndrome, its very scary for me! Thanks!
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for writing in to our PCOS Support Blog.
Did you happen to read the article at the beginning of this thread? It’s called “Can Birth Control Pills Affect PCOS?” and it cites the results of a study published in the journal “Fertility and Sterility.”
The article is a good place to start. Let’s hear some
additional views on PCOS and birth control.
Tiffany – don’t be scared! Women with PCOS are a very supportive, compassionate group willing to exchange information and ideas.
Hang in there and write to us anytime,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 6 years ago. At the time it wasn’t that bad and the only problems I noticed was I have facial hair ( that has become more embarrassing) and an irregular cycle. Well after many test, drugs and emotional headache, I have found that nothing works for me except a good diet and excersize. Now along with another complication from and accident during my teens, my husband keep hoping for the miracle of a child. Does anyone have any suggestions?
hi i’ve had problems since day one of getting my first period at the age of 12, my gyn diagnosed me with pcos at the age of 16 i am now 25 and i am so over it. i have had 2 children and it is getting worse i have tried pills etc and my body just clashes with them. my gyn did the insulin resistance blood test and has put me on metforman since then my periods just come when ever they want!i weigh 79kg and i am 160cm tall,does anyone have some suggestions on how to lose weight i’ve tried a lot of things! i am now on my second period for one month,has anyone had this problem or can explain why this could have happen or any suggestions?
I am a slender 26 year old woman who has never had a weight problem and have been diagnosed with pcos. The only symptoms I have had so far are no/irregular periods and some acne off and on over the years. I eat well and exercise regularly. Is it common to experience the other symptoms such as obesity and facial hair later on in life? Am I doomed to become obese with facial hair and unable to have children?
How does Metformin help PCOS? I take birth control pills and my periods are regular now. Does this not make things better? Will Metformin help any better than Birth control? I’m 33 years old and I want to get pregnant in a year. I’m on a diet to loose weight because I am very over weight.
Hi:
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 22 (now 30). I am also a Celiac (which greatly complicates my efforts at a balanced diet). I have suffered from varying degrees of acne my entire adult life, which has become much worse over the last 2 years. In the last year I have started to get male pattern hair growth on my face and body as well as losing the hair on my head (thank goodness it was thick to begin with). I am not obese (160 lbs and 5′8.5″) although my body has started to redistribute fat deposits around my middle. I have only recently seen my GP about this (as before I was always told by doctors that there is nothing they can do) and will, hopefully, be seeing an Endocrinologist soon. I am also currently infertile. My question is: How long does is it likely to take to notice a reduction in PCOS symptoms (such as acne) if my doctor puts me on Metformin? (I am already doing everything I can to help my disorder with diet.)
I am 24 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago, although I think I’ve had it for about 6 years. I have many signs of PCOS, in fact I have all of them except male partern hair loss. My husband and I already have a daughter together who is 8 and did not have a problem getting pregnant at that time. I’m not sure what has changed about my body that has caused me to become diagnosed with PCOS, but for the past 4 years we’ve been trying to have another child and have not been able to do so. I’ve tried the birth controll pills, metformin, and diet plans and non of it has worked. The doctors did an ultra-sound on my ovaries and uterus and they looked fine, no cysts. It has been very stressful for my husband and I and we are really wanting another child. Not only that but, I have two friends that were diagnosed as well but the metformin and clomid pills got both of them pregnant and they are about 5 and 6 months pregnant, and things are going good for them. I’m very happy for both of them, but like I said very stressed. I’m not sure where to go from here and the doctors don’t seem to have any answers for me either.
Asking for help….
I just read an entry by the 26 yr old slender person trying to seek answers. I am 27 years old, I am 5 ft 8.5 inches and 140 lbs…what I consider a healthy weight. I have never been overweight….at one point in my life ( 7 years ago) I had lost a lot of weight due to long distance running and a restrictive diet. My ob Gyn put me on birth control because I had skipped two periods at that time. I gained weight back and became much more flexible in my diet and exercise program. However, I still seek to eat healthy foods and excercise regularly( nothing excessive…run 25 minutes a few times a week and do pilates). Last year I came off BC for the first time in 6 years. I had 4 regular cycles and then nothing. I went to the doctor…she told me I was stressed( my husband was deployed, etc.) and gave me provera. I had two regular cycles and then two months later I had a period every other week. I went back to the doctor and she diagnosed me with PCOS after an ultrasound ( which I now understand can show polycystic ovaries as an indication of an anovulatory cycle not just PCOS)….I also had acne break outs. She put me back on BC and my acne got worse….but after about 2 months things calmed down. In the meantime I went to another doctor in the same practice and he told me he didn’t agree with the diagnosis. So long story short I was confused. I did the BC thing to regulate out. I went off in March and had two regular cycles and now have nothing again. This time my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. But I guess I didn’t ovulate this month. I went to the doctor hoping I was pregnant and she kind of blew me off. She told me it was regular to skip periods after going off BC. This doesn’t seem normal. I don’t have many breakouts…still a little bit left from before….but now I have cramping like right before a period and some discharge and feel like I’m going to get my cycle. She wants to put me on Metformin…but I demanded to have blood test done since I’ve never had my hormone levels taken. I don’t think she ordered a insulin test. What answers do I need before taking a drug like this and how do I get a more conclusive diagnosis. I don’t believe I am insulin resitant….I guess I really need a test for that. Will that come next???
Hi,
I just found out that i have PCOS.I’m 31 yrs old and have had the symptoms of PCOS all my life. I was having difficulty losing weight this past year,so i went to hormone specialist to see what may be the cause of this. I was first told that my Thyriod was low so she put me on Armor.Once i regulated that,i was tested for PCOS and found that i have that as well. Now i am taking Metformin, as well as the Yaz birth conrtol to regulate my cycles.My question is…how long does it take to see weight loss results with having your body on all three of these medications? Am i going to be overloading my body and cause it to go into shock with so much medication??? If any one can answer these questions please respond……..
I have been on metformin and yasmin for about a year. i’m feeling and looking much better and feel I am on path for weight loss. I can’t find any information on how safe it is to go off of metformin though. I would like to try to keep my insulin level low with diet and exercise but I don’t want to take the risk of getting diabetes. I never really ate or drank a lot of simple sugars to begin with and wasn’t overweight when the excess hair and other symptoms started so I feel I am just really predisposed to insulin resistance. Maybe I could talk to my doctor about trying it for 3 months or something. I guess I just want to know about getting off metformin. Is it pretty much a given that I will get full blown diabetes sooner or later?
hi there,
I’m 20 years old and i got diagnosed with pcos last week. I was on the pill for two years when i was 16 and when i came off i never had a period. I went to the doctors about 3 months ago asking why. After my ultrasound it turns out i have PCOS. I was unaware of what this was until this week.
I go swimming 3 times a week and walk the dog every night. All I’m worried about is being infertile!!! All i ever wanted was children. What is the percentage/chance of being infertile if you have PCOS?
Also, from reading other comments, do i need to eat less carbs? My doctor has recommended that i start bc again but from your comments i’m not going to, i believe that it’s not curing the problem. Will I have to watch my weight and carb intakes for the rest of my life….
Any help is thankful
Jade x x
I could probably answer all of these questions but I cannot respond to them all individually on here. I have left my email before and I will do so again if anyone would like to ask me something directly or repeat their questions in a private email. I check my mail daily. So please email. I don’t come on this site to often. I am not a Dr. I suffer from PCOS and Insulin Resistance. I have educated my self about my illnesses so feel free to ask me anything. MelodyRey@hotmail.com
This comment is for Vanessa T:
GET RID OF THE IUD!!! I recently found out that I have PCOS, and I had a mirena for 9 months and it was the worst 9 months of my life. I did nothing but bleed the entire time. My body spent the entire 9 months trying to expel the IUD. I had terrible acne, and I gained 40 pounds in 9 months (I am a VERY healthy person), It was awful. I was recently told by my GYN that having an IUD is the worst thing you can do if you have PCOS. Even after taking out the IUD, my acne is still horrible, and I still have all the typical symptoms of PCOS. It is almost like the IUD caused the “pendulum” to swing even further in the wrong direction. I just ordered the insulite system today and am finally looking forward to a solution. If you find that an IUD is the best birth control option for you, maybe you could look into a Paragard, which doesn’t have any hormones. It is a copper IUD that seems to work a little better for women. But don’t use it if you have a history of heavy bleeding. After all I went through with that stupid Mirena, I hope that this story helps someone. Best wishes,
Jamie
Will the pill make me gain extra weight?
I’m 32 and was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Sept. 06. Diabetes is hereditary within my family, so it was no surprise. After being diagnosed I had a consultation with a diabetes specialist. She gave me more insight about why I probably haven’t had more than 5 periods since I was 17 years of age then my OBGYN. Throughout the years I’ve had annual paps and they have always came back normal. I’ve told my OBGYN time and time again that I do not have a period ever. She put me on Provera twice and stuck me on birth control. And at one point she said to me in a very unconcerned way that I might have PCOS. I asked her if she could test me for it and she replied by saying she would refer me to somewhere and it would have to come out of my own pocket. Well I couldn’t afford it and she made it seam like it was ok and that it didn’t have to be treated. Now it has been 15 years of no periods and depression caused by fear of not being able to have children. Like I said I’m 32 and now I dream of having a child. When I talked with my diabetes specialist she talked to me more about PCOS and the symptoms. I have almost every symptom that comes with PCOS. I am now on 1000mg of metformin a day. Since starting the treatment I have only had one period which was just this past month. It started July 1st and ended on July 8th. When I did have a regular period in the past it always started on the first of every month. So i hope this is a good sign. My question and concern is, is it common that a person taking metformin with PCOS have to wait months before they may be able to have a period on their own or do they usually start have one soon after the treatment? And because I haven’t had a period in so long does that minimize my chance of ever having a baby? And how would I know I’m ovulating and just not bleeding because there was so much build up over the years?
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for writing in to the PCOS Support Blog.
I posed your questions to Dr. Nicole Kellum of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team.
Please see her response below.
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Hi Tanya,
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how soon to expect normal menses after using Metformin. As you are learning there are so many factors that contribute to PCOS. Metformin works well for some women initially and not so well for others. The women that notice changes sooner could be the ones doing lifestyle changes and/or other treatments along with the Metformin.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on Metformin, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of Insulin Resistance and PCOS.
There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit). You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant. You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
Best Wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am sixteen years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS in late October of 2006. The only reason that I was tested for the condition was the doctors’ bafflement of unexplained hair loss; I’m talking about handfulls. (one thought I was having a strange reaction to sunlight…another odd story) I went on YAZ and had uncontrollable mood swings. Once, I was sitting in AP Chem and simply started crying; I wasn’t sad, upset, angry, happy – I just cried and i couldn’t quit. I refused to take it – my Dr put me on OrthoTri-Cyclen Lo, and it eased the period symptoms (which i assumed were cripling for everyone) and helped lower my testosterone level to a normal amt. BUT – my hair hasnt stopped coming out, and it isn’t growing back. I’ve bought a wig, but that is simply not the same as having your own hair. Does ANYONE have any information about a similar occurance? I do not know of anyone else who has been unable to slow the loss. HELP
Hi Marie,
I’m dealing w/ the same hairloss problem… I’ve been dealing with it since i was 16? I’m now 29 and it’s a big issue for me. I do have irregular periods and my GYN put me on the Yazmin… but i don’t feel better at all. I was taking insulite and stopped because i couldn’t remember to take the pills… I’m considering going back on them… If anyone has any input on Hairloss please share… Thx
Dear Gen,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I’ve asked Dr. Apryl Krause of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team to address the subject of hair loss and pills intake. Please see her comments below.
Please keep us posted on how you’re doing.
Best wishes,
Your Editor, PCOS Support Blog
Hello Gen,
Thanks for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
There are many different things you can do to remember to take your supplements. One thing is to keep them in your bathroom by your toothbrush. When you brush (assuming you brush at least twice a day), you can take the supplements in the morning and at night. Another strategy would be to keep the supplements in the kitchen and take them with meals if you eat at home at least twice a day. Also, you can use pill boxes, or other little containers. One way would be to carry a pill box with at least 4 slots in it, for the 4 times you’ll be taking supplements. Some people also just keep everything in one bottle, although this can be a bit more difficult, because you have to remember what all the specific capsules look like in order to pick the right ones. Once you establish a habit, it will be easier, it’s just getting going. Also, it is OK to miss a dose once in awhile, we’re all human.
Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and PCOS is certainly one of them. There are other issues such as hypothyroidism, anemia, extreme stress, vitamin and mineral deficiencies to name a few. If it is indeed PCOS causing the issues, the Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle in the Insulite PCOS+ supplement will be very positive because they aid in rebalancing hormones by helping to remove excess testosterone. Also, the supplements will help in correcting any essential fatty acid deficiency. Starting and stopping the birth control pill can cause hair loss as well. If there is no improvement in hair loss and thinning after using the PCOS System for 6 months or so, then it might be wise to look into other contributing factors to the problem.
I hope this is helpful, and I do hope you try out the PCOS System again.
Sincerely,
Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
Hi, I am 31, overweight, primarily around my waist- tons of facial hair, bad cholesterol is high, my periods came quartely (now regular while on metformin)and was dx’d pcos with metabolic syndrome about 2 yrs ago. About 4yrs prior to being dx’d, I chosen to have a IUD inserted (one that lasted 8 yrs), as I did not like being on the bcp’s even if they regulated me. Once my Dr. dx’d she opted to treat both with metformin. After taking consistantly for about 2 mths and losing some weight( about 7kg) with the help of weight watchers. I became pregnant, while still having the IUD. When delivering, 7wks early, the dr I saw( it was a specialist because he was premature) was suprised that I became preg with the iud, and once finding out I was on metformin she stated “that was why I got pregnant”. After having the baby, my husband is freaking out about me being on the medication, I got another IUD(low hormone), how can I explain to him that the metformin is not what got me pregnant, it just regulated me. He wants scientific information- Thanks Kate
Hi Kate,
Thanks for providing us with background on your health.
I’ve asked Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND, from Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team to address your
question about metformin.
Best wishes,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
______________________________________________________
Dear Kate,
Thank you for writing in to our PCOS Blog.
I see how your husband has made this link. Metformin is often used in women with PCOS and PCOS related infertility.
Here is a link to some information about Metformin and its uses. I am not sure this will answer his question but it should provide background:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a696005.html
Additionally, here is an abstract from case reports that were done that explains how the use of Metformin can increase pregnancy. As you will see, it was through
decreasing insulin levels by affecting glucose levels.
These increased glucose and insulin levels negatively impact ovulation and ovaries.
Keep in mind that although Metformin can help lower glucose and insulin levels it is not addressing the cause and other risks associated with PCOS. Once you discontinue using Metformin, your symptoms will return.
Our goal at Insulite Laboratories is to treat the underlying insulin resistance so that medications are not needed.
J Reprod Med 2000 Jun;45(6):507-10
Association of metformin and pregnancy in the polycystic ovary syndrome. A report of three cases.
Seale FG 4th, Robinson RD, Neal GS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Antonio Uniformed Services
Health Education Consortium, Texas, USA. fred_g.seale@sa-chcs.mednet.af.mil
[Medline record in process]
BACKGROUND: Infertility is a common manifestation of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism. Hyperinsulinemia leads to increased ovarian androgen production, resulting in follicular atresia and anovulation. Metformin, a medication that improves insulin sensitivity and
decreases serum insulin levels, restores menstrual cyclicity and ovulatory function and may improve fertility rates in women with PCOS. We present
three consecutive cases from our clinic that support this premise.
CASES:
Three patients were seen in the reproductive endocrinology clinic with documented PCOS, long-standing infertility and clinically diagnosed insulin
resistance. The first patient had hyperandrogenic, insulin-resistant acanthosis nigricans syndrome and had been resistant to multiple courses of
clomiphene citrate; the second exhibited hypertension, hyperlipidemia and glucose intolerance along with anovulation; and the third presented with
poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and a desire to conceive. Each patient received metformin, which led to restoration of menstrual cyclicity and conception in all three cases. CONCLUSION: These three patients reflect the heterogeneous nature of PCOS, and treating their underlying insulin resistance with metformin resulted in pregnancy. These findings suggest that
metformin may be a useful adjunct for treatment of infertility in patients with PCOS.
PMID: 10900588, UI: 20357809
Kate, if you and your husband still have questions about PCOS, I suggest you bring them up with the doctor that prescribed it for you as he/she can best
answer your concerns.
I would also recommend that you check out our website and the Insulite PCOS System as it addresses the insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance and the
other risks associated with having PCOS (diabetes and cardiovascular disease) that are not necessarily addressed with medication. You can read
more at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Please contact us, if we can help further or answer any questions that you may have:
myhealth@insulitelabs.com.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi,
I am 23 years old and I am back on BC for the first time in 8 months hoping that for the time being I will go back to normal(having a period), but I seem to be in more pain then ever. My Doc told me that the cysts are just popping. I just want the pain to stop it makes me sick.
Anyone else feel this way? Is there anything I can do for the pain?
Dear Elizabeth,
The pain of PCOS can be difficult to deal with. Sometimes birth control pills help lesson the pain since they put an artificial control on your hormones, but sometimes even they won’t help. There are many ways to control the pain of menstruating. On the not so natural side there are the over the counter medications such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Midol, etc. They work for some people, but not at all for others. Also, try a heating pad and hot baths. Prescription drugs that sometimes help include mild narcotics and muscle relaxers- you obviously have to go to your doctor to ask for these.
On the natural side of things, herbs can be great for controlling pain. A few that are helpful are cramp bark, wild yam, corydalis, kava, and Jamaican dogwood. A great Chinese herbal formula that helps with cramps is ‘Relaxed Wanderer’ to deal with ‘liver stagnation’. Homeopathic remedies can be helpful; a typical one used is MagPhos. Also, acupuncture can help relieve pain, as can castor oil packs. There are many practitioners around who can help with natural treatment of menstrual pain. If you don’t know of anyone, there are many databases online to help you locate someone in your area.
Of course, there is a cause of your pain which you say is PCOS, and it is best to try to deal with that. With a diagnosis of PCOS, insulin resistance is heavily implicated. The only way to get a handle on the insulin resistance is to get glucose and insulin levels under control. Two major ways to do this are to control your carbohydrate intake and exercise. Nutritional supplements can be extremely helpful as well. It can take awhile to turn the symptoms and pain of PCOS around, but it is totally worth the effort in the end. Ideally, with persistence, the pain of menstruating will decrease with each passing month until you reach a point where it isn’t even an issue anymore.
Sincerely,
Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi, I’m a 21 yrs old and I was recently diagnosed with PCOS. I haven’t spoken to my doctor about what needs to be done and what I’ll be taking. But I’m so happy I came across this site. Because after reading everyone’s comments I’ve realized I’m not alone. And I have pretty much all the symtoms. I’m obese and most of the weight is around my mid-section. Just in the last few years I’ve noticed hair loss around the crown of my head. Hair growth around my chin and other unexpected places. I’ve never had a problem with acne on my face (maybe a pimple every once in a while) but I do get acne other places and it’s quite embarrasing. I haven’t tried to get pregnant but my periods have always been out of whack. Like for six months I had a period so heavy I had to wear huge pads to school and super tampons which had to be changed every hour. So I was put on birth control pills to stop it and once it slowed down I stoped taking them. Then a few years later I had a lot of pain in my lower body on the left side and went in and a cyst was found on my left ovary. I was put on bcp but never kept up with it again.(keep in mind that I was never diagnosed with anything, I was just told to lose some weight.) Now, after not having my period for two years it was brought to my attention that I may have PCOS. And went to the doctor yet again. This time I was diagnosed. Now I’m so afraid I wont be able to have children and I’ll have problems that will lead to more problems for the rest of my life. I know there’s nothing I can do but wait to see what the doctor says. But my question is, if this “metformin” can regulate periods,and help with the other issues. Then why do we need to take the birth control pills? Thank you for reading this and if anyone has an answer or can help it will be most appreciated. Brittany
Hi,
I’m happy to inform that I am taking the pills again. It’s been two weeks and I feel alot better! I’m just hoping that this really helps my hairloss problem as my doctor says it’s directly related to that. I will keep you posted on my improvements.
Hello I am 22 years old and have had irregular periods since I was 12 years old. Doctors have placed me on birth control and told me to loose weight time after time! Well it wasn’t until 2003 that a doctor that I was seeing informed me that I had PCOS indeed.He placed me on Glucaphoge and I stopped taking it thinking it wasn’t going to work. So for the last three years I just bleed and bleed all the time. While planning my wedding in 2006 I relaize I had to get my body right so I can have kids. So I started to lose weight (25lbs as off today!!) I have meet another doctor who placed me back on Metformin since last month and I have been taking it plus birth controll. I really want kids and my husband do to. My question is, Should I take my self off the birth controll pills and keep using Metformin? Trying to have a baby asap. Plus still dieting and exersicing.
i am 23 and have had normal regular periods up until about 9 months ago. i became extremely stressed when i stopped having a period. bad things were happening one after the other. i have very high testosterone levels (91) and very little estrogen. i also know that when stressed progesterone levels decrease, which, in the saliva test, showed as very low also. i am now wondering if i should use birth control, never have before. i used to know by date when i would have my period the following month and was regular. i am slim but have all other symptoms of pcos. my diet is already basically all vegetables with protein thru day to keep blood sugar level. i hope someone can shed their insight on what the next step to take is. best of luck to you all and god bless~
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for writing into our PCOS Support blog.
I’ve asked Dr. Andrea Lee, ND, a member of Insulite’s Medical & Advisory team to address your questions. Her answer follows below.
Take care,
Your Editor
PCOS Support blog
Dear Nicole,
Congratulations on your weight loss! That is a great first step.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that a woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for women with PCOS.
Regarding the birth control pills, we cannot recommend that you stop any of your medication – a decision like that needs to be discussed with your
doctor.
I can tell you that oral contraceptives do not treat the cause of the problem, with PCOS. They may assist in regulating your menses, but once you stop taking the birth control pill, your menses would again be
irregular. Also, if your menstrual cycle is artificially controlled by oral contraceptives, that makes it harder to assess any improvements you
might be experiencing.
As for the Metformin, Metformin isn’t a drug for PCOS. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with
type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose (not insulin which is believed to be the underlying cause of PCOS).
Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents. Metformin decreases glucose production in the liver, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral
glucose uptake and utilization. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged and fasting plasma insulin levels and day-long plasma
insulin response may or may not decrease.
In short, Metformin treats only the symptom of hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the bloodstream), not the cause (insulin resistance).
I hope this information is helpful for you! Please do not hesitate to write in again if you have further questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition
Hi, Please help me with some advice. I was diagnosed with a mild case of pcos at age 18. I am almost 26 now. I have been on birth control pills for many years, with some short breaks in between. I lost about 30 lbs in the past few yrs and I eat well and exercise regularly. I am at a healthy weight. I just went to an endocrinologist in July because I wanted to go off of the pill. She told me to go off and she will re-test my blood to see what the deal is. I went off of the pill July 29. She said it’s ok to go for the hormone tests now. Do you think it’s too soon? Should I wait a few more months? Also, I did get a period after I went off, when I shouldve gotten it on the pill. This usually happens (I get it after getting off, and then months pass). However, I have gained about 4 or 5 lbs since going off the pill and my eating/exercise habits have not changed. The weight is mainly around my stomach and I always feel bloated. I thought I’d loose some weight after getting off and I am very unhappy and uncomfortable. Please help…has anyone gone through this? What causes the weight gain around the middle? Thanks!
Hi, I was told I might have PCOS a few years ago. Right after I found out I got pregnant. Since May I have had 2 menstrual cycles. I went to the doctor and he put me on Progesterone bc, due to my clotting disorder. I want to get pregnant next year, and I want to try to get myself in the best possible health I can, so I can have an easy time getting pregnant. I had no trouble the first time, but now my doctor says I do have PCOS, and I’m scared I will not be able to get pregnant. Any suggestions.
prescribed diet pills…
Every once in a while I come across a blog where I waste a whole afternoon reading all the back-posts.I don\’t know whether to thank you…or curse you….
Paul…
thanks thats a great post maybe a little confused but i think it´s ok to start with it…
Ok, I’ve been to the doctor and she put me on Loestrin24Fe & Metformin. I’ve only lost 6 pounds but I’m thinking it was water weight or something. But since I’ve been taking the pills I feel nauseated all the time. I stay cold no matter what I do. I have diarrhea and I’m always weak and have headaches. Maybe I just need to wait untill it gets fully into my system before I start to feel better. My questions are: will I ever feel better? What are the medications supposed to do? Can I have children? Are there any other things I could do? Maybe different medications?
Hey guys. I wanted to address some important issues that have come up.
Birth control pills do not stop complete stimulation to the ovaries. Yes, they do prevent ovulation but there is still stimuli happening. When this happens, follicles start to grow but not to maturity.
In a non-PCOSer/prediabetic/diabetic, those follicles dissipate. But for us, that does not always happen. They stagnate and turn into cysts. Ovaries give off androgens and so does every cyst. Androgens act like testosterone and add to the hormone problem. This is why it’s important to try to prevent cysts. Also, cysts could rupture causing severe pain and more problems to the patient.
Birth control pills falsely give you a menstrual, meaning they induce shedding by taking away your own body’s ability to do so on its own. One of the key elements to knowing something is wrong with your body is menstrual issues. Take that away with birth control pills and you take away your thermostat.
Shedding is very important and I couldn’t agree more that we need to try to stay on track with that. There is another, in my opinion, much healthier way of getting your menstruals…Provera. This is a temporary solution with a 5 to 10 day pill, depending on the dose. It can trigger menstruals up to three cycles. The benefits help you stay on track when you need to, allow you to keep your natural menstrual, helps prevent the encouragement of cysts, and you are not medicating yourself unnecessarily day after day.
Hope this helps!
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
In conjunction with Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this post
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Brittany,
The first thing you must do in your new lifestyle is not use negative language and thinking or you will be setting yourself up for high expectations with bigger downfalls. You didn’t “only lose” 6 pounds, YOU LOST 6 POUNDS! That’s excellant! Be proud, lift your head up high girl! I’m proud of you! Even if it is water weight, it’s weight you still must lose for the process to work.
Now let’s address your symptoms. Here are some tips for taking Metformin until you have fully adjusted:
• First, try the Metformin ER version (once a day) – less side effects.
• Take it at night before you go to bed with a tall glass of milk or some ice cream. Taking it at night will help you deal with issues at home instead of at work or during your functioning day.
• Avoid lowcarbing until you have completely adjusted, there is no point in putting your body through a lot more changes than it needs all at one time.
• Avoid sugar free foods, fried foods, chocolate as much as possible, beans, a large amount of greens, Chinese food or other foods that increase gas and diarrhea.
• Worsening Symptoms – Talk to your doctor. I tend to decrease my medication or split it throughout the day for several days when I have issues then slowly work back up to my regular dosage once symptoms have subsided for at least 2 days.
• You should be eating 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large ones and snacks. Choose your food wisely.
• Try to add at least 4 to 5 twenty minute workouts in your week. Find ways to move – walking, parking farther away from the entrance, taking stairs instead of elevators, etc.
**Always bring this information to your doctor before implementing.
Q Will I ever feel better? Are there any other things I could do? Maybe different medications?
Most likely. Some people never feel better; unfortunately. Metformin is a drug that has to be adjusted and tweaked (in accordance with your doctor of course) until you find something comfortable. It can take up to three months before side effects lessen or disappear. If you do not feel better after 8 months, look into alternatives. Other medications are Avandia, Avandamet, Actos, and Glyburide. A new one is Byetta that I have heard good things about although I have not researched the medication in full. You can also look into nutraceuticals; many women, including me, have seen several positive changes with the use of natural vitamins, herbs and minerals.
Q What are the medications supposed to do?
Metformin’s job is to allow your cells to properly interact with the insulin and glucose that has been altered by the PCOS/Prediabetes.
Q Can I have children?
Of course you can! Nothing should stop you from having children if that is what you want. The method varies from person to person due to health, desire and openness. No one can say you cannot conceive and give birth. That is up to your body. You have health issues that do effect reproduction, but that can be improved with proper diet, exercise and nutrients. If in the end, if your body still does not want to cooperate in conception, there are other ways to become a mother… adoption and surrogacy. When the time comes, you will know what you are able to do and what you are not interested in doing. Right now, if children are not something you want, then concentrate on your health. Have faith in yourself and your options.
Good luck!
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
In association with Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this post and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
well it was comforting to read all these blogs. i also have PCOS and this information is helping me through this difficult period in my life. thanks.
hello everyone,
my name is nicole and i have been diagnosed with PCOS for about 3 and 1/2 months now. About 6 months ago i was at a healthy 125lbs, but now i am at 147lbs and can not lose any weight no matter what i do. My ednocrinologist is helping me it seems but i have yet to experience in miraculous changes. i’m a very active person and i am a healthy eater. Recently i have stopped gaining weight, which is GOOD. However, going from 125 to 147 in a short period of time has been so hard. I cry roughly once a day and it makes me crazy. I am on metformin to help with IR, and soon to start birth control. My questions are:
a) is it normal to feel depressed all the time?
b) my doctor showed me my lab work and my testosterone levels were at 70- is this why i am having weight troubles?
c) if so, when i start birth control will that bring testosterone down and enable me to lose weight?
d) i’ve been told that i am “impatient”. is it wrong to be impatient? i am a dancer and this weight gain is holding me back and i have tried everything. can i expect weight loss from the birth control because i’m tired of getting my hopes up and then not experiencing any changes.
some please
i’ll take any and everyone’s advice
-nicole
Dear Nicole,
I am so glad you found our blog and decided to write in! We understand
how distressing it can be to be uncontrollably gaining weight when you
feel like you are doing everything right. But there is hope, and things
can change!
As you may have read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS in most
cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. With Insulin Resistance, the body
becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated
circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances
such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS
such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also
contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the
hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to
the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are
over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Regarding the birth control pill, some women with PCOS are prescribed the
birth control pill to regulate their menses. We do not generally recommend
oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of
the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems.
Our view on and experience with people on pharmaceutical treatment of
PCOS, including the birth control pill, is that there is no one drug on
the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the
disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect
testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing
PCOS.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin
Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice
versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Unfortunately, people who have Insulin Resistance have a very difficult
time losing weight, as you have experienced. The difficulty becoming
pregnant that many women with PCOS experience is due to a number of
factors: the ovarian cysts, the hormonal imbalance, and the elevated
insulin.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5%
of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular
menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating;
therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for
these women with PCOS.
You are not alone in noticing that PCOS is related to your mood swings.
Women with PCOS are more likely to experience anxiety and depression,
although the reasons for this are not entirely known.
Many women with PCOS may find themselves more anxious or depressed by
their appearance or their inability to become pregnant. These mood
disorders can also be caused by hormone problems. Managing your PCOS
symptoms may help to relieve depression and anxiety, though this is not
proven in research studies.
Maybe it would help to talk to other women with PCOS or depression? Here
are some websites where you can link up with other women talking about
depression:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/OnlineSupport.html
http://support4hope.com/discus/index.html
And here are some links to support forums relating to PCOS:
http://www.pcosupport.org/forums/index.php
http://www.soulcysters.com
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer
support at Insulite Labs for our customers; we are here to help you
through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if
you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the
advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other
nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition
I was on birth control pills for several years and it was not until I quit taking them about six months ago that I started getting periods semi regular. I go between 28-32 days which has made getting pregnant quite a challenge! Any tips?
I was referred to a gyn from my own gyn for a conculsion to my problem…so for a second opinion with no physical exam the doctor concluded that I have PCOS. With being put on Metformin in the past and it not working for me…I’m not a candidate for the BC due to clotting the option that is left is the Mirena IUD. After reading the horror stories I dont feel this is what I want…I do have a thyroid issue as well my iron and b12 are very low…all three are currently being addressed..so my question is what is the success rate of menstration if my throyid became regulated and my iron and b12 levels are up with a proper diet? I know that PCOS if left untreated can lead to dibeaties and heart disease. what are those risk factors?
Actually, your menstrual is right on target! Congrats! A normal menstrual cycle is between 26 and 36 days, fluctuation is ok. So bravo!
Our population might beg to differ but the probability of conception is against us – even without health challenges. You have 2 to 3 days a month to be able to conceive. The bodys temp has to be within 5 degrees differencial. His sperm and semen has to be right. Your fluids have to mesh well. Only 25% actually conceive under the right condition. Of that 25%, only 25% last beyond 2 weeks and of that small percentage, only 15% last beyond 15 weeks. So you see, the odds are against us – how can we possibly be overpopulated? LOL
Make sure you are checking your mucus and body temperature every day, drink lots of water, eat a low carb plan, exercise every day, and relax! Believe it or not, stress is a huge factor and can hurt your chances. Take a day spa after your menstrual is done to prepare for the next 2 weeks. Have couple time too!
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
In association with Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this post and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello Robin!
It is imperative that PCOS diagnosis be accompanied with blood testing. A physical exam, while it would be great, is not necessary for PCOS diagnosis so I wouldn’t be concerned with that. If there has been no blood testing, this is a red flag that deems questioning.
I don’t know what your history is with Metformin but I would suggest taking another look at that option. I can send you some information about Metformin, some precautions and suggestions if you’d like. I’d need more information to give you some deeper insight.
Thyroid problems are HUGE. The slightest bit off from what is normal for your body can set your body into a tizzy. I myself had thyroid problems and had half of it removed in 2006. It took me 18 months to regulate my thyroid and to see some positive results. So yes, definitely when your thyroid gets corrected, you will most likely see some great changes and strides towards normalcy.
PCOS has a lot of risk factors. See the newest blog article “We Walk Together”. Treating PCOS with diet, exercise, and possibly some medications and/or nutraceuticals can lower those risk factors. It is a lot of work but soon it will be a lifestyle that will feel like you’ve done it forever. Just keep up with it and always seek support when you feel like you are losing the battle.
Hope to hear from you!
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
PCOS Consultant for Insulite Laboratories
pcosinct@yahoo.com
Educator for over 18 years
Diagnosed in 1985 at 12, living with PCOS since 1981
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. Information obtained is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi, I am a 21 year old female, I am about 5 foot, and weight close to 137lbs. I know that is overweight according to my BMI. I was diagnosed with PCOS about a year and half ago, after having a absent period for 9 months. Before that I had been on the patch for a year, and then had went off of it because I was starting to get pains in the back of my legs. When My Gyno diagnosed me, she suggested I go on BC, to get my period back and prevent possible pregnancy, I did go on Demulin 35 I believe, and it worked for three months and then I stopped having a period again, I stayed on the BC for 6 months total and the last three months it did not work to enduce my period so I stoppd taking it. I then got my period back and had a regular period for a year, and now it has stopped since july. I have a appointment with my Gyno on the 28th of this month, and I was wondering if I should be asking her to put me on metformin, becuase about two years ago my family Dr did notify me that if i did not change my eating habits I could potentially develop type 2 diabetes, which now after reading more about pcos, makes me think that I do have a problem with insulin reistance, now that all my sympotoms are being analyzed… Should I consult with my Gyno and ask her to put me on metformin, along with exercise and dieting. I would like to become pregnant soon, but I don’t want to have to go the fertility drug route, I would like to try and help control my PCOS before it gets out of hand. Any suggestions would be great
Hi Sonnie!
My suggestion would be to get to an Endocrinologist or a Reproductive Endocrinologist, especially if you do want to conceive in the future. The reason I suggest an Endo or RE is because this is an endocrine disease and a gynecologist can only take you so far. An Endo will have the ability to do more and address the endocrine issues that a Gyno can not typically address.
I also suggest doing more research on a Diabetic Lifestyle and looking for Diabetic recipes. http://www.diabetes.org is a great resource. Apply what you learn and it can help your PCOS. Lastly, look for a diabetes center in your area and see about setting up an appointment with a counselor to help you transition into this new phase in your life.
These issues will be important to address now so that when you do decide to have a child your pregnancy will be better managed.
Good luck!
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
Guest PCOS writer
pcosinct@yahoo.com
Educator for over 18 years
Diagnosed in 1985 at 12, living with PCOS since 1981
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. Information obtained is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
My nightmare, please help.
For two years now I have undergone excruciating pain, multiple ER visits, multiple doctors, and more pain killers than you can imagine. 2 ½ years ago I had my tubes tied (lost count of all the miscarriages), 2 years ago I had an ectopic pregnancy (on the right ovary) that forced me to stop working, 6 months ago laparoscopy for endometriosis (a little, but not much on the left ovary), last month I went into the ER (again) for pain and they found ovarian cysts, follow up with doctor – switched my birth control pills I’ve been on for about a year to different ones, next month I have to go back for a follow up. This last time was the ONLY time they found anything wrong. Why? Every time I would go in it would be a few days after I was bleeding. By then the cysts were gone. Every month just was a repeat of the last one. Every month – pain – for two sometimes three WEEKS out of the MONTH!
It’s my understanding that birth control pills can’t help me much anymore and I’ve asked my doctor for a hysterectomy. He says I’m too young (I’m 32 years old)and my ovaries look healthy so he sees no reason to do it and wants to give me an injection called Lupron instead that would induce early menopause.
OK, this is where I start to go off!
#1) If I’m so “healthy” why am I in so much pain!
2) I am unable to work. I have been on PERMANENT DISSABNILITY for two years!
3) I am NOT able to go to school or have ANY type of life outside the house!
4) Many days it’s NOT possible for me to even walk to my car!
5) Exercise? Many days I can’t even get out of bed so I just take sleeping pills for about a week at a time!
6) The worst thing? I DO NOT HAVE CUSTODY OF MY SON! He is now living with his alcoholic father because I’m not able to take care of him.
7) Take more pain killers? This is no longer an issue of pain management; this is an issue of “QUALITY OF LIFE” management.
I’m fortunate to have an understanding husband, but that only goes so far when the dishes don’t get done for three WEEKS! It would be ok if we could go walking together once in a while. The last time was in January when we walked for about five blocks, but then (once again) the pain hit (hard) and I was back in the ER and not able to do anything for about a month and a half!
This is not living. This is just barely surviving, if you could call it that.
Depression? You bet.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Gothiqueluv@Yahoo.com >Subject: My nightmare
Dear Jolie,
Wow…that is some story! I can certainly appreciate that you have been through a tremendous ordeal trying to get to the bottom of this already.
However, since I am not your doctor and have not done a medical exam nor taken a history about your conditions, I cannot legally or ethically make any medical judgements about what is going on.
I can tell you that given the quality of life problems that this is causing you, finding a doctor who is willing to work with you on these issues to improve your quality of life is of the utmost importance.
One of the biggest problems in healthcare is continuity of care. Emergency rooms are not designed for continuity of care and so you typically end up with a different doctor each time you go. This is why it is so valuable to have a primary care doctor that knows you and your medical case history and is willing to work with you on issues that impact your health and quality of life.
This can seem an extremely daunting task I know, especially for someone who has had unfavorable experiences with the medical community in the past.
There a few possibilities for finding a doctor in your area. You can try the following link for the PCOS Association. They have a “professional directory” on their web site that lists various health care providers that have shown a commitment to PCOS. They are listed by state:
http://www.pcosupport.org/membership/professionals.php.
If you would be interested in working with a Naturopathic Doctor, a physician who specializes in alternative medicine, go to h
http://www.naturopathic.org and do the “Find an ND” advanced search located at the top of the opening page. You would want to look for an ND with some expertise in women’s medicine.
N.D. stands for Naturopathic Doctor. In case you haven’t heard of that before, ND’s are licensed, primary care doctors who specialize in using natural therapies to prevent and treat both acute and chronic diseases. Our education is somewhat similar to that of MD’s and DO’s. It involves a bachelor’s degree, pre-medical pre-requisites, and then attendance in an accredited 4-year medical school where we learn both didactic and clinical skills.
The benefit of working with an ND is that they work holistically, treating the whole person, and address nutritional needs. This is important in a disease like PCOS, which responds well to lifestyle changes.
I hope this information is helpful for you! We are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
hi first time visting your site which is excellent.i am 40 not over weight have 28 day regular periods i never miss one.i have facial hair an painful peroids.i have never taken the pill an have never got pregnant which i would like to.should i be taking the pill or other medication to help with pcos.thank you
Hi Yvonne,
Welcome to our web site and PCOS Support blog. We’re glad you found us.
I’ve asked Dr. Apryl Krause of our Medical & Advisory team to address your comments (see below.)
Please check in with us again!
Your Editor
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for writing into the Insulite PCOS Support blog.
There are 2 standard medical treatments for PCOS in the mainstream medical world. They are Metformin (Glucophage) and birth control pills.
Using birth control pills can indeed help regulate the menses, and can sometimes make them less painful. However, they do not treat the issue underlying the PCOS, which is insulin resistance; and, obviously, they keep you from getting pregnant.
Metformin treats the insulin resistance, but usually doesn’t completely help resolve the issue. This is why the Insulite PCOS System has been so useful for so many women. It helps to get to the root cause of PCOS, so that if a woman wants to get pregnant, she has a decent chance of doing so (assuming there aren’t any other issues with her reproductive system).
Even without insulin resistance or PCOS, having regular menses does not necessarily mean you are ovulating. There is an excellent book available “Taking Charge of Your Fertility 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement,and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschle. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?r=1&ean=9780060881900. This book will help you track your menses, and help you figure out if you are ovulating, and when. That will be of help to you if you are trying to get pregnant.
I hope this addresses some of your concerns! Please write in anytime – we are here to help.
Best wishes,
Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi Yvonne!
I was just reading your post and thought I would chime in as a woman with PCOS and endometriosis.
My suggestion would be to discuss with your doctor about having a laparoscopy. Your symptoms are indicative of Endometriosis – which can only be found during a laparoscopy. I am wondering if the reason you have not had a pregnancy (assuming you tried) is because your tubes may be blocked and/or damaged by endometriosis and/or scar tissue.
During a laparoscopy they can remove any endometriosis and scar tissue that may be found, but it is important to know that removal does not guarantee permanent remission nor pregnancy success. It is a tool to help you gain improvement and help remove obstacles for the time being. There are healthy options you can use in your daily life to help reduce occurrence; again if you do suffer from endometriosis.
I also suggest looking into Metformin and/or naturals to help treat the PCOS. As with any treatment options, results vary from person to person.
Some women, like myself, do really well on Metformin; once the proper dose is found for the individual. I have been on 2000mg of Met since 2001 and it has completely turned my world around for the better. My results are amazing and some women can relate. Some women have had no improvements or can not handle taking the drug. It depends on the woman and the dosage. With each patient there will probably be some time needed for adjustments and trials.
Naturals are also another way to go. There is a list of naturals at http://pcos.itgo.com that can help you. You will find many of these in Insulite Laboratories’ PCOS System as well. I myself add Cinnamon to my meals in the form of a 1000mg tablet. I also add Cinnamon to my foods when I want the flavor. I have used naturals off and on throughout the years when I felt I needed that extra source of aid.
I now am a “Raw Foodie”, so a lot of those naturals are in my foods. This is another way to go, researching what you can get in your foods that you eat.
The best benefit of eating more natural foods is that your cravings will start to slow down and your desire for unhealthy foods will often decrease. I now no longer desire foods I would have gobbled-up just a year before. Some foods do not taste as good as I thought they once did. Soda is no longer in my diet – by choice! I just don’t desire soda any more. Eating less processed foods is a wonderful way to gain a healthier lifestyle that will improve your health for years to come.
Hi everyone!
This site is very useful! I was diagnosed PCOS 4 years ago (I’m now nearly 23) and my main symptom is persistent spotting that either starts 4-5 days before my period is due, or, even worse, around the middle of my cycle and always goes on till the next period. Most ladies in this website said they had irregular or absent periods but I’m the opposite case. BC pills did not particularly help (the problem was still there even while taking them). Only progesterone pills did help the symptoms go away but now I’m not taking them(my OBGYN’s advice), symptoms are back. And they came back on the first cycle I did without. 3-4 months ago I took some blood tests, according to which all my hormones (estrogen, testosterone etc.) were in very good levels. I’m really confused and frustrated and I really wonder if there’s any more tests I need to take in case there’s something else(note: I have regular ultrasounds and they show I don’t have endometriosis, polyps or anything like that). Also, I’m very frustrated with the symptoms returning after coming off progesterone. Will my whole life go on like this? And isn’t there any medication/treatment that can permanently cure this, or at least stop it for a few months so that I can relax for some time without pills before I start taking them again?
hi,
i recently saw this site. I am suffering from polycyst ovary problem only in one overy. What are my chances of getting pregnant. After discovering this i have not got my period from last 40 days, can i be pregnant.
Is there some special diet i needto follow.
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Dear Sonal,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Support blog. I hope you are finding what you need from the PCOS community.
If you have been having unprotected sex, there is a chance you may be pregnant. But the only way to know is to take a pregnancy test, and if it is positive, a urine test will be performed by your doctor to confirm if you are pregnant.
I understand that you have cysts in one ovary. Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? There are different types of cysts and women can experience multiple cysts in one or both ovaries that may not be related to PCOS. If a woman has cysts, the cysts typically found in women with PCOS resemble a string of pearls, in that the cysts are small multiple cysts. Other tests that can be abnormal in women with PCOS include testosterone (elevated), DHEA-s (elevated), fasting glucose and fasting insulin (elevated), LH:FSH ratio (LH elevated in relation to FSH).
Sonal, if you have been diagnosed with PCOS, one of the symptoms may be irregular cycles ranging from a longer cycle (less frequent periods) to a short cycle (more frequent periods). Have you had irregular cycles in the past?
It is difficult to say what your chances to conceive will be. PCOS can affect women very differently and each person seems to be vastly different. This makes it difficult to know. However, if you are not having your period and are not ovulating, it will be more difficult. You can have testing done to see if you are ovulating and if the non-cystic ovary is releasing an egg.
Yes, there is a nutrition plan that can help to control your symptoms of PCOS. Decreasing refined and total carbohydrates and eating a whole foods based diet is very helpful. Exercise is also extremely important in helping control PCOS. The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. It is an endocrine problem, so it not only affects fertility in
women. It also increases risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
It is also the increase in insulin that can contribute to cysts forming on your ovary. The Insulite PCOS System is designed to address the cause of PCOS. helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines.
The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS. To read more about the PCOS System (supplements, nutrition plan, exercise and support) go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
Sonal, I hope this is helpful to you. Please continue to contribute to the blog. If you have more questions or concerns, contact me at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
Dear Christi,
I am delighted you found our blog and decided to write in! PCOS is such a complex disorder and we understand how challenging it can be to manage PCOS.
Some women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their menses. We do not generally recommend oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. When the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist, as you learned. The only way to change your condition is to re-balance your hormones that are causing the problem in the first place!
In regard to progesterone, continued supplementation would depend on where your levels of progesterone are at. You mentioned that testosterone and estrogen were normal, but was progesterone tested as well? Many women with PCOS do have lower levels of progesterone and supplementation would be helpful. However, you would need to speak with your physician regarding this and I would recommend making sure it is a natural, bio-identical form of progesterone. Women respond much better to this than the synthetic forms of progesterone.
I can tell you that, Rudel and Kincl, in their review of the international literature, noted that “Nowhere . . . is the oral toxicity of progesterone reported.” They therefore undertook a study with rats, administering various doses of progesterone both orally (via gavage) and by subcutaneous injection for 26 weeks. Their only finding was an increase in the body and liver weights of female rats receiving parenteral progesterone.
Not infrequently, women complain of drowsiness, headache, dizziness, or nausea just after ingesting an oral dose of micronized progesterone 11, 22 or transmucosal lozenges. Intravenous administration induces sleep at doses of 250 to 500 mg. Synthetic progestins; on the other hand, often cause androgenic side effects (acne, body and facial hair), depression, and weight gain.
I did some research on progesterone and found the following information online….
http://www.project-aware.org/Resource/articlearchives/Progesterone_Murray1.shtml
Additionally, there is an herb, Vitex angus castus, that is well known to increase progesterone and can also suppress estrogen effects.
http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Herbal/atkin23.htm
“One of the most cited studies of the pharmacological effects of Vitex was carried out by Haller at the University of Gottingen in the early1960s.
Female Guinea pigs were given Vitex tincture orally at normal to high dose for 90 days. At the end of this time the animals were examined for any changes in organ structure or weight. It was concluded that at normal doses Vitex clearly demonstrated a decrease of estrogen effects and an increase of progesterone effects.”
You can also take a look at our collection of research at http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Research.php.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
Hi, I’m 19 and I really feel that this condition holds me back from living my life. It has affected my self-esteem and self-confidence for as long as I can remember, mainly due to the excess body hair that I can’t seem to do anything about. I flinch whenever anyone touches me and I wear pants and sweaters year-round. It only seems to be getting worse and shaving/waxing aren’t even options because my skin is terribly sensitive. Is there anything that can help this symptom?! I’m so desperate to be a normal girl.
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Dear Jolene,
Thank you for writing in to our PCOS Support Blog. I am sorry to hear PCOS is affecting how you are feeling about yourself. I understand the symptoms that are visible to the eyes make it very difficult, but many women have reversed these symptoms.
Have you spoken to your doctor about other methods for hair removal or considered a more natural approach to addressing PCOS? There are options available and can range from medications ( topical and oral) and hair removal methods (electrolysis). Although these can help with the symptom of hair growth, they require continual use and if stopped the symptoms will most likely return.
Have you considered a more natural approach to addressing PCOS? If so, I would recommend checking out http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. We have developed a System to address the cause of PCOS and its associated symptoms. Our System does address excess facial and body hair, but requires that your hormones be in balance, which the supplements help to do.
As you may know already Jolene, the increased facial and body hair is often due to an increase in testosterone, a male hormone that we all have, but can be elevated in women with PCOS, leading to what you are experiencing as well as acne and other symptoms.
I would also recommend continuing to share how you are feeling. You are certainly not alone. By no means does this condition define who you are and what you have to offer. There are others out there that are part of the PCOS community that would be more than happy to share ways to deal with the symptoms of PCOS. One website that can put you in touch of course is our blog, here and http://www.soulcysters.com.
Jolene, if you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me, DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com. I will address your concerns, as best I can.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
I had my first period at the age of 12. I didn’t have another period until about 6 months later. I have never had normal periods. My mother would always ask the doctor about it, but I just ignored her, saying all children have abnormal periods. I started gaining weight throughout the years, and noticed facial hair begining to grow before I was 18. I noticed skin tags, had horrible depression/anxiety issues. After I graduated high school I was even placed into a psychiatric ward because the depression was so bad. At that point in time I stoped having a period at all. Throughout high school it would be about every 3-6 months that I would get them until finall my senior year they stoped all together. I went to doctor after doctor and no one would help. Then I finally decided last year to look up online to find out what was wrong with me. Then there it was in black and white PCOS. I went to my Gyno and he agreed and told me that there was no specific test to determin but from all my symptoms diagnosed me with it. I was on Metformin for about 3 months but the side effects were so bad that I had to quit taking them. I just found this site today, and I am so excited. I have tried everything it seems. Birth Control didn’t work because I haven’t had a normal period in over 2 years so everytime I take the birth control I bleed for over 2 weeks straight even though I quit taking them after i start bleeding. Plus I have HORRIBLE cramps whenever I take the pills (before when I would have normal periods I wouldn’t have a sign of a cramp). This is just about the last straw for me. I am sick of being overweight, but the only time I have been able to loose a little was when I was literally starving myself, then I eat regularly and gain it all back. I am hopeing that this will help me and put me on the right track to eating the right way and exercise. If anyone has any other information that can help me they can e-mail me at Crbramel@live.com
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Dear Cheryl,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog. I am so sorry to hear about your health struggles and I appreciate you sharing your story.
The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Women with PCOS may also find it more difficult to achieve pregnancy because of the hormonal changes (elevated testosterone and DHEA-S) and ovarian cysts that are characteristic of PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS. You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com.
I encourage you to consider giving the system a try, Cheryl. Please do contact us with additional questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector, ND
Insulite Laboratories Research and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
I am 24 years old and have recently been diagnosed with PCOS. My periods have always been regular since they started at age 16, with absolutely no irregularities. However its been a year with only one natural period. At 5′6, my weight is usually around 120 and has been for years.
Overall, I’m just confused. I never looked at my normal pimples as acne. I’m 100% Italian so hair is not a weird concept to me. I’ve never been on birth control pills and have always been regular. Now with this diagnosis, I feel like PCOS has come out of no where. The fact that I’ve never been overweight or irregular makes me feel abnormal amongst the group of other PCOS’sters.
All my hormones are ok, other than a light spike in testosterone, and a few follicles on my ovaries that the ultrasound showed.
I have an appt with a ferility dr/endo next week, but still don’t know how I feel about this whole thing.
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Dear Jackie,
Thank you for writing in to the Blog.
I understand your confusion. PCOS is very complicated and unfortunately diagnosing it is not easy, which is why many women go for so long undiagnosed. As doctors are seeing more and more women with this condition they are realizing that even though you may not have all the symptoms and your blood tests show few abnormalities, it is enough to diagnose PCOS.
However, if you really do not feel that you have PCOS, you can always get a second opinion. If you do, be sure that this person has experience with PCOS, other wise they may not be aware of the patterns.
Here is some information on how we diagnose PCOS. The blood tests to consider are:
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate Insulin Resistance. Insulin Resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our site.
- fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose Insulin Resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of Diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH:FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts. Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts. It sounds like this was positive for you. Typically the cysts resemble a string of pearls, small multiple cysts/follicles.
These are not the only tests used and you can find more information at:
http://www.inciid.org/faq.php?cat=complementarymed&id=2 This website gives more information on blood tests and the values.
The increase in your testosterone level is most likely responsible for the irregular cycles you started to have. The cause of PCOS is linked to insulin resistance. I mentioned this test above, it is a hormone that when elevated or when a person is over sensitive to the insulin they produce, can cause increased levels of other hormones. Also, the follicles in PCOS look different than other ovarian cysts. These are enough to diagnose PCOS.
Lastly, you mentioned that you are not overweight but weight is only a symptom of PCOS for about 50% of women. Many women who are thin tend to be more sensitive to the insulin they produce. I encourage you to discuss the diagnosis with your doctor and to check out some support sites as well. Here is a link that my be useful. http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
PCOS is never easy and certainly when it is not a diagnosis you ever expected to get.
I do want to let you know that you can make a difference in how it affects your life. If you are interested in a natural comprehensive approach to PCOS, go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I hope you find this information helpful. Please continue to write in and let me know if I can offer any assistance.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
Hi!I am soooo happy to find this site! I am considering taking birth control pills soon and would like to know what other women with PCOS think of them. Here is some history on me.
I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 16. I have never had a period without taking hormones. I used to be underweight(5′2″ 90 pounds) but 3 kids later and I am now a healthier weight (5′2″ 115 pounds)I have had acne since age 12 and also get a bit of stubble that grows on my chin , upper lip and lower tummy if I don’t wax it.Ultrasound shows cysts in both ovaries. I know insulin resistance is supposed to be a big part of PCOS but after a 5 hour glucose tolerance test I have been diagnosed with Hypoglycemia not Diabetes.
At age 22 I got pregnant with twins after 2 years of trying.I took clomid, progesterone and estrogen the month I conceived them. I was put on bed rest immediatly for threatened misscariage at 22 weeks I was hospitalized for preterm labor and I stayed in the hospital until the twins were born at 28 weeks.
No matter how much I pumped and how much reglan I took I could not produce enough milk to feed them both and after 4 months of trying I gave up.
I never had a period after having them 2 years later I got pregnant naturally. I was but on procardia and bed rest at 30 weeks he was full term at 38 weeks. Breastfeeding has gone well this time in fact he is 13 months and still nursing.
I currently have the copper paraguard IUD. When my baby weens I would like to have it removed I’ve had constant cramping since it was put in. I want a BC pill that will help with PCOS symptoms. What do ya’ll think?
__________________________________________________________________________
Dear Bri,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Blog. We appreciate your sharing your story and asking questions. This is what the PCOS community is all about.
First, I am so happy to hear that although the pregnancies were threatened, you have three children.
I would like to share some information about using birth control pills for managing symptoms of PCOS from a medical point of view. Birth control pills are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain symptoms of PCOS. However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS. We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
In general, we do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
In looking at options to address the condition it is important to consider what your goals are. Do you just want to control symptoms or treat the cause? The latter will not only contribute to a decrease in symptoms but will also minimize the long term effects that are associated with the condition.
Bri, if you would like to address the cause of PCOS and not just the symptoms, I encourage you to consider the Insulite PCOS System. You can read more about this at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. There is a lot of information, however, I think you will agree that it is a unique, comprehensive approach to dealing with PCOS and its associated symptoms.
Regarding the insulin resistance component: this can not be diagnosed with a fasting glucose or a glucose tolerance test. These tests do provide valuable information and we use them in conjunction with other tests. We use a fasting insulin level TEST? to diagnose it. Since the laboratory range for insulin levels is broad (0-20), many doctors do not order this test. However, research supports that levels reaching 9-10 are indicative of insulin resistance.
In regard to being hypoglycemic (low blood sugar), the condition is a sign of blood sugar dysregulation. There are some thoughts in the medical community that it is a precursor to diabetes. However, this is definitely not certain. I do want to let you know that having 5-6 small meals throughout the day consisting of protein and good fats will help to prevent your blood sugars from dropping.
As you have experienced with your first pregnancy, some women with PCOS have difficulty with breastfeeding. The mechanism by which this happens is not entirely understood. I know that your second pregnancy did not cause the same problems but certainly many women may be wondering about this situation. Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to share a little more on the subject.
Here is a link to an interview with Lisa Marasco, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, about her research into the link between lactation problems and PCOS: http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle.asp?page=/pcos/articles/childers-chats
For the women reading this who may be struggling with low milk production or difficulty breastfeeding, there is a lot you can do to increase your supply of breast milk, depending on what’s causing the low supply! There are latching and nursing techniques, herbs (like fenugreek, goat’s rue, fennel, blessed thistle, nettles leaf, and more) and medications (like domperidone), and supplemental nursing systems like the LactAid and the SNS which can augment your supply and support your breastfeeding relationship.
I strongly encourage you to look into the following:
First, contact a local Lactation Consultant. There should be one affiliated with the nearest hospital maternity ward.
Also, you can contact a local La Leche League for support and tips at:
http://www.lalecheleague.com/webindex.html
Third, there are some fantastic online resources for support and information for breastfeeding and low milk supply. Here are a few links:
1. Dr. Jack Newman’s website-
http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=105
2. http://www.kellymom.com
3. The Breastfeeding After Reduction website. While this site is geared towards moms who are having low milk supply issues due to prior breast surgery, it is welcoming to women with other low milk supply issues. This is a wonderfully supportive online community. Follow the links to the forum for support, and look around for other information about how to increase supply.
http://www.bfar.org
I hope that you find this information useful. Please continue to check in on the blog and share information and contact me if you have additional questions at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
I forgot to mention I was allergic to metformin when I tried it!!!
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 1 week ago,I am 23 yrs old and my doctor is putting me onus birthcontrol so that I will have a reg period.Basically To shed the lining,in the past two yrs I have had 5 periods and I do have alot of the PCOS symptoms. I am still confused and unsure.Is the birthcontrol supposed to help the PCOS or is that just something I will have to live with.She did tell me that it isn’t completely impossible to have children but that when I am ready I will need to use fert pills.
I recently was diagnosed with PCOS and put on Metformin. It is working very well for me and I having been dropping weight already with just minor side efefcts (taking 500 mg, twice a day.) While I am loving the results, I want my children to be not too far apart. I have two children, 4 and 6. I am trying for one more, my last. I plan to then get my tubes tied. I have been on birth control pills (ortho novum) for a while now. I quit taking them last week. I have two questions. One is if I conceive while on Metformin, I have read that I will have to quit taking it until I have the baby. What can I do for my PCOS while I am pregnant? Is there anything I can take. Also, a friend of mine is also taking Metformin and birth control pills. (She also had PCOS.) She was wondering if the birth control pills efficiency was decreased any while she is taking Metformin. (She isn’t wanting to have any more children.)
Hi Diana,
I hope that we can help with your confusion. Dr. Heather DeLuca from our Medical & Advisory team has responded to your blog:
Dear Diana,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Blog. I hope you are finding it useful to hear what other women are feeling and saying regarding their experience with PCOS.
Your question about using the birth control pill (BCP) to help with PCOS is a great one. I recently addressed this concern with another blogger (Bri) so I am excerpting some comments here.
I would like to share some information about using birth control pills for managing PCOS symptoms from a medical point of view.
Birth control pills are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain PCOS symptoms.However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS. We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3
In general, we do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the PCOS symptoms rather than fix the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, PCOS symptoms will persist.
In looking at options to address the condition it is important to consider what your goals are. Do you just want to control symptoms or treat the cause? The latter will not only contribute to a decrease in symptoms but will also minimize the long term effects that are associated with the condition.
If you would like to address the cause of PCOS and not just the symptoms, I encourage you to consider the Insulite PCOS System. You can read more about this at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
There is a lot of information, however, I think you will agree that it is a unique, comprehensive approach to dealing with PCOS and its associated symptoms.
In addition, your Doctor is correct in saying that while PCOS is associated with infertility and difficulty in conceiving, no one can be sure how this will affect you, unless fertility testing has been done. There are women with PCOS that have children and others who struggle. Addressing the cause of the problem can help to increase fertility and prevent future risks associated with having PCOS.
I know getting this diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you are not alone and there is a large community of women and professionals that are committed to understanding and helping others with this complicated condition. Here is a link to some websites that may be useful for you:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php They include support and informational websites.
Please continue to use the blog as a source of information and an outlet for support. Also, feel free to contact me if I can help further at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Trisha,
Thank you for writing in with your questions. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. We understand how overwhelming it can be. There certainly is a lot of information out there.
First, I am glad to hear that you are having positive results with the use of Metformin.
As you know anything that we put into our bodies can have a positive or negative effect. It is great that you are researching this information now so that you will have important data as it pertains to your situation.
Regarding your question about continuing Metformin while pregnant, of course, I recommend discussing the risks and benefits with your doctor. However, what I can do is pass along some information that may be useful to you.
Some studies indicate that continuing the medication may reduce the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester. Beyond the first trimester, the effects are unknown and have not been studied. It is not known whether metformin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. The long-term risks to the baby are not known, but many apparently healthy babies have been born to women who used metformin while pregnant.
Metformin is a Pregnancy Category B drug meaning that it has not been known to cause birth defects in rats, but there are no adequate studies in pregnant women and the choice to continue metformin should be based on whether one considers the potential benefits to outweigh the risks. This is an area where a woman and her doctor have to weigh the risks and benefits together. Many doctors hesitate to use metformin due to these liability issues when insulin has been so well studied so they will prescribe insulin if blood sugars climb too high during pregnancy.
Here is a link to a PDF file regarding the topic of metformin and pregnancy:
http://www.otispregnancy.org/pdf/metformin.pdf
Because there is limited information on the use of medications and natural therapies during pregnancy, you are limited to what you can take internally. I am sure your doctor will recommend a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy because the levels are safe and support what a woman’s body needs while your baby grows. However, the foods you eat and how much exercise you do can certainly help to manage symptoms before/during this time.
The cause of PCOS often stems from insulin resistance. With insulin resistance you either have elevated levels of insulin or you are more reactive to the insulin you produce. In time, as the resistance increases, this can lead to an increase in glucose levels. This is why metformin is used in women with PCOS. It is a drug that lowers glucose levels and in turn may lower insulin levels. We do know that a lifestyle low or lacking in exercise and a diet higher in refined carbohydrates (pastas, rice, bread, etc) have a negative effect on insulin and glucose levels. So, making changes in these areas now can help to control those levels.
In regard to your friend’s question, I am not aware that the efficacy of birth control is decreased with the use of metformin. Birth control pills (BCP) are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain symptoms of PCOS. It also is a common combination in women with PCOS and not all women are trying to conceive. However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (by raising glucose levels). We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3
Again, I did not find evidence to support this but if your friend is worried about the efficacy being decreased and she is using the BCP to prevent pregnancy, she should ask the doctor that prescribed these for her as they would be most familiar with the possible interactions.
Lastly, I would like to recommend that you both check out http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
If you are interested, we at Insulite Labs have designed a system to address not only the cause of PCOS but a comprehensive approach to all aspects of the condition, including symptoms, and other risks that are increased due to having PCOS. It includes supplements, nutrition and exercise plan, awareness of food addiction and of course support for you while on your journey to reverse the effects of PCOS.
Trisha, I hope that I have answered your questions. I know that by writing in you have helped others who have these same concerns as you do. Thanks so much, I hope that you continue to contribute to the PCOS blog.
If I can help further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I’m 25 years old and I just had a vaginal ultrasound done because my periods have gotten extremely light. They’re down to one day. The ultrasound indicated that I have PCOS, however the doctor did blood work to test my hormonal levels as well as thyroid and the test came back normal. Well I’m confused as to whether I have PCOS or not! If I don’t then why have my periods practicaly stopped, and what explains the other symptons like excess facial hair on my face and lower abdomen, hair thining and balding, difficulty maintaining my wealth…etc. My doctor says maybe its’ stress, I’ve just finished graduate school, started a great job and got engaged! So realistically it could be stress! How do I know though? Is it possible to have cysts and the normal lab test but no period? Please help!
Dear Kelly,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in!
We understand how frightening it is to be experiencing such distressing symptoms without a clear cut cause. We hear from many women who struggle with the pervasive symptoms of PCOS just as you do, but there is hope, and things can get better.
PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, it is important to rule out other diseases that can cause
symptoms similar to PCOS (such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia).
To diagnose PCOS, we use a combination of clinical symptoms (what you experience as the patient, such as excess hair growth, irregular menses, acne, skin tags, weight gain, infertility, etc.) and lab tests.
The blood tests to consider are:
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate Insulin Resistance. Insulin
Resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read on our site.
- Fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose Insulin Resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of Diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- I would also check your cholesterol levels and liver function tests, as these can also be abnormal in PCOS (as well as in many other conditions).
Lab testing is not mandatory for diagnosing PCOS, especially if you are experiencing so many of the symptoms. However, the above tests do give us
numbers which, along with the improvement of your clinical symptoms, help us monitor your progress.
Stress has been shown to cause menstrual irregularity, however the other PCOS symptoms that you are xperiencing (excess facial hair, weight gain, hair loss, etc.) have not been shown to be related to stress.
I do want to let you know that there is another condition called Cushing’s Disease that has many symptoms of PCOS and is sometimes mistaken for PCOS.
If you did have Cushing’s disease it may exacerbate the symptoms.
Cushing’s is not very common, but I still wanted to mention it to you. This would be something to discuss with your doctor to ensure it has been ruled out.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition.
Does anyone know a cure for PCOS? I don’t get periods, I have facial hair and am exhausted all of the time and my sex drive is gone. However I notice I feel much better when I take FemCon FE (birth control) but I ran out of it and do not have the money or the time to go to the doctor again and so I went to a free clinic and they didn’t have that kind so they gave me Ortho-cyclen which I think is an older brand of a bc I took when I was like 16 so I haven’t taken it. These symptoms have been progressing my whole life. My mom has thyroids disease and had to take meds to suppress her metabolism while she was pregnant with me. I was bulimic for about 5 years. I had chronic yeast infections for two years about a year and a half ago. I was only diagnosed with PCOS this year after countless doctors apts. I went to a specialist and she basically told me I am stressed. I am not overweight I am 5ft 1/2 in and I weigh 106. I do not have huge problems with acne but do usually have a couple really tiny break outs. I have had unprotected sex off and on with my boyfriend since I was 16 and have never been pregnant. I started my period when I was twelve. I feel like I just have general excess of hair on my body and face although it is blonde it really bothers me. The worst symptom however is that I am so exhausted I am missing out on life. I do not currently work out because I am so busy I usually do not even want to think about working out by the end of my day although I am going ot begin running again soon so hopefully that will make me feel a little better. I am not myself because being tired all of the time makes me lazy and I often do not like myself. I take adderall I tried to stop but I just get so tired I have to sleep for like 2 days and I can’t do that because I am busy everyday with work and class. I have never had an orgasm. I can’t really think of anything else unusual about my health but if anyone has any advice please help! I feel like doctors don’t know anything about this horrible syndrome even though a ton of women have it! Its really discouraging to visit the doctor and pay only to have them tell you something you already knew. If anyone knows how to get rid of the facial hair I’d really like to know I have been using vaniqa for about 2-3 months now and haven’t seen much improvement. I just recently did a 2 hour fasting blood sugar test where they made me drink this really sugary, glucose drink and then I had my blood drawn every hour and I have not received the results yet. I had an amenoria profile done where they test all possible reasons you could be not getting a period and nothing was wrong with me I had my hormones tested and it showed that I had PCOS ?? Help!!
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
my LH is double my FSH…….
I’m very confused please help me out with some answers.. I’m 34 yrs old and have been suffering from the thyroid for about 4yrs now. I have always been irregular since getting my period at the age of 16. I have always been very thin and healthy, but then out of no where I gain about 30lbs in less then 6 months, became very tired and sleepy all the time. So I finally went to my endocrinologist and he ran all types of blood work and he diagnos me with PCOS but also with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia?? Does that makes any sence at all? How can I have both?? Now in the past few months I got on BCP for the first time in my entire life and it kind of work as far as getting a period. Why is it that my testosterone levels are so high? (150) Its very embarrest with all the excess hair growth all over my body, (face,breast,stomatch,legs)and also weight gain even tho I work out 3 times a week and watch what I eat. In the other hand I was BLESS w my son 12 yrs ago, however that has been my only pregnancy and I’m afraid that I might not be able to conceive never again. My physician just recently gave me a prescription for metformin and I’m also taking BCP! can I take both at the same time? and is it going to help me at all?
Thanks for taking the time to read my email.
Erika
Dear Erika,
Thank you for contacting us. I understand your concern and confusion. I have not heard of someone being diagnosed with both PCOS and CAH.
PCOS and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) do have similar symptoms, but their causes are different. PCOS does not cause CAH or vice versa.
With CAH, there is a congenital lack of one or more enzymes in the adrenal gland that work in the synthesis of cortisol and/or aldosterone. Cortisol and aldosterone are hormones. Cortisol is known as a “stress hormone”- it is produced under stress and has MANY effects on the body. Aldosterone acts to maintain blood volume and blood pressure by causing sodium to be reabsorbed in the kidneys.
CAH is a genetic disease that can manifest as mild or severe. The symptoms differ depending on which enzyme is deficient and therefore which hormone is deficient. Also, some of the symptoms result from a compensatory increase in other hormones made in the adrenals glands, or a back-up of the precursors to aldosterone and cortisol.
You can read a lot more about CAH at this website: http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic48.htm. This website is designed more for the medical professional than the lay person, so if you have questions after reading it or want a site more geared to patients, please just let me know.
I have pasted a quote from that site below because this may be pertinent for your case:
“Some patients appear to have non-classic forms of this disease as evidenced by symptoms and signs of virilization later in life. These symptoms include oligomenorrhea, infertility, and abnormal ratios of precursors to product (i.e., increased ratio of 17-hydroxypregnenolone to 17-hydroxyprogesterone and of dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenedione). These patients have not been shown to have mutations or deletions of any of the genes that code for adrenal 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The molecular basis for this disorder remains undefined. Considerable overlap between this condition and polycystic ovary disease exists in clinical and hormonal findings.”
From what I learned in medical school, the best way to differentiate CAH from PCOS is the 17-hydroxyprogesterone level, which would be high in CAH and normal in PCOS. Your endocrinologist would have more experience with these conditions though and may have more information for you.
PCOS is a common female endocrine disorder (i.e., hormonal imbalance) with a wide variety of symptoms. Symptoms of PCOS can include excessive weight gain and obesity, irregular, heavy or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, excessive facial or body hair, alopecia (male pattern hair loss), acne, skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive and excess male hormones.
PCOS is caused by Insulin Resistance, in most cases. With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
PCOS does seem to have a hereditary component to it, but it is also strongly influenced by environment (i.e., lifestyle choices like diet and exercise). You can read more about PCOS at our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com. Insulite Laboratories has developed a PCOS System to address the cause of PCOS.
We have only had one customer with CAH using the Insulite PCOS System so far. She just recently started. Based on your symptoms, I am inclined to think that the Insulite PCOS System would not cure your condition, since, as you know it is a congenital deficiency of an enzyme, but I do think the System may alleviate some of your symptoms.
Insulite Labs offers a 90 day money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the Insulite System, we will refund your original purchase price for up to 90 days. (Excluding shipping and handling)
If you decide to use the Insulite PCOS System, I would like you to contact me 2 weeks after starting the Insulite PCOS System so that we can check in. We look forward to working with you.
Glucophage (Metformin) acts as an anti-hyperglycemic; it reduces glucose thereby reducing insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by Insulin Resistance. Many women with PCOS are put on birth control, metformin and spironolactone.
Some women with PCOS respond well to Glucophage in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on Glucophage, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of Insulin Resistance and PCOS.
If you decide to take Metformin while using the Insulite PCOS System, please make sure to take it separately from the GlucX product. GlucX contains fiber, which may interfere with the absorption of other medications if they are taken simultaneously. We recommend taking the GlucX 4 hours apart from other medications and supplements.
Also, if you will be taking Metformin while using the Insulite PCOS System, we recommend that you test your blood sugar daily for the first few weeks on the System, as the Insulite PCOS nutrients and Metformin together may decrease your blood sugar beyond what you may expect. This is the good news however. If you find this is happening, you can speak to your doctor about withdrawing from the Metformin.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hey Julie, there is NO cure for PCOS, just treatments!
Hi I was diagnosed with POS about 5 years ago but didn’t actually start any medication for it until about 2 years ago. I started Metformin 500mg 3 x’s a day and spironlactone for the facial hair as well 3 x’s a day. Well that was Aril 2006 and 6 months afer that I had lost almost 60 lbs, I felt great, I had an ultra sound done to see how I was doing, and every cyst was gone! YEAH! Well My BF and I decided to move out of state, I went off my Meformin and spironlactone (I no longer had insurance and figured once we moved and I regained insurance I would go back on. Well it has been 4 months on my new Metformin (which don’t look anything like my Metformin from back home) and nothing! I still have abnormal bleeding, severe cramps both abdominal and in my back. I just recently went on Birth control pills (6 weeks ago) my body is not reponding to them yet. No period on my “off” pills and break through bleeding omly the first week of the actual pill. I took a preg test but negative. I feel so “messed up” still. Could my body not be responding to any of the Meformin anymore? Can birth control actually not make any difference at all? Please help! Thanks for your time in reading my email. Tanya
Tanya – thanks for writing in and sharing your experiences.
Here’s a reply to your questions from Dr. Shana Spector, ND of Insulite Labs’ Medical & Advisory team:
Dear Tanya,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog. Some women with PCOS respond well to Glucophage in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on Glucophage, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of Insulin Resistance and PCOS.
If you decide to take Metformin while using the Insulite PCOS System, please make sure to take it separately from the GlucX product. GlucX contains fiber, which may interfere with the absorption of other
medications if they are taken simultaneously. We recommend taking the GlucX 4 hours apart from other medications and supplements.
Also, if you will be taking Metformin while using the Insulite PCOS System, we recommend that you test your blood sugar daily for the first few weeks on the System, as the Insulite PCOS nutrients and Metformin
together may decrease your blood sugar beyond what you may expect. This is the good news however. If you find this is happening, you can speak to your doctor about withdrawing from the Metformin.
Regarding the birth control pill, We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems.
Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued,
the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth
control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill!
The supplements of The PCOS System do not do the same
thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
I hope this answers your questions, Tanya, and I encourage you to to consider giving the system a try. Please do contact us with additional questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector Deneen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Research and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
“Hi I was diagnosed with POS about 5 years ago but didn’t actually start any medication for it until about 2 years ago. I started Metformin 500mg 3 x’s a day and spironlactone for the facial hair as well 3 x’s a day. Well that was Aril 2006 and 6 months afer that I had lost almost 60 lbs, I felt great, I had an ultra sound done to see how I was doing, and every cyst was gone! YEAH! Well My BF and I decided to move out of state, I went off my Meformin and spironlactone (I no longer had insurance and figured once we moved and I regained insurance I would go back on. Well it has been 4 months on my new Metformin (which don’t look anything like my Metformin from back home) and nothing! I still have abnormal bleeding, severe cramps both abdominal and in my back. I just recently went on Birth control pills (6 weeks ago) my body is not reponding to them yet. No period on my “off” pills and break through bleeding omly the first week of the actual pill. I took a preg test but negative. I feel so “messed up” still. Could my body not be responding to any of the Meformin anymore? Can birth control actually not make any difference at all? Please help! Thanks for your time in reading my email. Tanya ”
I can relate Tanya.
I was diagnosed 1 year ago. I was placed on Metformin and Adipex and lost 25 lbs. I was feeling great!
So great we thought it would be time to get off the pills.
Well off I go and up my weight goes. My eating and excercise routine didn’t change. I got back on Metformin 2 months ago but now nothing. In addition, my skin is getting worse now.
I just ordered this system and I really hope it works..
Reading prior posts I found this and it just like woke me up…
“You have to control your disorder or it will control you”
Best of luck!
Cyn
Help!
I’m a ninteen year old female with a whole world of problems. After 6 years of tests, cat scans, mri’s and blood tests, the doctors finally have agreed that I have PCOS. Which, I am finally happy that they came to a conclusion, yet all of them say that I should be put on birth control, though I am extremely adamant against it. For one reason, my mother suffered from Breast Cancer a few years ago, and I firmly believe in not taking something that will just halt these symptoms. And a few others are: I also suffer from depression (chose not to take anti-depressant drugs after bad scare), and am a recovering bulimic and I don’t need the mood swings, weight gain, etc, from the birth control pills. I am in the category of lean PCOS and I’m not sure whether I should be taking metformin, for I do have low blood sugar, and my body cannot process alot of carbs very well, but I don’t need to lose a lot of weight. I WANT THIS FIXED, NOT TEMPORARILY PUT ON HOLD. I want a healthy life, and a healthy body, and no matter my good eating habits, etc, my body doesn’t give me a period and my androgens are up to kazoo. I’m just so confused and I don’t know what I need to do anymore. I’m at my wits end.
Hello Allison,
Thank you for contacting us. I am so glad you found our blog.
I think it’s wise to be wary of using the birth control to control your PCOS symptoms given your family history.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill!
The supplements of the Insulite PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills; they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
The topics of lean women with PCOS, and PCOS without Insulin Resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. Many thin women with PCOS do have Insulin Resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not Insulin Resistant. Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance.
And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
Here is a link to study that was done with lean women who have a history of PCOS:
http://www.insidepcos.com:80/articles/612/1/Lean-Women-with-Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-Respond-to-Insulin-Reduction.html
If you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, if you have cravings for carbohydrates or sweets, if you have skin tags or acanthosis nigricans (dark patches on the skin, especially in the armpits) I would be more inclined to think there is a component of insulin resistance in your case.
We have had customers with Lean PCOS on the Insulite PCOS System with success. You could certainly try the System. I do want to let you know we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for some reason, the system does not work for you, Insulite Laboratories offers a 90 day money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the Insulite System, we will refund your original purchase price for up to 90 days. (Excluding shipping and handling)
You just might want to pay close attention to your blood sugar in the first few weeks on the System, to make sure it does not drop too low. You can monitor blood sugar with a home glucometer (blood glucose meter) and by watching for symptoms of low blood sugar such as: headaches, feeling faint or dizzy, feeling clammy or sweaty, trembling and hunger. These symptoms can be relieved by eating.
The dietary guidelines are flexible enough that you can adjust the caloric intake to meet your needs to sustain your weight. If you would like guidance to help you gain weight, we might be able to help with that too.
The nutrients themselves will not make you lose weight. If you find that you are having difficulty maintaining your weight while using the Insulite PCOS System, please contact us right away so that we can help you with that.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi!
i am 24 years old and never had a regular period. i mean it’s not the usual 28 – 35 days. my cycles vary from 40 – 80 days.
i am extremely thin (85 lbs) and petite (5ft) and have lots of excess body hair. Since i have irregular periods, i went to the gyne last
april 2007. she asked me to have a transrectal ultrasound and they found out small follicle cysts, possibly PCOS. She then
told me to take diane 35 for six months and come back to her for another check up and with a new transrectal ultrasound.
i did what she said and took diane 35 from april 2007 – september 2007. after getting off diane 35, my period became very regular
for 6 months. it always comes during the first week of the month. because of the regularity of my period, i decided not to
visit my gyne for a follow-up check up because i thought everything was already corrected by diane 35. however, for the month of
april, my period did not come. it’s now the first week of may and i still don’t have it. I went to have another ultrasound and discovred
that there are still small follicle cysts.
here are my questions:
1) why did my period not come? did the effect of diane 35 wear off? did my pcos condition become “grave”
2) i am paranoid because i have been having dry sex (with clothes on) and mutual masturbation with my partner. he never ejaculated
near my vagina nor was there any penetration. i know its impossible for me to be pregnant but i am very paranoid because my period
did not come. i mean, for 6 months after getting of diane35 my period became very regular, then all of a sudden, it did not come. i
took 2 pregnancy tests already and it’s negative. is pregnancy possible? or is the missed period due to pcos?
3) after going to the gyne last week, she told me to take diane35 and metformin. however, i am hesistant to take metformin because i
read it can have bad effects on my liver and kidney?
4) how can pcos affect fertility? will i have difficulties in being pregnant in the future (5 years from now?)
thank you so much. i woul deeply appreciate your reply.
kirsten
Hi Kirsten,
Here’s a response to your questions from Dr. Andrea Lee
of Insulite Labs’ Medical & Advisory team.
Please write in anytime we can be of support.
- Editor
Dear Kirsten,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in! We hear from many women who are struggling to find a way to manage their PCOS just as you are, but there is hope and things can get better!
I have answered each of your questions below.
1) “why did my period not come? did the effect of diane 35 wear off? Did my pcos condition become “grave”"
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems.
I am not sure what you mean by “grave”, however, I can tell you that treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
2) “i am paranoid because i have been having dry sex (with clothes on) and
mutual masturbation with my partner. he never ejaculated near my vagina
nor was there any penetration. i know its impossible for me to be pregnant
but i am very paranoid because my period did not come. i mean, for 6 months after getting of diane35 my period became very regular, then all of a sudden, it did not come. i took 2 pregnancy tests already and it’s
negative. is pregnancy possible? or is the missed period due to pcos?”
From this description, I would say that pregnancy is unlikely, but only time or your doctor could determine this for sure. Diane 35 does not treat PCOS, it uses artificial, synthetic hormones to force your body into a regular menstruation pattern. When you discontinue oral contraceptives and haven’t treated the underlying cause (believed to be insulin resistance) the PCOS symptoms will persist.
3)”after going to the gyne last week, she told me to take diane35 and metformin. however, i am hesistant to take metformin because i read it can have bad effects on my liver and kidney?”
Metformin isn’t a drug for PCOS. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose (not insulin which is believed to be the underlying cause of PCOS). Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents.
Metformin decreases glucose production in the liver, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged and fasting plasma insulin levels and day-long
plasma insulin response may or may not decrease.
In short, Metformin treats only the symptom of hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the bloodstream), not the cause (insulin resistance).
4) “how can pcos affect fertility? will i have difficulties in being pregnant in the future (5 years from now)?”
PCOS is a major cause of infertility. A symptom of the condition can be nine or fewer menstrual cycles per year. The disorder may also cause heavier than normal bleeding during periods. These conditions are the result of the ovaries failing to produce hormones that keep the menstrual cycle regular.
Because women with PCOS don’t have regular periods, many are unable to become pregnant. To read more about PCOS and infertility please visit the following link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php.
Many women with PCOS do have fertility problems. With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
I cannot say for sure if you will have difficulties becoming pregnant or not. It depends on a lot of factors, however, if you are not menstruating
regularly, your chances of becoming pregnant are less.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs for our customers; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help out.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition.
I am 21 years old and was diagnosed 4 years ago. I have not had a natural period since I was 15. I have never really taken the BC the way it should be taken but only a few gives me some bleeding. In not taking it am I hurting my self? I am less likely to be fertile because of not really taking it and not taking the metforman? I got my first natural period almost 3 weeks ago and according to ovulation tests that I bought, after 14 days or more i am still not ovulating. I am scared. I want babies but I am so afraid I wont have them. being told i have this has been my worst nightmare.
Hi Kristen,
I understand feeling scared when your body feels out of your control. The good news is that you said you did have a natural period recently. That’s a great start.
There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit).
You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. A new edition may have just come out. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant. You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and improving the Insulin Resistance that underlies PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System, which you may have read about on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, is designed to help heal PCOS by addressing its underlying cause, which in most cases is Insulin Resistance.
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
Our system is designed to balance the testosterone, insulin and other reproductive hormones that impact ovulation.
While we cannot promise that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving.
It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
You asked if you are hurting your body by not taking the pill. This is a tricky question. The synthetic hormones in the pill can’t replace what our body produces. These synthetic hormones don’t have the same actions throughout our body as our own natural hormones do (like bone and heart health). I do want to mention that there are safer hormones to take called bio-identical hormones that are made to be identical to our own body’s hormones.
Salivary hormone testing is usually used to determine if and how much one needs of the hormones and then prescribed by a doctor and made by a compounding pharmacist. Some women with PCOS are deficient in progesterone and find taking bio-identical progesterone to be helpful. The products in our system do help to balance hormone levels so this option may not even be necessary.
Kirsten, I hope this information helps.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello All,
I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years ago and my doctor prescribed me with BC and Metformin. Immediately, my cycle became regular and consistent. However, for the last three months my cycle is now non-existent and I am still taking BC and metformin. Has anyone experienced this? I brought it to my Doctors attention and he said it was normal and that the BC’s are doing their job. My gut tells me something has changed. If anyone has any info please share. I am just a little concerned.
Thanks in advance for your response,
Lena
Dear Lena,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in! PCOS is a very complex disorder and we understand how frustrating it can be trying to understand what is going on with your body.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to everse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
Some women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their menses. We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder
of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
As for your menses stopping completely, this could be a result of the pill you are using. Depending on which brand/type you are taking, some of the
formulations only allow a woman to menstruate once every 3 months. So the change could certainly be the result of your medications.
Regarding the Metformin, Metformin isn’t a drug for PCOS. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose (not insulin which is believed to be the underlying cause of PCOS).
Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents. Metformin decreases glucose production in the liver, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged
and fasting plasma insulin levels and day-long plasma insulin response may or may not decrease. In short, Metformin treats only the symptom of hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the bloodstream), not the cause (insulin resistance).
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs for women with PCOS; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help out.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi, I’m 18 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS 3 months ago. My doctor gave me Yasmin birth control pills to take, to regulate my menstrual cycle. But, I’ve put on soooooooo much weight and I feel terrible.
I use to be really skinny, and then all of a sudden i started packing on pounds, i’m 180. I’ve been excersing like mad, and trying to eat better, but nothings working, I’m not losing, but i’m not gaining. and all my friends, don’t really understand my condition, nor does my family, or maybe they do, but they just say mean things about my weight, especially my dad, he hates the way I look, I think the most, and he lets me know that everyday. I feel so depressed, i dunno what to do. How can I lose this weight? I heard that metformin thing works, but my doctor does’nt want to give it to me yet.
I’m also very tired, a lot of the time, like i would sleep all night and then still be tired in the day, after like 12 hours of sleep!, im still tired. I feel like an old lady, I’m fatter than most of my relatives who have had children before, and who are like in their 30s, and the way I’m always tired, it just makes me feel bad. I guess everyone comments about my weight cause they remembered how I was like 140, just a year or two ago.
I had my first period when I was 8, and when I was 9, I bled for about a month, so I had to take birth control for a little while, but no one told me i had this. Then, from 9-16, I was fine, but when i turned 17 I started missing periods, and then I bled for about 2 months, then my doctor gave me progesterone to bleed everything out. But then I missed my period again, and so she took a blood test and this is when it was revealed.
Also, while growing up, although my periods were monthly and normal, I had really bad acne all over my body and on my face, and im pretty hairy. I felt ugly cause of that, but i feel more ugly now that im overweight. Anyways, I just wanted to vent here.
Dear Mary,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in. I can truly hear how much pain you must be feeling. We hear from many women who struggle just like you do with weight and who are trying everything to get it under control. But, there is hope and things can get better.
As you may have read on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be Insulin Resistance.
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin produced by the pancreas, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
The difficulty losing weight associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. There are several potential long-term complications related to the Insulin Resistance, as well as the effects of not menstruating regularly over a long period of time. Women with PCOS are more susceptible to developing Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease due to the effects of Insulin Resistance and obesity.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS, including the birth control pill, is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
Birth control pills are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS but they do not cure PCOS. Treating absent menses with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist. Additionally, as you have noticed, while they help regulate menstruation, they do not do a lot to help many of the other symptoms and may even make some (like weight gain) worse!
We do hear from other women with PCOS who are very fatigued. I think one reason why this happens is that the root cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance, in which the cells of the body do not respond to insulin efficiently. This means that your cells are not being “fed” the glucose required to produce energy. This, of course, would make you tired!
It’s great that you are exercising and making improvements to your diet!
This can go a long way towards managing PCOS since it is a condition that responds well to lifestyle changes. Please don’t be discouraged. Losing weight permanently is a frustrating, but ultimately very rewarding process.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs for our customers; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help out.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
I am 33 and have been diagnosed with PCOS for 14 years now. I have found that changing my eating habits to one of a Diabetic has helped and I lost 40 pounds. I have been in an awesome relationship going on a year now. He has 2 grown children of his own and neither of us want to get me to get pregnant right now. Unfortunately all the information I have read on BCP’s seem to actually worsten the symptoms and side effects. Is there actually any birth control that can be used safely? Otherwise I feel the only option for myself now is Tubal ligation. I don’t wish to mess with hormones that are already messed up. I have them under control now and doing well. But if you could get back to me about the birth control I’d appreciate it.
Dear Charlotte,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog. First of all, I want to congratulate you for making healthy dietary changes, which are so important for the treatment of PCOS!
There are many birth control options that do not involve hormones. One option is to use barrier protection, such as a condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or Femcap.
Another option is a non-hormonal IUD, or intra-uterine device. This is something a gynecologist would have to insert and it would stay inside your uterus until you decided to have it removed.
Fertility awareness is another possibility. This involves charting your periods, and keeping track of basal body temperature and the consistency of your cervical fluid. This form of birth control is reliable only if you have regular monthly periods. If you are interested in trying this, I suggest you log on to http://www.fertilityfriend.com. They are a great resource and have many charts that you can download. If you are interested in more information regarding this subject, please let me know and we can discuss his further.
Take care, Charlotte!
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector Deneen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Research and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition
I am not sure if I have PCOS as I have not yet been diagnosed by a physician, however I do have many of the symptoms. I have very irregular periods. I must have went one year without a period at one point. I saw a clinician then but she only gave me medication to induce a period. I now have periods about every 2-3 months. I also develop hair on my abdomen and around my breasts. I also have acne that is uncontrollable. My hair on the top of my head also began thinning in the last couple of years. Although I am not too overweight, I am about 150 pounds and 5′3, but I tend to gain weight in my belly. Does this sound like PCOS? I do plan to see a physician after researching this, but I do not want to just be given birth control to mask the problem. I also am afraid to gain weight if given birth control as I have been on it before and gained a bit of weight. What other options do I have? Thanks!
Dear Gemma,
Thank you for writing into our support blog
Some women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their menses. We do not generally recommend oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems.
When the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist. Also, as you mentioned, the pills can sometimes cause some weight gain which is the opposite of what we usually want to see happen for people.
It does look as if there is a strong likelihood that you have PCOS, based on the symptoms that you described. Here are some guidelines to diagnosing PCOS that might be helpful for you and your doctor as you explore the possibility:
-testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- Fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate insulin resistance. insulin resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our site.
- Fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose insulin resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts. Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
- I would also check your cholesterol levels and liver function tests, as these can also be abnormal in PCOS (as well as in many other conditions).
Lab testing is not mandatory for diagnosing PCOS, especially if you are experiencing so many of the symptoms. However, the above tests do give us numbers which, along with the improvement of your clinical symptoms, help us monitor your progress. I do want to let you know that there is another condition called Cushing’s disease that has many symptoms of PCOS and is sometimes mistaken for PCOS. If you did have Cushing’s disease it may exacerbate the symptoms. Cushing’s is not very common, but I still wanted to mention it to you. This would be something to discuss with your doctor to ensure it has been ruled out.
The alternative to birth control pills and Metformin for PCOS is exercise, a low-carb diet, and ideally supplements from Insulite Labs. The diet and exercise can help a lot, and the supplements provide some extra positive effects which can help you have more success more quickly.
I do hope this is helpful. Feel free to write into our PCOS support blog again, or you can also ask for a private response.
Sincerely,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I have been diagnosed with PCOS and after having two children (thanks to the use of Metformin), I am ready to use a more long-term birth control that does not use hormones. It sounds like a copper IUD may be the way to go, but I would also like to control the insulin resistance part of the PCOS. What do you think about staying on Metformin as a way to control insulin resistance?
Hello, and thank you for writing into the Insulite PCOS support blog! I’m glad to read that you have been able to have children, and that you want to continue to address your health issues.
A copper IUD is a great and safe choice for long term birth control. As far as continuing to use Metformin for Insulin Resistance, I think it depends on how well it is controlling it. What is your fasting insulin and sugar, and what is your A1C?
If you feel good on Metformin, and everything appears to be under control, then I’d say it’s OK to continue the medication. Remember that exercise and diet and extremely important components of your lifestyle if you truly want to be healthy, regardless.
If you would like further options to Metformin you could consider using one of the Insulite Systems to control your Insulin Resistance depending on your specific situation. Here is the website, and you can choose for different conditions on the homepage: http://insulitelabs.com/.
Thanks for writing in, and enjoy your children!
Best Wishes,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms.
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php
I think I might have PCOS. I am 19 and have never had a regular period (about two a year). I have had bad acne for years and have a hard time losing weight. I’m 5′8 and 190 pounds. I’m almost 20 and I feel like I am too old to be having these problems still! I just learned about PCOS through my own research, and I have many of the symptoms (except excess hair growth).
I would be fine taking birth control pills to help with my periods and acne, but I don’t think I could take gaining any more weight! I excersize and have an excellent diet, but am only losing 2-3 pounds a month. Is there any way to get my period, acne, AND weight under control? And what kind of birth control (if any) would you recommend in my case?
I am just looking for any suggestions before I go in to see my doctor. Thank you!
Dear Kendall,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in! PCOS is a
very complex condition and can affect any number of bodily systems. It
presents differently in every woman and not every woman with PCOS has
every symptom. We hear from many women with PCOS who struggle to control
their weight along with all the other symptoms of PCOS. But there is hope
and things can get better.
As you may have read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS in most
cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. With Insulin Resistance, the body
becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated
circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances
such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS
such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also
contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the
hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to
the influence of insulin.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin
Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice
versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Unfortunately, people who have Insulin Resistance have a very difficult
time losing weight, as you have experienced.
I hear your frustration with your weight but remember, scientific research
overwhelmingly confirms the fact that a truly effective change in the body
at a cellular level needs to be gradual. You did not become overweight and
Insulin Resistant overnight. Therefore, it is not realistic or safe to
attempt or expect a complete reversal in a few days.
Research shows that the rapid weight loss evident in most fad diets is
almost immediately followed by rapid weight gain. If you have been
overweight for some time, your body recognizes that weight as its normal
state. When you lose weight quickly, the body does not have time to
habituate. It sees the rapid weight loss as abnormal and, once a diet is
stopped, it makes an effort to get back as quickly as possible to the
normal retaining of fat.
At Insulite Laboratories, we emphasize gradual weight loss so that the
body can slowly adapt to a lighter weight. We do advocate a very slow
weight loss of about half a pound per week, so the fact that you are not
shedding enormous amounts of weight is actually good from a medical
standpoint. Losing weight quickly is harder for the body to adjust to and
often leads to rebound weight gain.
Having said that, I understand that you would like to see more evidence of
weight loss so here are a couple tips that might “kick start” your
metabolism. Are you counting carbs? If so, about how many grams of carbs
are you eating per day? We suggest gradually decreasing your carb intake
to about 60-80 grams per day. Again, this should be a gradual process to
help your body adjust. So depending on how many grams of carbs you are
eating, simply decreasing that intake a little bit may help with weight
loss.
Another trick is to increase your exercise by 15 minutes per day that you
exercise. One final tip is to engage in some gentle physical activity
after you eat. For instance, take a 10-15 minute walk after dinner. This
helps with glucose disposal.
Regarding the birth control pills, our view on the pharmaceutical
treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will
change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce
elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other
hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because
they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather
than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with
oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and
when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer
support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if
you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help out and want
to make sure that the Insulite System works for you.
Visit Insulite’s PCOS Community. A place to share ideas, concerns, and
find the information and suport you need to treat PCOS. Here is a link to
our blog: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the
advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other
nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition
Hello,
My name is Tina and i just turned 30 – i have a few questions regarding PCOS and I don’t know who else to turn to.
Let me summarize my little situation: I gained 30lbs in 8 months, found out i’m pre-diabetic, went to an endocrinologist who tested me for PCOS, I’m on the birth control pill & I haven’t had a period in over a year (probably longer), and she started me on metamorphin (in which i did get a period two weeks later). i exercise regulary and stay away from carbs & sugar.
Here are my questions:
1. Bloodwork was done for PCOS but I’m still on the pill. The blood work came back “normal” but the endocrinologist thinks these levels are false b/c i’m on the pill. Can that be true? Can the blood work come out normal just b/c I’m on the pill? – what’s the chances of me having PCOS if my blood work came back normal, even though I’m on the pill?
2. The endocrinologist suggested I go off the pill. I’ve been taking birth control since I was 16 to control the very painful periods I was experiencing. That means I was taking the pill for 14 years – is it healthy to just stop?
3. If I stop taking the pill, and I do have PCOS, am I making the condition worse? Will I be less / more fertile down the road if I stop the birthcontrol?
4. If I stop taking the pill and then start birthcontrol later (months or years later) what are the side effects? Will I gain more weight?
5. Is the pill making my chances of getting pregnant in a few years lower? Am I harming myself by being on the pill?
6. If I get a period now (all of a sudden) by taking metamorphin & I’m on the pill – what are my chances of getting a period if i stop the pill?
7. And, finally, my boyfriend and I are discussing marriage & I would like to have a big family down the road – but not tomorrow. So, if I go off the pill, what non-hormonal birthcontrol measures do you recommend?
Thanks so much,
Tina
Dear Tina,
Thank you for posting on our blog.
Did you not get your period even while taking the birth control pill?
I’ll try to answer your questions one by one.
1. Your bloodwork is not the only thing to consider for a diagnosis of
PCOS. Just because your test results came back “normal” does not mean
you don’t have PCOS. PCOS is quite difficult to diagnose, and we use
a combination of the patient’s clinical symptoms along with lab test
results.
Being on the birth control pill could definitely skew the results of hormone tests, since the pill is comprised of hormones.
Think of the birth control pill as creating a particular hormonal milieu in your body, of whatever hormones are in the pill. That
hormonal milieu is artificial, and once you stop the birth control pill, your own hormones will eventually kick in to create whatever
hormonal milieu naturally occurs in your particular body.
2. Most women do just stop taking the birth control pill, even if they
have been on it for an extended period of time. Sometimes women might
experience symptoms from stopping, but they should be temporary.
Symptoms that you had prior to taking the birth control pill (e.g.,
painful periods) may or may not return.
But I agree with your endocrinologist. Stopping is probably a good idea, if only to tell what your natural hormonal state is. All the birth control pill is doing is masking your symptoms. Also, some research shows that the birth control pill can actually make PCOS symptoms WORSE. The theory is that the pill creates an excess estrogenic state in which the estrogen then converts to androgens, producing masculine symptoms like hair growth and acne (typical PCOS symptoms).
3. Stopping the birth control pill will not make PCOS worse. The pill
is NOT a cure for PCOS. No one can tell you for sure what will happen
to your reproductive function, but the birth control pill is NOT going
to make you more fertile.
4. Your doctor who prescribes the birth control pill should provide
you with a list of the expected or potential side effects of the pill.
This is called “informed consent” and you have every right to ask your
prescribing doctor or a pharmacist about the potential risks of any
medication you take.
5. This question is similar to what you asked in #3. About the harm
that the pill causes, again, your doctor should go over the risks of
being on the birth control pill long term. I personally do not
recommend birth control pill use to my patients. Although it is very
effective in terms of preventing pregnancy, I think there are safer
forms of contraception in terms of its effect on the body. I come
from a school of thought that we should treat the underlying cause of
disease and not mask symptoms with drugs or hormones, unless
absolutely necessary.
If the reason you are on the birth control pill is related to painful or irregular periods, doesn’t it make more sense
to correct the underlying hormonal imbalance than to “hide” the imbalance with artificial hormones? Check out
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com to learn more about correcting the underlying cause of PCOS using the Insulite PCOS System.
6. It sounds like you did not get your period regularly even while
taking the birth control pill, so I don’t think stopping the birth
control pill will negatively effect how the metformin is working with
regard to your menstruation.
7. Congratulations on potentially getting married soon! A whole new
phase of your life is about to begin! You have a few options for
birth control. Condoms are a great option. If your boyfriend balks at
using them, tell him it’s his turn now to take some responsibility for
the birth control in your relationship, LOL!!!
No really, they have a good track record when used responsibly, and you can make them more
comfortable and stimulating for the male partner by using lubrication
both inside and on the outside of the condom. I also like the
cervical cap and diaphragm, especially for women who do not have a
history of abnormal Pap smears.
Tina, I hope this answers all of your questions. Please check out the
website I mentioned above, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com as there is great
information there about insulin resistance (which you definitely have
since you are pre-diabetic) and PCOS. You will learn how the 2
conditions are intricately related and good strategies for improving
those conditions.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the
Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This
information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or
other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have
regarding a medical condition.
Hello,
I was diagnosed with PCOS last week. I am 23 years old and just got off Yasmin (on for 5 years) in February. I had two cycles after stopping Yasmin and haven’t had one since.
I just got married and wanted to try to conceive. I got a TV done and it says my ovaries aren’t rounded but mildly enlarged. Also it says I have one cyst and 10-12 and 7-8 follicles in each ovary. The only abnormal thing on my blood work was my testosterone level. That was 90.
I have gained weight over the years but I tried telling them it was because I ate wrong and didn’t exercise.
Reading through your blog and others there are many other symptoms that I should have.
Should I get a second opinion?
Dear Kristina,
Thanks for your post. I can’t tell from what you wrote if your
diagnosis of PCOS seems appropriate or not. If you are not certain
about your doctor’s diagnosis, perhaps you should contact him or her
and ask for a detailed explanation. If that does not satisfy you, then
you could consider a second opinion.
With regard to PCOS symptoms, they are many and not all women with
PCOS have all of the symptoms. As you can read about here:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Symptoms.php
the symptoms of PCOS may include irregular or absent menses,
infertility, ovarian cysts, abnormal hormone levels, acne, unwanted
hair growth or hair loss, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark
patches on the skin), weight gain or inability to lose weight,
depression, anxiety, etc.
Ultrasound is not the only criteria used to diagnose PCOS, as you
know. Some of the findings of your ultrasound report (enlarged ovarian
volume) sound like PCOS. But even if the ovaries do appear normal, the
absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not
everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts. Your testosterone is indeed
elevated. As for the other blood tests, not knowing what they were,
it’s difficult for me to comment! The tests often done are:
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- Fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. The normal range (0-20) is wide,
however, we find that results greater than 9 indicate insulin resistance
- Fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS.
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two
hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to
FSH.
Congratulations on your marriage and good luck in your quest to
conceive. To read more about PCOS and infertility, check out this link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php
Best wishes,
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the
Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This
information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or
other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have
regarding a medical condition.
Hi, I was diagnosed 6 years ago with pcos. recently, i was diagnosed with mild herperthyroid.. with or without metformin (Humamet) i still have a monthly regular period (30-35 days cycle) I am normal in body weight, (5′2″, 105 lbs) normal blood count, no symtoms of pcos at all except that i have a string-like of pearls in my both ovaries. i am now taking my med for thyroid. I am married for 6 years still no children. i just wondering why i cant get preg if i am menstrating regularly and never missed periods. i stop taking metformin. I have TV every two months but nothing’s change. My sonologist says i always have a dominant follicle, why i cant get preg? inspite of my healthy body? my husband has been tested with sperm quality and found out were good in shape. is my pcos & thyroid problem really connived for my infertility? please help…
Dear Stephany,
Thank you for writing into the Insulite blog, and sorry to read that you have had such a hard time conceiving.
You say that you have hyperthyroid. Has it been checked out beyond lab numbers? And what is the medication you are taking for it? Could the medication itself be interfering with conception?
Just because you are menstruating on a relatively regular schedule doesn’t mean that you are ovulating. Have you ever checked for ovulation? There is a book that can be very helpful for you in tracking your fertility, it is called:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler. Perhaps you can read this book and start tracking your menses. Then, if you’re not ovulating, you can deal with that issue by looking into your thyroid and PCOS issues more.
What you do not mention in your comment on the blog is how you’ve been eating and if you exercise. You say you are healthy, but what is your measure of that? Something to look into is if you are insulin resistant? At Insulite Labs we prefer to see fasting insulin at 9 or under. Also, how is your lipid panel? We prefer to see the Triglycerides under 150 and HDL at 50 or over. Insulin resistance (IR) can wreak havoc on the body- it can result in PCOS, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension and even some kinds of cancer. Here’s an interesting abstract I found on hyperthyroid and IR http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0016/ea0016P724.htm. Basically the study shows that there is a way to treat the hyperthyroid to help decrease IR, while untreated or improperly treated hyperthyroid will increase IR- and the IR can contribute to the cysts on your ovaries.
I do hope that this is helpful. Feel free to write into our blog again,
Sincerely,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I was just diagnosed with PCOS. I had a suspicion because I was never regular. I went on BC at 19 and that worked fine. But when my husband and I decided that we wanted children, I got off the BC. I had no period for 8 weeks plus I started to get horrible acne, which I have never ever had. I started back on the pill and after two weeks, I started my period. On the third day of my period I started to notice a dull aching pain in my abdomen. It was not necessarily around my ovaries but more in my mid stomach. I also felt a fullness/pressure feeling in my stomach. The only relief I got was from lying down…I went to my GYN with these symptoms. There she diagnosed me with PCOS…and said that this pain was likely from a ruptured cyst. Is it possible that that could have happend? Although I have never had one before and apparently have had PCOS for years.
Dear Jamie,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
It is definitely possible that you had a ruptured ovarian cyst. With abdominal and pelvic pain,
doctors will often run a pelvic and abdominal ultrasound just to be sure.
Regarding birth control pills, we do not recommend oral contraceptives as
a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of
the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent
menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the
underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued,
the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no
longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth
control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of
contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the
birth control pill!
The supplements of the Inmsulite PCOS System do not do the same
thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work
to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
I encourage you to consider using the System, Jamie. Please do contact us
again with additional questions.
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector Deneen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Research and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition
Hello. I was diagnosed yesterday and duing the ultrasound my Dr. found that my uterus was “3 times thicker than it should be” my Dr. wants me to start taking the pill for 3 cycles to start my cycles (witch i can go up to 2 years without) and thin out my uterus then talk about clomid to help me ovulate. we also briefly spoke about metformin. Would you suggest this? I know if left untreated the thickness of my uterus can lead to cancer and that is somthing i ABSOLUTLY want to avoid but my husband and i have been trying to get pregnant for a year now. how well will this plan work? what are my odds of getting pregnant. I also asked him about a diabetic diet with exercize (iv been doing research on PCOS for a few months now) and he said it would help. Is that true?
Dear Marisa,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis but really glad to see that you have been gathering information to inform yourself about PCOS, even before your diagnosis.
Having a thick uterine lining is a concern, especially if you have not had a period in many months to years. So, we would share the concern of your doctor. The strongest link between a cancer and PCOS is endometrial (lining of the uterus) cancer. Endometrial cancer is described as “estrogen-sensitive” cancers, meaning that the presence of estrogen may cause these cancer cells to multiply.
Because PCOS causes disruptions to the normal menstrual cycle – irregular menstrual periods and the absence of ovulation cause women to produce estrogen, but not progesterone. Without progesterone, which causes the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to shed each month as a menstrual period, the endometrium may grow too much and undergo atypical cell changes. This is a pre-cancerous condition called endometrial hyperplasia. If the thickened endometrium is not treated, over a long period of time is a risk factor for endometrial cancer.
Using the pill can stimulate your cycle and over the next three months the lining should become significantly thinner. The pill is commonly used to help regulate cycles but keep in mind that it is not going to address the problem or underlying cause. As a Naturopathic Physician, I feel it is important to find the cause and treat that. Now, I am not saying not to take the pill during this time frame. It will reduce your risk of having a further buildup of the endometrium to reduce the risk of developing cancer but can worsen the cause of PCOS (as some research shows: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php?p=5).
That leads me to the question regarding metformin and Clomid. Both are often used by conventional doctors to treat PCOS,. The reason for Metformin is that it lowers glucose and insulin levels, thereby addressing the insulin resistance. This can increase the likelihood of more regular cycles. However, we often hear that this was not effective or women could not continue due to side effects.
I would recommend reading more about Metformin. Clomid can help to stimulate ovulation. Again, understanding why these are being used and how they will affect you is important to consider. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor.
Your doctor is right about dietary changes. It will be important to incorporate changes that support PCOS. I would say yes to a diabetic diet, but it would depend on what the diet is promoting. For women with PCOS and diabetics, a diet low in carbohydrates, filled with healthy vegetables, and whole foods is most appropriate.
As you have read, our specialty at Insulite Laboratories is in using a non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing PCOS by addressing the underlying cause, insulin resistance. We also address the hormonal imbalance to help restore your cycle naturally. It is difficult to say how it will work for you or if it will result in pregnancy for you. I can say that we have had women become pregnant using our PCOS System when they were told they would not.
I tell women that if they are following our guidelines regarding diet and exercise in addition to being consistent with the supplements, I would expect them to see and feel changes. As you may know, due to genetic variations and the severity of insulin resistance, each person on the Insulite System achieves results in different time frames.
Marisa, I hope that this adds to what you are learning. Please let me know if I can provide any further information.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am so glad I found your site, and I hope you would not mind addressing a few of my concerns.
Hx: I was diagnosed at 15 with PCOS as a result of elevated blood androgen levels, moderate acne, and irregular periods (I think I had about 2 periods total at this point, which were both very light). I had a pelvic ultrasound done that did not show any cysts, I have a normal height x weight ratio (5′7″, 130#), no excess hair, normal blood pressure, and slightly elevated cholesterol.
For the past ten years I have had regular menstruation
as a result of being on Estrostep, which is a nonethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol form of birth control. My acne went away within a few months of starting treatment, and I have never had any issues with weight.
At 25, I am now considering stopping the pill, and trying to conceive within the next few years, but I have concerns as to how my body will react after being on the pill for such a prolonged length of time.
A few of my questions/concerns:
1) Will my body begin to produce those same androgens as before, and will I experience excess hair growth, weight gain, and acne?
2) How effective is d-chiro-inositol in helping to reduce serum androgen levels and insulin control? Are there any contraindications with this supplement and pregnancy?
3) How important do you think it is to have regular blood tests done during my transition from birth control to a natural approach?
I really want to be able to control my PCOS naturally, and any help you could provide to help me move toward this goal would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time:)
Dear Amanda,
I am glad that you have written in with these questions. I think it is great that you are starting to consider how best to prepare your body for conceiving when you are ready. Planning for pregnancy is important and even more so when you have a condition such as PCOS that can affect fertility.
It will be difficult to say how your body will react after discontinuing the Estrostep when you choose to do this. I have had women not have a recurrence of acne or excess facial hair, etc. But there have been women who have. Unfortunately, there is really no way to tell until you go off. I have also had quite a few women find that discontinuing the pill resulted in abnormal periods until their bodies readjust. It is important to keep this in mind when stopping as well. However, there are ways to help with the transition.
If you are following a diet that supports a more balanced hormone profile, it can decrease the risks of reversing the changes you have under control with the use of the hormones. I would recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System.
The Insulite PCOS System (which you may have already read about) helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS. While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving. You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
You mentioned D-chiro inositol (DCI). I have had women asking more about this recently. Here is a link to an article in PCOSA Today that you might be interested in reading:
http://www.pcosupport.org/newsletter/newsletter033108.php
I do feel that it can be useful in part, in addition to dietary and exercise support. One study (Nestler, JE et al, Ovulatory and metabolic effects of D-chiro-inositol in the polycystic ovary syndrome, N Engl J Med. 1999 Apr 29;340(17):1314-20), showed a reduction of testosterone of 55% and increased ovulation, 86% in the treatment group as opposed to 27% in untreated group. Regarding using DCI during pregnancy, because there is a lack of research and long term safety data on supplements, I would not use if you become pregnant. This also applies to the Insulite PCOS System as well; we recommend that if you become pregnant, you discontinue the PCOS System.
Lastly, blood work can be useful, especially if you are using other therapies. It can provide information on hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, insulin), if they are changing or if they are stable. Also, it can help to know levels of certain hormones when you are trying to conceive in case any additional hormone support may be indicated. Many women have testing done every 6 months to monitor changes while others just rely on changing symptoms to determine effectiveness.
Amanda, I hope that I have provided you with some useful information. If you have any other questions I will be happy to answer them. Once again, thank you for writing in.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have PCOS. But now I dont have any health insurance. Is there any way I can get an affordable birth control pill and even metaformin with out seeing a doctor in an office? I dont know when I will get my health insurance again. Any advice will be so helpful
Dear Dalia,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
Unfortunately, it is not likely that you will be able to receive any prescription without seeing a doctor. Although, it may be inconvenient to see a doctor or unlikely due to lack of finances, what is more important – it can be unsafe. I would not recommend it even if there was a person that would prescribe without a visit including at minimum a physical exam and some testing (if none is provided from recent testing).
I would recommend that since you do not have health insurance that you see if there is a free clinic in your area or if there are doctors that work with non-insured patients for a reduced fee. Also, you can check with Planned Parenthood for information on birth control.
These can be helpful to women with PCOS and I do not know if you have used them in the past. But keep in mind that these are not addressing the cause and some research supports that using birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance, the cause of PCOS in most women. Here is a blog posting regarding this topic: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php?p=5).
I do want to mention Dalia, that there is a non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing PCOS. If you are interested in reading more about this please visit: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones) and symptoms such as acne, excess facial and body hair and irregular/absent periods.
Elevated insulin and insulin resistance also contribute to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects. Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. We also recognize that not all women are overweight or obese but still find that they benefit from diet and lifestyle changes.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
I do hope that this is useful. If these suggestions work, let me know as I am sure there are other women in a similar situation that can benefit from your experience.
Please let me know if I can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2004 and have been suffering with it ever since, the hair growth is horrible, im sick of wearing so much make-up to cover the acne, my partner and I would love to have a little boy one day and yet I have had no period for nearly a year now yet every month without fail I’ll be down in A+E on 18ml of Morphine suffering with intense ovulation pains……baring in mind I handle pain very well, I pierced my own lip twice and yet the ovulation pains had me writhing in agony for over 24 hours even with the morphine.
Ultrasounds show cysts but so far nothing has been done to treat them…..wonderful NHS Doctors….
Are there any herbal or medicinal treatments that you can suggest to help….I really am desperate.
Dear Tidgy,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS blog. I am glad that you found us.
I am sorry to hear about how you have been feeling. There are options for non-pharmaceutical treatments for PCOS.
Regarding the ovulation pains, I am wondering if the pain is in fact due to ovulation. The reason is that if you are not having a menstrual cycle you are not likely ovulating. Although even without having a period hormones change throughout the month and can still lead to pain even though you are not having a period. Since you mentioned cysts, I wonder if this is where the pain is coming from. Again, since hormones are changing and can still cycle so to speak, this is what may be leading to the pains you are experiencing so strongly every month.
There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit). You can read more about how to
monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant.
You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility
Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
One way to track your progress is taking your basal body temperature. By doing this you will be able to see if you are ovulating or not. To do this take your temperature under your arms each morning BEFORE rising from bed with a basal body thermometer. Approximately midway through your cycle,
depending on how long your cycle is, you should see a rise (around 1 degree F) for 3 days. If so, this is an indication that you have ovulated. This is great news, because ovulation means you are releasing an egg to be fertilized for conception!
Back to your question about options. I want to direct you to the Insulite PCOS System. It is a very comprehensive approach to addressing the cause of PCOS (which is most often insulin resistance), symptoms and future risks that are increased by having PCOS. Here is the link that can provide you
with more information: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/index.php.
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin also contributes to
weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving, barring any other factors contributing to the infertility.
Tidgy, I hope that this information is helpful to you. Please write in at any time. We understand that PCOS is complicated and difficult to deal with and want you to know that there is a community that really does care about women affected with this condition.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am a 27 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOs about 3yrs. ago. I did not have a period for an entire year and I had gained about 35lbs. I also noticed I had alot of abnormal hair growth and started to get fatigued. my mother had me see a doctor and they found lots of tiny cyst on my ovaries. My doctor started me on BCP and told me to try to lose weight.
The BCP gave me bad headaches and severe numbness throughout my body so we stopped. my periods have been pretty sporadic however just this past year they have been prett regular. I started exercising more and changed my diet completely less carbs. and more protein, veggies and fruit. I have lost about 10lbs but I still have a long way to go.
I have an identical twin, she does not have PCOS and she and I together have changed our lifestyles together she has lost 25lbs. I recently went back to my doctor and told her how happy I was to finally be losing weight however that it takes me forever to lose a pound. she prescirbed me Metaformin (sp) and adipex. She said they would help boost my metablism and aid in my weightloss. As long as I contiue with my diet and exercise.
I have never heard of either of these drugs and wondered how they would act together, how fast will my metabolism change, and will I be able to lose more weight like my twin?
Thanks for your help and y our site is breath of freash air.
Dear Keisha,
I am so glad you found our blog and decided to write in! We hear from many women who struggle with weight loss and the other physical symptoms of PCOS just as you do, but there is hope and things can change! That is great that you and your sister are able to get healthy together! At Insulite Labs, we understand how vital support is to this whole process of moving toward a healthy lifestyle. Keep up the awesome work!
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin, which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
Regarding the Metformin, Metformin isn’t a drug for PCOS. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose (not insulin which is believed to be the underlying cause of PCOS). Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents.
Metformin decreases glucose production in the liver, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged and fasting plasma insulin levels and day-long plasma insulin response may or may not decrease. In short, metformin treats only the symptom of hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the bloodstream), not the cause (insulin resistance).
Adipex, also known as Phentermine hydrochloride, is also not a drug for PCOS. It is what is known as an “anorectic” meaning that it is an appetite supressant. It is recommended for short term use (a few months at most, typically only a few weeks) to treat obesity, presumably as an appetite suppressant. However, it is related chemically and pharmacologically to the amphetamines. Amphetamines and related stimulant drugs have been extensively abused, and the possibility of abuse of Adipex should be kept in mind.
Abuse of amphetamines and related drugs may be associated with intense psychological dependence and severe social dysfunction. Tolerance to the anorectic effect usually develops within a few weeks. When this occurs, the recommended dose should not be exceeded in an attempt to increase the effect. If tolerance develops, discontinuation is typically recommended.
A withdrawal reaction, which includes excessive drowsiness, fatigue, tremors and depression
may occur after prolonged use. Please be aware of this should you decide to continue this drug.
Neither of these drugs will permanently change your metabolism. And since every person’s chemistry is different, it is difficult to say when you will be able to notice changes and what the changes will be.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms. http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php
Best Wishes,
Andrea Lee, ND
Insulite Laboratories Advisory and Coaching Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
I was diagnosed with POC? BC just does not work. OH and the doctor was gogin to give me BC at the strength of the first week of ortho tri cyclene since those are the only 7 days of pills i stop bleeding, but there is no BC that has that level for 4 weeks straigh.
I was diagnosed with POCS I have been ON my period for TWO YEARS!!! I definatley rather be dead, nothing will stop the bleeding.. ANY suggestions? my doctor put me on ortho tri cyclene, yaz, and tri nessa. I bled though the whole back of yaz and tri nessa. On ortho tri cyclene I stop beelding for the first 7 days (the white pills) thats it, then i bleed for 3 weeks and the cycle continues. I am on Yaz now and bleed non stop the 4 weeks of the pack. I just want to stop bleeding, its one thing to noth ave a period, but its more horrid to me to have my period non stop. I cant have sex, and i cant even have a sexual relationship because of the bleeding. I do have a bf of 2 yrs and he understands but if i were him i’d a left by now, who wants to date a girl who has been bleeding the last 2 yrs? ITs Horrible. Please if you can give me any help what can i do to stop the bleeding>? BC just does not work. OH and the doctor was gogin to give me BC at the strength of the first week of ortho tri cyclene since those are the only 7 days of pills i stop bleeding, but there is no BC that has that level for 4 weeks straigh.
Dear Keri,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear how you have been suffering with constant bleeding for so long. It sure sounds like your doctor is really trying to help you but I am sure it is not easy to keep trying the next option and not know if it will work.
Often we see women with PCOS not have periods but for some we see heavier or longer periods and it certainly looks like you fall into this category. One reason this can happen is due to low progesterone levels. Women with PCOS can have low progesterone, higher estrogen or both. As is common throughout the body, hormones work together. Regardless of which it is (high estrogen or low progesterone) your body can react as though it is lower progesterone, because if estrogen is higher, your body thinks progesterone is lower. It is called a relative deficiency in that progesterone is lower because estrogen is higher. I mention all of this because progesterone signals the body to stop bleeding. If it is too low women can experience prolonged bleeding. I do not know if this is the case for you but it is a possibility.
Has your doctor tested estrogen and progesterone levels? Has your doctor tried using progesterone, either Prometrium (bio-identical progesterone) or Provera (synthetic progesterone)?
You can ask to see if your doctor would consider a trial of progesterone. I have seen it work for women very quickly. I do not know if it would work or for how long but it is another option. The higher dose of birth control that was useful may be too much for long term use.
Another option is to address the PCOS by addressing the cause (insulin resistance) as well as the hormonal imbalance. It may help to lower estrogen levels and promote better progesterone levels. If you would be interested in this option, please visit http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. Insulite Laboratories has developed a non-pharmaceutical protocol to help women manage the effects of PCOS.
One other concern with such long term bleeding is iron deficiency. Are you getting your iron levels checked to see if you are anemic? This is also important as iron deficiency anemia can also cause more bleeding. It seems counterintuitive that if you are losing iron your body would try to conserve but inadequate iron can increase bleeding. Fatigue, shortness of breath can also develop with iron deficiency among many other symptoms. If you have not had the iron levels checked, I would ask your doctor to do that as well.
Keri, I hope that this is helpful. It is great that you have a supportive partner and I encourage you to continue to use our blog and others in the PCOS community. I know that there are many women out there that have the same problem and may be able to give you additional insight as to what helped them. Please let me know if I can help further or if you have any other questions or concerns.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi,
I am 27 yrs old and has been diagnosed with PCOS last April. doctor prescribed Yasmin to regulate my period.
I just got off Yasmin 2 weeks ago(finished the last pack had withdrawal bleedin on 10/7) and have been experiencing cramps and nausea. What is the probability of being pregnant after going off BCP and having PCOS? Thanks!
Hello Rose,
Thank you for contacting our PCOS Support Blog.
It sounds like the timing could be right, since we ovulate two weeks after we begin bleeding. It may be too early to notice some signs of pregnancy. Having PCOS can make it harder to conceive, but this is not the case for all women with PCOS.
Also it can take many women several months for their menses to regulate after coming off the pill. The only way to know definitively is to take a pregnancy test. There are some tests available that you can take even before a missed period. I hope you get the answer you want.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Coaching and Advisory Team
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I know that I should probably see a doctor with my concerns, however, I don’t have any medical coverage at the moment and am hoping I can find out some information here in the meantime…
I am a 27 year old who has not had regular periods since I was 14 years old. Up until I was around 17 they came once every few months, and then I went on the birth control pill and they regulated. Since I’ve been off the pill (around 4 years) I have only had one period that was not triggered by taking emergency contraception. That was around 9 months ago. I have done some research and think I may have PCOS. I do have slightly more hair than “normal” and find it difficult to lose weight. Although I am not particularly overweight, I am probably heavier than I should be given that I am extremely active (play sports 4-5 times a week) and eat healthy.
I have had a few periods that were triggered by taking the morning after pill. Any time I have taken this previously, I got a period a week later. However, most recently, I took it 2 weeks ago, and still have not gotten a period. I was under the impression that I was not ovulating and so could not get pregnant (only took the MAP as an extra precaution) but now I’m worried I may have after all? I’m actually wondering if it was possible that the hormones actually somehow triggered ovulation and I got pregnant AFTER I took the MAP? So far OTC pregnancy tests come out negative.
Dear Charlotte,
Thanks for writing to the Insulite Blog and sorry to read you’ve had such trouble with your menses for so long.
The Morning After Pill is meant to prevent ovulation and as far as I can find it is not known to trigger it. However, you’re a bit more difficult since you don’t know what your hormones are doing at all. If it’s already been 2 weeks since you took the pills, I don’t think that you are pregnant, but I understand your concern. Don’t worry- the tests you get at the store are very accurate.
As for using the Insulite PCOS System or other remedies without a diagnosis, you could do that if you desire and if you are finding that you have a lot of the symptoms. Ideally you would at least have some blood work going into it so you’d have a way to measure your progress (beside getting your period more often).
Depending on where you live, there are sometimes some pretty good cash pay clinics around. Also, Naturopathic Doctors can order blood work in some states and usually have cash pay practices. Lastly, you can often get basic blood work (I’d be looking for a fasting lipid panel at least and ideally a fasting insulin, DHEA, and Testosterone)at Walgreens and some other drug stores when they’re doing general screenings for customers. You could ask a pharmacist when the events are going to happen.
You say you are very active physically. Are you an athlete? Do you eat enough to support your body? Some female athletes end up not menstruating due to their training. Is this a possibility for you?
Perhaps, if you don’t want to get pregnant, you should go ahead and take some precautions. There are a lot of options besides birth control pills. There are condoms, as well as the diaphragm, cervical cap, and other methods. Then you wouldn’t have to worry so much, and wouldn’t have to use
the Morning After Pill too much either.
I hope this is helpful, and feel free to write again with any other questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
Hi, i am 26 years and single i have polycystic ovaries .i took tablest named diana but stopped it .i have always had regular periods i had gained alot of weight but lost 20 kilos with diet n exercise but it ws very difficult to loose it and i also suffer from acne since very long time .i get vaginal infection very often colud please suggest me whats the best medication as i have heard that i can gain weight again with the tablets.
plz advice.
thank you.
Hello Nita,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog.
Diane 35 reduces androgens (testosterone) levels and is used to treat women with severe acne. The PCOS+ will also reduce androgen (testosterone) levels. Diane 35 is also used as a birth control pill. Some women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their menses. We do not generally recommend oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems.
When the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist. Some women do gain weight while on the pill. Have you seen your doctor about the frequent infections? If you have not, I suggest having your doctor do an exam and run some tests. High blood sugar levels can lead to frequent yeast infections. Women with PCOS can have high blood sugars due to the insulin resistance associated with it.
The Insulite PCOS System consists of five elements, all designed to work together to address PCOS and its underlying cause, insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard to lose weight and keep it off.
The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, addiction awareness and customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult to make without some help!
The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin. Here is a link to a page on our website that describes the supplements in detail: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php.
I hope this information helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
What a great post. Every doctor I’ve gone to has been so fast to shove BCP’s down my throat. They don’t bother to educate me about the other things that come along with PCOS…they just want me on that pill.
I’ve actually informed some doctors I’ve seen about how BCP’s have been shown to increase IR and would you believe some doctors did not even know that IR and PCOS go hand in hand? Terrifying…
Great blog, I am grateful there are people in the medical community willing to educate those of us with PCOS. Thank you !!!!!!!!!
Pamela
http://www.pcosinfo.com
Hi, thank you for having this website, it is soo important that we have someone who can explain these things to us.
This is my query:
I’ve been dianosed with PCOS from the age of 15. My period comes between 2 to 3 months. I wanted to go on the birth control pill cause the mentral pain seems to get worst after the years.
I’ve been on the pill now for 5 months. But my problem is that my period would last every 2 to 3 weeks. Also the flow is very heavy and quite embarissing (to a point that i feel uncomfortable wearing anything but black). When I tried to stop taking the pills my period went on for weeks!! It only stop since I started taking 2 pills everyday (doctor’s orders). Now I have no sex drive at all!!
My question are: Is this healthy for my body? What damage will this do if I want to have kids later (I’m 30years old)? can I take anything that would help my sex drive?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
Dear Lily Anna,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am glad that you are finding it helpful.
I just want to clarify. I understand that prior to starting birth control your periods would come every 2-3 months and that when you had your period, it was painful and more painful through the years. Now with starting birth control your periods are more regular but the bleeding lasts a 2-3 weeks and it is very heavy. You doctor doubled the birth control to further regulate the bleeding.
Please let me know if I have the information correct.
There are times when the bleeding is difficult to control. This is often called dysfunctional uterine bleeding or DUB. Approximately 90% of DUB results from not ovulating. During an anovulatory cycle, lack of ovulation causes failure of normal cyclical progesterone secretion, overall reducing the progesterone. Estrogen continues to increase and there is no balance provided by progesterone.
This stimulates overgrowth of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Without progesterone, the endometrium proliferates and eventually outgrows its blood supply, leading to necrosis. The end result is overproduction of uterine blood flow. This is not uncommon in women with PCOS and why we tend to see women who have absent cycles as well as those who have heavy cycles.
Now if this is what is happening in your case, Lily-Anna, your doctor would have to evaluate your individual situation. It is important to be sure that there are no other causes of the prolonged bleeding. It can explain why you were having more pain with bleeding every few months.
If the bleeding has continued only since being on the birth control, the hormones are most likely causing this. Often if you are using birth control and you have continuous bleeding, it may be a sign that estrogen is lower, and now, with the higher dose, the increased estrogen is helping. With all that, I would ask your doctor for her/his opinion on why you are now having prolonged as opposed to a lack of a period.
The lack of sex drive that you are experiencing is a side effect of birth control pills. I would imagine that the lower dose was a bit better but could still have an effect. There are a couple of reasons for this, first the birth control pill inhibits the amount of androgens or hormones such as testosterone that are produced. In PCOS, this is often a good thing since androgen levels more often than not are higher. Birth control pills can also increase the amount of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). This binds testosterone and makes it unavailable to work in the body. Again, usually a good thing for women with PCOS. Some of the research shows that women that used birth control for longer periods still had a lower libido even after discontinuing birth control.
The pill artificially controls your periods but that does not mean that is it not appropriate for you. There are options for increasing your sex drive, but I would not imagine them to be so effective as you continue the birth control pill. If in time you and your doctor decide to discontinue, it should change some.
Also, evaluating if there is any other cause for the decrease may help. For example, low thyroid function can have the symptom of decreased sex drive. Overall, treatment should be based on finding the reason it is happening.
As far as the long term effects of birth control, one is that birth control can contribute to insulin resistance, the underlying cause of most cases of PCOS. Some other long term risks include
( http://www.womens-health.co.uk/risks.html):
* Eye problems or vision impairment
* Gallbladder disease and gallstones
* Embolism
* Immune system suppression
* Heart attack
* Stroke
* Breast tumors and liver tumors
* Ectopic Pregnancies
* Links with certain cancers such as cervical cancer
* Blood clots in legs, lungs, heart and brain
* Jaundice
Of course, this does not mean that it will be your experience but I think that it is important to understand the risks associated. There may be others, this is from one site.
If you are looking for a more natural approach to addressing PCOS (symptoms, long term risks), I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System. This is an approach that helps you to incorporate optimal dietary changes and information as well as recommendations for exercise and supplements that address insulin resistance and other symptoms associated with PCOS.
I know that it may seem a bit conflicting but how it applies to you will depend on your medical history and hormone levels.
Lily-Anna, I hope that this helps and that I have given you some new information. Please feel free to write in at any time and share your thoughts and experiences with us.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi, i am 15 years old and havent had my period for 3-4 months or so. i was worried that something was wrong so started reading up about it and found out about PCOS. i havent spoken to anyone about this as i am embarrassed.
I read up about it and i have some of the symptoms that they say. I have bad spots and have gained a little weight which i am trying to loose. i have irregular periods but i thought this was normal as i only started about 2 years ago. i suppose you could say i have a little more hair than normal.
i was told this could be caused by stress which i have been for a little while due to personal issues and exams.
i have never had sex therefor i know i cant be pregnant so this seems the only reason for my irregular periods and right now absence of periods.
do you think this sounds like i could have PCOS?
i read it is possible that i could get cancer… should i go and see someone?
Dear Ely,
Thank you for contacting our PCOS Support Blog.
There are many reasons a woman can have irregular periods, so seeing your doctor to help determine the cause is a good idea. It sounds like you do have a few symptoms of PCOS. The ingredients in the Insulite PCOS System are safe and non-toxic, but of course we would not want somebody to be taking these or any supplements needlessly.
It is not necessary to have a doctor’s prescription to order or use the Insulite PCOS System. We would prefer that our customers have the diagnosis of PCOS, or at least have many of the symptoms to support a strong suspicion of having PCOS.
PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, it is important to rule out other diseases that can cause symptoms similar to PCOS (such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia). To diagnose PCOS, we use a combination of clinical symptoms (what you experience as the patient, such as excess hair growth, irregular menses, acne, skin tags, weight gain, infertility, etc.) and lab tests.
The blood tests to consider are:
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- Fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our site.
- Fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose insulin resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts. Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
- I would also check your cholesterol levels and liver function tests, as these can also be abnormal in PCOS (as well as in many other conditions).
Lab testing is not mandatory for diagnosing PCOS, especially if you are experiencing so many of the symptoms. However, the above tests do give us numbers which, along with the improvement of your clinical symptoms, help us monitor your progress.
Excess glucose also lays the foundation for type 2 diabetes by raising blood sugar to dangerous levels. It also sometimes prompts abnormal cell growth, implicating it as the cause of certain cancers as well as PCOS and metabolic syndrome. Keep in mind you are young and can begin to treat your condition early, if you do have PCOS.
At the present time, there is no single pill that will cure PCOS. But there are ways to address insulin resistance, the underlying cause of these conditions and PCOS symptoms. You must combine nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support system that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices if you wish to return to optimum health.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I take cinamon pills. It’s a natural sugar metabolizor. I have lost 90 pounds, but still have problems with excess hair. I am looking in to getting estrogen pills.
Dear Melissa,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS upport blog. Congratulations on the weight loss.
The excess hair related to PCOS is due to an increase in testosterone levels. The weight loss may have helped some but it can be stubborn. Also, since weight gain is only one symptom of PCOS, the underlying cause, insulin resistance (which weight loss certainly helps), will benefit from a comprehensive approach that not only helps reduce weight but treats the insulin resistance at a cellular level to help correct the problem. This approach also helps to regulate cycles, reduce acne and excess hair by helping to correct the hormonal imbalance seen in many women with PCOS that leads to these symptoms.
Research has shown that cinnamon helps to reduce glucose levels. We actually use cinnamon in one of our supplements as well. Here is a link to one of the latest studies to support cinnamon in the role of glucose control: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19159947?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum.
The study concluded that cinnamon may have a positive effect on insulin sensitivity and glucose levels.
Before taking hormones, I would be sure that your levels warrant the use of estrogen. Often women with PCOS have elevated estrogen levels. The use of birth control is employed to help reduce testosterone levels. However, if you choose this option, it is likely to return once you stop the treatment. Also, talk with your doctor about using a birth control that does not increase androgen (testosterone) effects, as some will.
I can appreciate how much work you have done to lose 90 pounds and hope that you continue to work with diet and exercise. PCOS as you may know increases your risks for developing diabetes and heart disease and controlling weight can be helpful to reduce the risks.
In the meantime, I would recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System. The supplement we have designed helps to lower testosterone and support a normal cycle. You can read more about this at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Melissa, I hope that this helps. Keep up the work that you are doing and feel free to write in at anytime.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi, before i sent a letter telling of my problems with the birth control pill, where I had to take 2 birth contol pills to regulate my bleeding but it took away my sex drive….
well to up date:
1) I stopped taking the birth control pills due to my sex drive….cause It caused more problems than it solved. Since I stopped taking them, my sex drive came back full swing! The down turn to this, is my cycle has returned to its irregular schedule (2-3 months).
2) I have to research more about PCOS and birth control pills effects. I want to limit the side effects and how it would effect my chances should I decide to get pregnant.
3) I realise that I have to change my diet. I use alot of sugar in my diet, even though I am NOT overweight.
4) I now have to research getting and doing the right things to improve my chances or prevent me from developing diabeties.
Please note that my decisions did not arrive at the advice of this website alone.
But I want to thank Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND and everyone for their stories, cause now I don’t feel like I’m going through this alone.
I will update everyone on my progress later.
Hi Lily-Anna,
It is nice to hear from you again and I am sure that the other women that read the support blog are also pleased. Having a community to share information and stories is really great. Just think, it was not too long ago that this was not even possible. It certainly has opened up options and blogging is definitely one that is useful.
I think it is great that you are taking time to find out the most appropriate way to address PCOS that supports your goals. I know the decisions are not always easy.
You already know that birth control can help with regulating your cycle but it still is not addressing the problem. As a naturopathic doctor, my goal to minimize the use of non-pharmacological treatments when we can to support the body.
However, you mentioned dietary changes and you know that this is an area that you can surely continue to make positive changes. You already understand the importance of lowering sugar (carbs), even though you are not overweight. Reducing overall carbs, especially from refined, processed foods (breads, pasta, etc), is not only going to help reduce insulin and other hormones that tend to be elevated but it will also serve to reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
Diet and exercise are very powerful and will only have beneficial effects on your short and long term health.
Please continue to contribute. I look forward to hearing from you.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I was diagnosed with PCOS and hypothyroidism 9 months ago. I had stopped taking birth control after 10 years and gained 35 pounds in 6 months. The diagnosis came after this. My doctor has prescribed Levoxyl and Metformin. I started to have regular periods, and then they stopped again. The doctor is now prescribing Yaz. I have not lost weight and my Levoxyl dose had to be increased after my last visit. I am working out with a trainer and have changed my diet. I am still not losing weight. I don’t know what else to try and do not want to take so many pills for the rest of my life.
Dear Jodie,
We understand how challenging it can be to manage multiple health conditions at the same time. I’m glad you found our blog and hope we can be a great resource. Thanks for writing in!
PCOS and thyroid conditions may be related but we don’t know for sure. The thyroid gland and ovaries are both part of the endocrine system. If one part of the endocrine system is not functioning right, that has an effect on the rest of the endocrine system.
One study on rats that showed the thyroid gland has a direct effect on the hormone receptors on the ovaries.
As a naturopathic doctor, I believe in looking at the body as a whole in trying to understand the cause of disease. The actual mechanism is not known, but it appears people with hypothyroidism often have insulin resistance. Hypothyroidism slows down your metabolism, and most likely also affects the body’s ability to process carbohydrates. For people with hypothyroidism eating carbohydrates can lead to excess blood sugar levels causing your pancreas to release more insulin. Eventually, your cells
become resistant to the excess insulin it produces.
As you probably read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS is insulin resistance. Both insulin resistance and hypothyroidism are extremely prevalent in society today. They might be related in that they seem to be related to living in an industrialized society, so that lifestyle (stress, diet, exercise) and toxic exposure could be one underlying factor for both diseases.
Aside from that, we have not found a study demonstrating a causative link between hypothyroidism and insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones) seen in PCOS.
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to
the influence of insulin.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time losing weight, as you have experienced.
Regarding the Yaz, our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are
responsible for causing PCOS.
As for the thyroid medication, it can take some time to figure out your dosage. It is not abnormal to have to increase or decrease the dose on thyroid medications especially in the beginning. Also, you may want to speak with your doctor about using a natural form of thyroid hormone like Armour Thyroid. Depending on where you live this may be difficult to get a practitioner to prescribe this for
you as it is considered “natural” and therefore “un-standardized”. Many of my patients do better on Armour than synthetic medications so it is worth considering this.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition.
I was been diagonised with PCOS in june 2007.Since then i am on diane 35.Twice i have tried to stop diane 35 but suddenly 2 months after i stop, my hair falls incredibly.Due to which i again switch to diane.I want to stop taking it.Can homeopathic help me with it?Also why is it so that my hair falls 2 exactly after 2 months after i stop diane 35.Can this hair fall be Telogen Effluvium?
Dear Bijal,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
Homeopathy could help with the hair loss. The Insulite PCOS System could help too. It contains botanicals that can help reduce testosterone and balance your hormones.
After you discontinue the Diane 35 your testosterone levels increase. Increased testosterone is responsible for the scalp hair loss in PCOS. It may be Telogen Effluvium. Hormonal changes and stress put a higher percentage of the hair in the telogen phase and leads to hair loss. The supplements of the PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills or Diane 35, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi im a 20 year old married woman and i went to the doctor because i didnt have a period and i started growing facial hair and had problems losing weight he diagnosed me with pcos and i got married two years ago and my husband and i have been trying to have a baby but i dont even know what to say its so depressing and i still havent had a period in five years im not sure what exactly can help me but my question to you is how do i get rid of pcos?
Dear Stephanie,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I hope that you find some help here.
I am sorry that you and your husband are having a difficult time conceiving. PCOS as you may know can make it more difficult to conceive. PCOS is a major cause of infertility. A symptom of the condition can be nine or fewer menstrual cycles per year. Because women with PCOS don’t have regular
periods, many are unable to become pregnant. To read more about PCOS and infertility please visit the following link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php
There are things you can do to help increase your ability to conceive. I am not sure what has been recommended to you in the past or what you have tried to help you conceive.
If you are looking for prescription medications, I would recommend that you discuss these with your doctor. Also, since it has been so long since you have had a period, has your doctor recommended any treatment to bring on a period in the last 5 years? I do feel that it is important to have you
working with a doctor to monitor your condition.
If you are looking for a non-prescription approach, I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System. You can read more about it at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
PCOS requires a multi-factorial approach and should include treatment to address the underlying cause, insulin resistance, as well as symptoms and nutrition and exercise (lifestyle changes).
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin also contributes to
weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving, barring any other factors contributing to the infertility.
I also wanted to pass along some information where you can learn more about PCOS and how it affects women:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php.
There are also links to support sites that can be useful to help support you in
addition to ours.
Stephanie, please know that although PCOS can make it more difficult to conceive, it does not mean that it will be your experience. Making changes to nutrition and exercise and helping to address the problem can be helpful.
I wish you and your husband the very best. I hope that you consider the PCOS System as part of your approach.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi,
I’m eighteen years old.
I’ve had problems with excess facial and body hair ever since i hit puberty at 12-13 years old. i’ve never had a normal period. there are years where i maybe have 6 a year, and there have been times where my period has lasted up to three weeks. i am a virgin.
I am overweight, depressed, have mood swings, am loosing all the hair on my head, and have pretty bad acne. I also have dark patches of skin on the back of my neck, between my breasts, and on the side of my breasts. I am so self-conscious and this is driving me crazy.
I went to the doctor for a pap smear a month ago, and i have an appointment in a couple a days to go over the results. i want to get on birth control to help regulate my hormones.
what is the best birth-control for someone like me? i think i very much might have pcos.
i know i need to loose weight, i am going to try cinnamon pills and a low-carb diet.
i’ve also heard some good things about something called metformin? my mom has diabetes and is overweight too, so i think this pertains to me.
please help. i’m on medicaid, and the doctor i’m allowed to go to is always so rushed, and i never want to ask questions. i think it would help if i went in knowing what to ask for so she will just be able to write a script.
any response would be wonderful, thank you!
Hi there,
Firstly, what a great blog- thanks a lot.
I am 22 and was diagnosed with Poly cystic ovaries when I was 15. I have suffered with acne from the age of 11 and as you can imagine, after 11 years of suffering and severe scarring, I am well and truly fed up of it. I have tried conventional methods which I find completely pointless as they do not get to the root of the problem meaning the acne comes right back as soon as I stop taking the drugs. Over the last few years I have taken an alternative route, and for three years have been on homeopathy to try and balance my hormones. It has helped to achieve a 28day cycle which before was about 35 days but has not helped my acne and excessive hair growth.
I am in a relationship and ultimately would like to go on the contraceptive pill, but a) I am not sure which one would be suitable for me-I had a hormone test and I have low progesterone, and elevated levels of testosterone b)Dianette seems to be the most favoured choice for pcos but I went on it when I was 16 and my skin flared up to the worst it ever has been c) By taking the pill, will I just make this condition even worse for myself in the future?
I would be really grateful for any insight. I feel quite alone in this situation and bewildered by what to do- my doctor is absolutely no help.
Thanks a lot
Dear Sarah,
I am so glad you found our PCOS Support blog! We know how challenging it can be to find a way to manage PCOS that works with your life and goals. I hope we can be a source of information and support for you. Thanks for writing in!
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
Birth control pills (or any hormonal based contraceptive) are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS but they do not cure PCOS. Some women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their menses. We at Insulite Laboratories do not recommend oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. When the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
If you do decide to take the pill, your doctor will help you decide which is the best for you. Some women have to try several different brands before they find the formulation that works for them.
Since you are interested in the pill for contraception as well, if you choose not to take oral contraceptive pills, you would also need to choose a barrier method of birth control such as condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or Femcap (www.femcap.com), to protect yourself from becoming pregnant.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Please continue to visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition.
hi, I’ve got pcos, my doctor said i need to do hormone levels for pco, but i’m on the pill, he didn;t say if i need to stop taking it before doing blood tests?
thaks for help.
Dear Martina,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
Unfortunately this question is one that needs to be directed to your doctor. They should give you instructions if they did want you to discontinue before the test. I would call the office and leave a message so that they can get back to you.
Certainly, taking hormones such as those in birth control pills (BCP) will affect the tests if the doctor is measuring estrogen or progesterone. If testosterone is being measured or other hormones, they may not be directly affected by the BCP.
Sorry that this is not more helpful as it depends on what is being tested. Please feel free to write in at any time.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have PCOS I’ve also been on birth controls for 6 months since i was diagnosed with this problem. And about 2 weeks since i had my last period thanks to the birth controls. I stopped using them and I’ve been feeling tiered, I experience a slight nipple discomfort followed with swelling of the nipples. I’ve also been experiencing an aching back with frequent urinating and ovary pain. I’m not sure what to think of this. I’ve read that if your on birth control and stop taking them you mite experience pregnancy symptoms. I’ve taken pregnancy test and they are negative. I just need a second opinion
Dear Alejandra,
Thank you for contacting Insulite’s PCOS Support Blog.
Nipple discharge can be normal, unless the discharge contains pus or blood. Certain medications, including birth control pills, can cause nipple discharge. Also pinching the nipples can lead to discharge by stimulating a hormone in the pituitary, so try not to do this for now. It could be that your hormones are trying to balance after being on the pill, but I suggest seeing your gynecologist. Your doctor will want to run do some exams and run some tests to rule out other causes of nipple discharge. He/she may also want to check for urinary tract infection or ovarian cysts.
I hope this information helps. You can read much more about PCOS by visiting the following link and browsing around: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I came across an small article about PCOS in a magazine saying that if your hair growth in your pubic area has become more square (rather than triangular), extending down the inside of your thighs and possibly up toward your belly that this could be a sign that you have PCOS. After reading the article, I felt I identified with it because of the irregular hair growth I had begun experiencing at age 25, (I am now 27) thicker around bikini area and now more thick and course on my inner thighs than usual. So, I decided to check it out on the internet. After researching it, I felt as though perhaps I may have more than just this one reason to consult a doctor about it. At about the same time I began to notice the increased hair in my pubic region, I also started to notice a few thick hairs beginning to grow along the bottom of my chin which has gone from 2 to about 10 in the past 2 years that I’ve been noticing these changes. At the same time, I also all of a sudden developed acne, which I have never had before, even as a teenager. The acne only developed along my jaw and only on one side of my face. As for other symptoms (which they say not everyone with PCOS will have) I have never been heavy at all. Grew up always quite slender, though recently (over the last year) I have gained 10 lbs. in the waist area which COULD be just due to less physical activity. And irregular periods, if they had begun the same time as other symptoms (I had pretty regular cycle throughout puberty) I feel I may not even notice because I have been taking the pill since I was 17 (began menstruating at age 11) As far as the acne goes, I went to a dermatologist because it affected my self esteem quite a bit and I noticed some other unwanted changes in my skin too (more porous, more textured especially a significant change in the skin on my forehead) and the dermatologist prescribed me an topical antibiotic for my acne which has cleared it up but I have ugly scars now on one side of my face, which bothers me a lot. Though I am pleased with the results of the acne medication, I feel there are other changes in my body I do not like that need a explaination and if there is an underlying cause of these symptoms, I would like to tackle them from the main cause rather than just try to treat each symptom as something completely unrelated to one another. Ever since these changes began I have had a feeling that they just weren’t normal. I don’t know anyone else my age battling these issues and it bothers me. I just always had a feeling there could be a cause for all these things happening at all the same time. Some people might think that my issues are superficial and have only to do with my outward appearance but when you are someone going through it, it is a big deal to you and it is important, and even more so when you feel it could actually have something to do with your physical health. Anyhow, after all my explanation I wanted to ask if it seems there is a reason for me to go through getting the testing for PCOS done. My boyfriend thinks I am being silly (I think he just doesn’t want me to feel worried more than anything) So, am I causing myself grief over symptoms that are probably things that are just happening to me without any one explanation, or does it sound as though I have enough reason to be concerned and tested? Other things I can think to mention are that, mother and sister have always been thin. My sister does not have acne, she is older than me and she has had two children without problems (both unexpected) and the youngest is 2. My mother was thin for most of her life until about 7 years ago when she began gaining weight and now she is overweight and has been struggling to lose it for almost as many years (She is 48). She has had 4 children all before she was 30. She has a very active job. She bleeds very heavily on her periods and is not regular. She has quite a bit of hair growing under her chin which started out not very noticeable (like mine) and has become worse and worse. She is now beginning to get hair on her cheek areas. And my sister suffers from none of these symptoms. I realize that I will need to see a doctor to determine if I have this syndrome but I just want to know if there is a cause for action at all. Thanks for your time and I apologize for the lengthy comment. i hope hear back from you.
Dear Samantha,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog and for sharing your story.
It certainly sounds like you have been through a lot and I can truly sense how much frustration you are feeling. While the symptoms of PCOS can vary from woman to woman, there are some that seem to affect many women with PCOS. Among those are irregular menstrual cycles (ranging from absent to heavy periods), development of male hair patterns (facial hair, thinning hair on the head), weight gain, acne, and infertility. The presence of the symptoms is often what triggers a doctor to evaluate for PCOS. Blood tests that are typically done include looking at fasting blood sugar levels, fasting insulin levels, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and cholesterol. However, blood testing is not mandatory in diagnosing PCOS especially if you are experiencing many of the symptoms. The blood tests do provide an additional method to track progress, in conjunction with symptom relief.
As you mentioned, it is better to address the cause of the symptoms rather than to just treat symptoms individually. With PCOS there does seem to be an underlying cause that, unfortunately often goes untreated. This cause is insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which means insulin stays in the blood longer than it is supposed to. This leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other masculinizing hormones. In addition, a woman’s ovaries may also fail to produce hormones adequately, leading to menstrual irregularities. Women may also develop cysts on their ovaries due to the increased insulin levels. This combination certainly makes it more difficult for a woman to become pregnant. The weight gain associated with PCOS is also directly related to the insulin resistance.
As you can see, this can become a perpetuating cycle that is difficult to break unless you address the underlying cause.
You mentioned that your mother has recently experienced weight gain and changes in her cycle. While these can be symptoms of PCOS, it may be that she is just peri-menopausal. However, many women with PCOS also have mothers or maternal aunts with PCOS. But just because a woman may have a predisposition for PCOS, that does not mean she will definitely get this condition. There is plenty that she can do over the years to moderate her lifestyle to try to prevent its development.
You have every reason to be concerned about what is going on with your body. PCOS can be quite serious in some women and less in others. Some of the long-term consequences of PCOS can include diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, infertility, and more. You can read about the long-term consequences on our website: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Insulin-Resistance.php
Samantha, I would recommend that you discuss your concern about the possibility of having PCOS with your family doctor, as he or she may want to do some blood work. Because you do have so many of the symptoms of PCOS I would also recommend that you consider trying the Insulite PCOS System. This system was designed to address the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. It helps to improve insulin sensitivity, correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS, and promote healthy weight loss. The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, carbohydrate addiction awareness and customer support. The combination of these tools is the key to reversing PCOS. You can read more about it at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
If there is any other support that I can provide, please let me know.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hello i am 23 years old and i have severe facial hair and lots of excess body hair (arms, legs,back).. Lots of people tell me that I could Have PCOS.. although i have always had a regular period with no troubles during the cycle (pain etc) I have never gotten a pap done or been on birthcontrol due to insurance purposes.. I am going to the doctor soon to get put on the pill and I don’t know if it is a good idea considering it might make the hair problem worse.. I am also taking the wieght loss pill phentermine do you think that the pill will interfer with this? I researched this syndrome and the only syptoms i seem to have is the unwanted hair… if i am diagnosed with PCSO will the pill help prevent it or just make it worse? I don’t want to spend all of this money and it not even work..
Hello there,
I was pleasantly surprised to have found your website through a google search. it is just the forum i’ve been looking for. so… i am a 26 yrs old and was diagnosed with pcos at the age of 19. my symptoms were excessive facial and body hair, missing periods(sometimes upto three- four months at a stretch), and facial acne. for a short period of time i gained a significant amount of weight. I was 99 lbs (height 5′3″) and went up to around 126 lbs during the time I started noticing these changes in my body. I visited a doctor and was prescribed a combination of glucaphage and aldactone, after which I managed to lose weight and was getting my period more regularly. I continued on these medication for two years and stopped thereafter. In 2005, and then again in 2007 I had a severe attack of abdominal pain (it was excruciating, and no painkiller would relieve the pain– both times it happened around about the dates I expected my period), which I later discovered to be a ruptured cyst, caused by my pcos. that same year in november, till presesnt, I started taking YASMIN, the birth control and this has regulated my period, helped my acne and somewhat, albeit not substantially at all, decreased my body hair. I have also started laser hair removal on my face from which I have thanfully seen a marked diff with. In 2008 I also got married so have continued to take YASMIN and do so even now. However I wonder a) how long it is safe to continue to take the pill b) if i should be treating the sysmtoms rather than simply opting for this ’short cut’ solution, and c) being a relatively heavy smoker, should I be on the pill at all? according to the literature it is dangerous to do both things concurrently beyond the age of 35 (though my doctor told me 30). I am afraid I wont be able to have children when I want to start trying for them (am not at the moment). please advise. many thanks,
Dear Ayesha,
Thank you for contacting Insulite’s PCOS Support blog. Great questions! As naturopath, I believe it’s always best to treat the underlying cause of a condition rather than treating only the symptoms. So yes, I do think it would be a good idea for you to start treating the underlying cause of PCOS, especially if you want to have children one day.
Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and improving the insulin resistance that can underlie PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System, which you may have read about on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, is designed to help reverse PCOS by addressing its main underlying cause, which in most cases is insulin resistance as mentioned above.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
Our System is designed to balance the testosterone, insulin and other reproductive hormones that impact ovulation.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives to address PCOS. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill! The supplements of the PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills; they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS. Some women decide to continue taking the pill while on the System which is fine. Just remember to take it four hours away from our GlucX product.
Some women stay on the pill for many years with no apparent side effects and others are more sensitive to the synthetic hormones and notice side effects early. Obviously, the best thing would be for you to quit smoking. Being a heavy smoker and taking the pill can increase your risk of forming clots in your blood. Since I am not your doctor I can not tell you what to do, but try to work towards being as healthy as you can be for your goal of having a healthy pregnancy in the future!
I hope this information answers your questions.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi,
First of all I appreciate you for the effort of maintaing such a useful website.
My sister ( Veena – 22) got married recently before 4 months, and they planned to have a child after a year. But recently due to her heavy bleeding we did ultrasound and blood test for her. Through which we came to know that she has PCOS, and our doctor has suggested to take birth control pills to regulate the periods for time being.
After hearing all the stories, many questions are raising in my mind:
1. Being a newly married, whether it is adviceable to have birth control pill?
2. I think that she should first give importance for the child rather than postponing. Is that advicable?
3. She is not a good healthy eater. Is this the reason for all these causes? If yes, what are the things she should follow (food diet)?
4. Is morning/evening walk is enough to do 30 mins brisk exercise?
Please guide me to help my sister to get cure.
Thanks in Advance.
Regards,
Priya
Dear Priya,
I am delighted you found our blog! It is always so encouraging to hear from family members who are worried about their loved ones.
With conditions like these, it is essential to include diet and lifestyle changes as part of the treatment program. Making such changes is of course easier with the support of family members. I have answered each of your questions below. Thanks for writing in!
1. Being a newly married, whether it is adviseable to have birth control pill?
While many married couples choose to continue using birth control until they are ready to start a family, this is a personal decision that each couple must decide for themselves. I can tell you that birth control pills are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS but they do not cure PCOS. Treating absent or excessive menses with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
2. I think that she should first give importance for the child rather than
postponing. Is that advicable?
While there may be cultural issues at play here, again, this is something that each couple must decide for themselves. It is true that women with PCOS may have more challenges in conceiving, but it is certainly not impossible. We have several testimonials on our website from women with
PCOS who were successful in conceiving.
3. She is not a good healthy eater. Is this the reason for all these
causes? If yes, what are the things she should follow (food diet)?
Diet plays a major role in PCOS. The underlying cause of PCOS is believed to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to
the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time losing weight. The difficulty becoming pregnant that many women with PCOS experience is due to a number of factors: the ovarian cysts, the hormonal imbalance, and the elevated insulin.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5-10% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating; therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for
these women with PCOS.
I can tell you very generally that we advocate a “whole foods” diet that is low in carbohydrates. We encourage people to avoid refined carbohydrates like bread, rice, sugar, pasta, tortillas, pastries,
cookies, soda, juice, etc. A whole foods diet is one that stresses fresh, unprocessed, and unrefined foods. Ideally, we recommend that she try to decrease her intake of carbohydrates to 60 grams per day. A carb counter can help with this. You can use an online carb counter like one found at
http://www.carb-counter.org or you can purchase one at bookstores or health food stores. Another online resource that I have found to be quite helpful is http://www.fitday.com, at which you can get the carb, fat, and protein breakdown of many foods.
4. Is morning/evening walk is enough to do 30 mins brisk exercise?
Ideally, to do 30 min. twice per day would be great. Another thing she can do to help is to increase her exercise by 15 minutes per day that she exercises. One final tip is to engage in some gentle physical activity after eating. For instance, take a 10-15 minute walk after dinner. This helps with glucose disposal.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you and your sister through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hey there,
I have been struggling with acne and excess facial hair since adolescence. When I was 17 my GP put me on Dianne which I was on for a couple of years, and since then I’ve tried several different pills such as Yasmin and Yaz (which I’m on now). However, I’ve noticed that my symptoms have become worse the past couple of years. I’m now 28 and I was wanting to know if the contraceptive pill might make PCOS worse if used for more than 10 years? I really want to go off the pill to see if I feel better off it, but I’m so scared that my symptoms will get even worse again. What have people’s experience been like going off the pill?
Dear Alicia,
Thank you for posting to the PCOS Support blog. This is a great question.
There is some research out there that birth control can contribute to insulin resistance, which is the cause of PCOS in many women. We have a blog posting relating to this here: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/insulin-resistance/can-birth-control-pills-affect-pcos.
Also, although the pill will help to regulate your cycle and can decrease the androgenic symptoms (caused by elevated testosterone – acne and excess hair, etc.) it will not have the same effect once you stop the medication.
In addition because you are not really addressing the cause, insulin resistance, these symptoms often return once the birth control is stopped. The type of pill you are using can also affect how your symptoms change. Some pills can actually worsen the androgenic symptoms and this should be considered when prescribing. However, Yaz has a lower potential for worsening these symptoms. Check out this website for more information: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm
I am hoping some women will write in about their experience with stopping birth control after using for a long period of time to give you more information on their experience directly. In my experience working with women with PCOS, I have seen some do very well with discontinuing birth control and others who have had symptoms return a short time after discontinuing.
What I do feel is very important and can further support symptoms from returning or getting worse is to have other support on board such as the appropriate nutrition, exercise, nutrients and herbs prior to the transition from using medications to not using them. With this I have known women not to see as much of a change in their symptoms once they have decided to stop medication.
I would recommend that if you are not following a nutrition/exercise plan that addresses insulin resistance and the hormonal imbalance that you consider starting this and I would also recommend the Insulite PCOS System, since this is a comprehensive approach and include these modalities as well as nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc) that support treating the cause, symptoms and other risks associated with having PCOS.
Alicia, please feel free to write in at any time. If you don’t hear more from women regarding this topic, check out the PCOS forum at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php. I hope that this gives you some insight.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I would like to thank you for this informative website…
My story is as follows, during the high school year, which is 7 years ago, I have gained lots of weight. By the end of that year I noticed my facial hair is showing but still I had regular periods.. I went to see an endocrinologist and she prescribed me metformin to help me lose weight which is the main reasons of my hormonal changes. Unfortunately, I did not take that seriously or I would say that I tried the fad diets to lose weight which gave no improvements I just lost a few pounds..
from that time (like a year and a 2 months from now), I came back to Diane 35 but stopped the metformin (which my endoc. does not like, but I was not feeling good taking it)..
After 4 years for me being on metformin and still with some excess weight, my periods got absent.. I could not handle it for more than six years so I went to the obgyn and she prescribed me Diane 35.. I stayed on it for six months, I went off it just to see if my periods would come regularly on its own but no success
Currently, I am just taking Diane 35 and I lost a lot of weight when I stopped the metformin!! my diet is clean and I try to exercise on a daily basis to keep the weight off.. I have ten more pounds to go.. the only symptoms I have is very mild acne which is treated using Diane 35.. I am planning to take off Diane 35 when I reach my target weight and see if I will get back my periods normally..
I am really scared to do this, it was a long and tiring journey to reach the current weight.. my question: is diane the reason of me losing the weight or the good diet and exercise? I am afraid that I will gain all the weight back even I stayed with a healthy diet and regular exercise?
Thanks
Lolla
Hi Lolla,
We’re so glad that you found our web site informative – we appreciate your letting us know.
Below is a response to your post from Dr. Nicole Kellum.
Best wishes, Catherine Lord, Editor, PCOS Support Blog
Dear Lolla,
Thank you for contacting Insulite’s PCOS Support blog.
Sorry to hear about your long battle with treating PCOS. It’s wonderful that you have lost most of the weight. I suspect that your success is more likely due to your good diet and exercise plan and not the Diane 35, which helps with the acne.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Some women with PCOS respond well to Metformin (Glucophage) in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin, which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
With those on Glucophage, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
For some women these symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of insulin resistance and PCOS. I hope you do well off of the birth control! But if you find you need additional help, consider trying the Insulite PCOS System which was created to address the cause of PCOS which, in most cases, is Insulin Resistance.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello, My name is Missy. I am 23years old about 5′ 3″ and weigh between 170-190lbs. My weight goes up and down. Before I gave birth to my daughter about 8 years ago, I weighed in at 120lbs. That was the last time I ever weighed so little. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 4 months ago. I was pescribed birth contol pills to try and regulate my period, but after about 3 weeks of taking them, I stopped and it made me sick beyond measures! I have had a period since then, but not in the last month or so. I have a Dr.’s appt tomorrow and wanted to request Metiformin but not sure if the doc will give them to me. I don’t have have a problem with much facial hair, other than my upper lip. I’m totally lost! I was reading the other comments and it hit me that I need to loose more weight. Start eating right and exercising, even if it’s just walking for an hour a day. Please help. I really don’ want to be Diabetic.
Dear Missy,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am sorry to hear how you have been struggling since the birth of your daughter.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you were prescribed metformin from your doctor. This is one of the most common medications used for PCOS… along with birth control. I hear very mixed feelings on the use of this medication. Metformin acts as an anti-hyperglycemic; it reduces glucose thereby reducing insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by insulin resistance.
Some women with PCOS respond well to metformin in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective. Others often experience side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Everyone is different and how you will respond, I am not sure.
Birth control pills also just regulate your period. Again, they are not addressing the problem and for some women can worsen their condition.
However, I would like you to consider another option. What I recommend to my patients is different than what conventional doctors might do. For me it is not only about addressing the symptoms but also the reason why your body is unwell. The foundation should include nutrition and exercise changes. If these are not employed the medication will only work while you use it and it may not be giving you the results that you are looking for.
In addition to lifestyle changes, I would recommend another aspect that is included in the Insulite PCOS System. It includes lifestyle changes but also nutrients/herbs that address the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. It also helps to reduce symptoms and reduce the long term risks of having PCOS. We understand that PCOS is complicated and it really does require a comprehensive approach to optimize your ability to control how it affects you.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin and insulin resistance also contribute to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects. Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity and promote healthy weight loss with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS. You can read more about this at: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com
It sounds like you are ready to make some changes and I hope that you consider the PCOS System. As you know, there is no quick fix. But there are a lot of women who know exactly what you are dealing with and an amazing community here that will help to support you.
I hope that you consider the PCOS System. If I can help further, please feel free to contact me.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Thank you a lot Dr. Nicole for your response…
This is me Lolla.. As I understood from you that the weight loss is not due to Diane
so happy about this information because I was afraid that once I stop it, all the weight will come back..
So my plan is to stop Diane once I have my acne cleared and reach my target weight..
Concerning the supplements, I have these questions:
1. what supplements do you recommend for me to regulate the period and help maintaing the weight loss, acne, hair loss.. (pcos symptoms)?
2. are these supplemets 100% natural?
3. How can I get these supplements?
Thanks
Lolla
Dear Lolla,
Here is some general information about the PCOS System. The Insulite PCOS System consists of five elements, all designed to work together to address PCOS and its underlying cause, insulin resistance.
The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, addiction awareness and customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult to make without some help!
The supplements are natural and safe. They are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin. Here is a link to a page on our website that describes the supplements in detail: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php.
The diet and exercise aspect of the Insulite PCOS System is also crucial to your success. You can read the general information about these guidelines at the following link: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Nutrition-and-Exercise-Plans.php. Of course, more detailed information is provided in the Insulite Guide that our customers receive.
Diane 35 helps with acne in PCOS because it lowers testosterone levels. The PCOS+ will also reduce androgen (testosterone) levels. The Insulite PCOS System will take a few months at least to balance out your hormones and reduce your acne. So if after being on Diane 35 and seeing your acne clear and then worsen after being off it, don’t be surprised or disappointed. Unfortunately it takes patience and time for your body time to heal and balance out.
I would suggest that you take all medications and supplements separately from the GlucX (one of the products). The reason for this is that GlucX is high in fiber, which could theoretically interfere with the absorption of other substances taken at the same time. Taking the GlucX about 4 hours away from other medications and supplements should be ample time.
You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System by visiting the following link and browsing around: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
This is me again Lolla,,,
I am really thankful for your help and sorry for sending a lot of messages…
I just have one more question, what I am experiencing lately is that I get the PMS Symptoms after I finish my period? Does this have any explanation?
I will look into the supplements and check what would help me?
Hello Lolla,
No need to apologize for asking questions. That is what we are here for, so keep asking. Many women with PCOS experience PMS symptoms throughout their cycle. Most often PMS symptoms are linked to lower progesterone levels. Women with PCOS are often found to have low progesterone levels, so it’s no surprise that they experience these symptoms. The PCOS+ product in the Insulite System contains botanicals, like Vitex, Nettle root, and Saw Palmetto, that help to balance reproductive hormones, including progesterone, estrogens and androgens. Vitex especially is known to help relieve PMS symptoms. Our system also contains milk thistle, a botanical that helps the liver process our hormones more efficiently.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Thanks
Lolla
It’s great to find helpful infomations on this important subject.
Dear Neal,
We’re so glad that you found our web site and support blog helpful.
Yes, PCOS is an important subject and we are here to help you.
If you have any questions about PCOS, please feel free to post them here. Our Consulting & Advisory teams are comprised of doctors who are both knowledgeable and caring.
Please write in again, Neal.
Sincerely,
Catherine L
PCOS Support Blog
Hi,
I was not having my period for almost 9 months (Apr08 to Dec08). Prior to that, I had my period regularly without missing any single month.
I went to see doc, and was diagnosed with PCOS. Doc prescribed me with Diane 35. I have been taking Diane 35 for 6 mths, and now I off it, and am waiting whether my period will come on its own.
Im very curious, since I m not overweight at all. Im 153cm tall and weigh 42.5kg.
FYI, I realised that I first miss my period when I started to lose weight (from 50+kg to 45kg) and I really change my eating habit since then.
1)Is it possible for lean women to be diagnosed with PCOS?
2) Since Im not overweight, what is the possible cause for my PCOS?
3) What should I do if I still miss my period after being off from Diane 35?
Thanks.
Dear Nad,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I apologize for the delay in responding.
As you may already know, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is irregular or lack of menstruation. I am surprised by the fact that your cycles have been regular up until the last 9 months. Did you or are you currently experiencing other symptoms of PCOS? Other symptoms include facial hair, fatigue, changes in mood, ovarian cysts, alopecia (male pattern hair loss), acne, skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive and excess male hormones.
Many aspects of our website and other websites focus on women who have PCOS and are overweight. However, we have worked with many women who report Lean PCOS, or PCOS without being overweight. Regardless of the weight, whether overweight or healthy weight, insulin resistance is still often the underlying cause.
Diane 35 is a medication that provides estrogen. It reduces androgen (testosterone) levels and is used to treat women with severe acne. The problem with using oral contraceptives/estrogen medications to “treat” PCOS is that the Pill does not change the underlying condition. In fact, once women with PCOS stop taking the birth control pill, their symptoms return unchanged. The synthetic hormones in the pill merely suppress the symptoms of PCOS and induce menstruation only while you continue to take the medicine.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity, correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS, and promote healthy weight loss with its combination of nutrients and herbs, diet and exercise guidelines, and support. You can read more about it at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Our goal is that you would resume menstruation after beginning the Insulite PCOS System. How long this would take varies greatly depending on the person. Some women get their periods within the first two months on the System, whereas for other women it can take several months. There is a great deal of individual variation on what symptoms improve first: for some women they notice increased energy, others have a better sense of well-being, others lose weight right away, etc.
If there is any other support that I can provide, please let me know.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello,
Since my last entry, I’ve been very busy. I tried to exercise more and eat more healthier.
I had also stop taking the pills since they caused more problems than they solved.
Well today I am 21 weeks pregnant and I had conceived natually without ANY DRUGS. Part of me believe that this is an act of God because I’ve been living with PCOS for most of my life. And believe me I’ve suffered through it – the unwanted hair that grows in strange places, the 3 months between periods, the excess weight, the thought of diabeties, etc.
But my advice to all ladies who read this blog is to try to get as much information and support, cause PCOS will take over your life if you let it.
And last of all I really want to thank all the professionals who take time to listen and answer all of the questions from all us who have PCOS. So THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU!
From a very grateful and pregnant
Lily-Anna.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in my mid 30’s. Since my diagnosis I was prescribed metformin, and birth control pills.
My cycles were (back then) normal. I was regular. I lost quite a bit of weight (almost 20lbs) while taking metformin. This was a huge problem, because I was thin to begin with and was not INSULIN RESISTANT. I exercise and I eat right (have had this practice since early 90’s). Why do I have PCOS. My LH and and my FSH are still not in range.
Dear Kimberly,
Thank you for contacting Insulite Laboratories. I am so glad that you found our website and decided to write in. I can sense in your email the frustration you are experiencing in controlling PCOS. I hope that I can provide you with some useful information and more importantly, the confidence to know that things can get better.
Although PCOS is a common female endocrine disorder (i.e., hormonal imbalance), it is still poorly understood within the medical community. The symptoms can vary from woman to woman but often include a combination of the following: excessive weight gain and obesity, irregular, heavy or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, excessive facial or body hair, alopecia (male pattern hair loss), acne, skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive and excess male hormones.
As you may have read on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com , the Insulite PCOS System is designed to heal the underlying cause of PCOS which in most cases is insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin produced by the pancreas, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and loss. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
There is a small group of women with PCOS who do not seem to be Insulin resistant. It seems that this group of women without insulin resistance is often lean. You mentioned that your insulin levels are normal. We find that when someone’s fasting insulin is above 9 or so (considered a “normal” reading), that is starting to indicate a problem with insulin resistance. Do you know what your fasting insulin levels are? In addition, do you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome?
Two other tests that might give us helpful information are testosterone and DHEA-S which are both elevated in PCOS. Do you know what other tests your doctor ran to diagnose you with PCOS and what the results were?
The problem with using oral contraceptives and other medications, like Metformin to “treat” PCOS is that they do not change the underlying condition. In fact, once women with PCOS stop taking the prescribed medication, their symptoms return unchanged. The synthetic hormones in the pill merely suppress the symptoms of PCOS.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The topics of lean women with PCOS, and PCOS without insulin resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. Many thin women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not Insulin resistant. Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
If you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, if you have cravings for carbohydrates or sweets, if you have skin tags or acanthosis nigricans (dark patches on the skin, especially in the armpits) I would be more inclined to think there is a component of insulin resistance in your case.
Since I don’t have specifics on your lab values I can’t whole-heartedly recommend the PCOS System to you right now. The Insulite PCOS System has a few components to it that are specifically geared for reversing insulin resistance and frankly you may not need those products. If you are not Insulin resistant it is possible to take the PCOS+ which you can order, along with the Insulite Guide by emailing us at info@insulitelabs.com. We have had customers with Lean PCOS on the Insulite PCOS System with success. You could certainly try the System. I do want to let you know we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for some reason, the system does not work for you, Insulite Laboratories offers a 90 day money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the Insulite System, we will refund your original purchase price for up to 90 days. (Excluding shipping and handling)
Kimberly, again, I am so glad that you found our website. I hope that this helps clarify some of the questions you have about PCOS. If you have any other questions or concerns I hope you will write back. We are happy to help in any way we can.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Firstly, thank you all so much for sharing your concerns and for Dr.Nicoles’ much appreciated help.
Am 24 years old, i have a three year old son, and just when my husband and i decided to have our second baby, i was diagonised with pcos in march 09. I have irregular periods, with a gap of 2 months each time.
My Doc, insisted i have enough time since am still young to be so worried and anxious bout a second baby, she put me on Glucophage 500mg twice daily and diane 33. i have been takin the combined treatement since mid july and its been 2 weeks now.
But how does this help me? esp when i so desperately need another baby..how long will the effects of the pill be off to enable me get pregant after i sto takin them?
Please advice, should i take a second opinion or must i go on with this treatment.
Hopin to hear from you soon,
Neena
Dear Neena,
Thank you for contacting Insulite Labs PCOS Support Blog again.
You should ask your doctor how long she expects you to be on these medications. I know results can vary with our system and I’m sure they do with these medications as well. So it may be hard to predict. Glucophage (Metformin) acts as an anti-hyperglycemic; it reduces glucose thereby reducing insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by insulin resistance.
Some women with PCOS respond well to Glucophage in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin, which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on Glucophage, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of insulin resistance and PCOS. Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and improving the insulin resistance that underlies PCOS.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS. Our system is designed to balance the testosterone, insulin and other reproductive hormones that impact ovulation.
While we cannot promise that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi!
I have a problem with my mensis since 2004. I am a 31year old women and I have been trying to conceive my second baby. My first born will be turning 12years old in December 2009. I don’t even know what caused my mensis to stop, but I guess its because I’ve used the pill, injection and the Loop Copper T. I need help, how can I correct my mensis. It’s frustrating me cause I have gained a lot of weight in a way that I can not even describe.
Thanks!
Dear Mimie,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog. There are several tests that should be performed to determine why your menses stopped.
The first question to ask when a woman stops menstruating is, is she pregnant? I assume you have checked to make sure you are not pregnant!
Secondly, several lifestyle/environmental factors can affect menstruation,
including: loss of a significant amount of weight, anorexia and bulimia, extreme exercise, and extreme stress.
Finally, there are a host of other reasons why menstruation stops, including menopause (which is a natural phenomenon) and other hormonal changes that would be more indicative of a disease state.
This is where the tests come in that your doctors will need to do. They will do a blood test to check your LH, FSH, prolactin, and possibly other hormones too. They might also want to perform imaging studies of your uterus and ovaries.
One way to tell if you are ovulating or not is by doing what we call Basal Body Temperature (BBT) monitoring. Have your doctors spoken to you about this? Throughout the month, our body temperature varies depending on where we are in our menstrual cycle. By monitoring your temperature, you can roughly tell how your hormones are working and if you are ovulating.
I am wondering how you found our website. Were you diagnosed with or suspect that you have PCOS? If so, then the fact that you have stopped menstruating is very characteristic of PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was designed to help women with PCOS improve their health by reversing insulin resistance (the underlying cause of PCOS), correcting the hormonal imbalances, and improving the symptoms of PCOS. If you do have PCOS, I hope you consider using the Insulite PCOS System.
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector Deneen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
I was diagnosed with pcos & prescribed yaz to lower androgen levels. I have alot of the high testosterone syptoms including: male pattern balding, acne, excessive facial hair, upper body obesity, oily skin. I want to know that once the T levels are lowered will my body resume to normalcy? Such as the upper body obesity. I used to have nice curves, now I look like humpty dumpty. I just can not bare another day without feeling feminine. When/will my hair begin to grow back? I just need answers. Thanks
Dear Tina,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I hope that you are finding the information useful and helpful.
Regarding your question, reducing the testosterone levels can provide some normalcy. Yaz can help lower androgen levels and you may find that your symptoms in some ways are getting better. In my experience many women notice that the acne and the hair loss decrease with use. Of course it will also regulate your period.
What is important to keep in mind is that the pill is only treating some of the symptoms and may only take you so far with symptoms. Every women’s experience can be different. Some women gain weight on the pill, or do not have the reduction in symptoms that they thought gthey would.
However, perhaps most importantly, with PCOS, you want to not only decrease these symptoms that are often a result of high androgens and the imbalance of other hormones but also address the underling problem. It is our goal to help women not only reduce symptoms but to help correct the underlying insulin resistance that is considered the cause of most cases of PCOS.
Insulin resistance vastly reduces the insulin sensitivity of cells, which impairs the processing of glucose through the cell wall for conversion to energy. As a result, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated levels of blood sugar, some of which is sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar may be converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, key factors in creating PCOS.
Sometimes insulin resistance results in high blood sugar, sometimes in low blood sugar, and sometimes there is no change whatsoever in blood sugar levels. I think this probably depends on how long the person has been insulin resistant, among other things. Like many things, developing insulin resistance was probably a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
In addition, insulin disrupts the hormones and in many women will cause an increase in testosterone as well as affect ovulation and cycles.
As the testosterone decreases you should see some changes. It can depend on how high the levels are and how you are addressing the problem in addition to the symptoms.
I also wanted to include this link. It discusses some research regarding birth control and the treatment of PCOS. The research here actually shows that using birth control can worsen insulin resistance therefore over time worsening the situation. http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/insulin-resistance/can-birth-control-pills-affect-pcos
I would recommend that you check out what Insulite Laboratories has developed to reverse insulin resistance and help you control the impact that PCOS has on your life. You can read more at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. This is a non-pharmaceutical, comprehensive system that not only incorporates nutrients/herbs but also crucial factors such as nutrition and exercise, in addition to support while you are working towards making these changes.
Tina, I hope that this helps. I wish I could give you more specific answers but every woman can have varying results with the different conventional treatment options. As you may know, PCOS is much more complicated in many instances and requires a comprehensive approach.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello,
I am 36 years old and feel that I am falling apart. I have always considered myself to be somewhat healthy and have exercised consistently since I was 14 years old. I am 5′8″ and have weighed around 135 for the past 20 years. I have never really been on BC, had no problem conceiving my 2 children, ages 12 and 9, and have always had somewhat irregular periods, ranging from 40 to 60 days apart in college to presently ranging every 23 to 26 days. Sometimes the bleeding is heavy; sometimes it is very light. I have always had an extreme amount of body hair and started getting facial hair in my late teens. I did not have acne until my college years. I took Accutane and had clear skin for the next 12 years. Well, about 2 years ago, my skin started acting up again and was extremely oily – I mean sopping with oil! I went to my dermatologist who prescribed 100mg Spironolactone daily. It has helped somewhat with the oil and facial hair (the coarse black hairs on my chin). I am currently still taking this dosage. About 6 months ago, I started having pain in my pelvic region, on the sides. It was painful during intercourse and if I was constipated. My pap was clear, but the ultrasound did show 4cm cysts in each ovary. The doc recommended BC, but I have not chosen to do that yet. Here lately, within the past couple months, I have noticed that I am so forgetful! I mean I am losing my mind! I run off and forget stuff all the time – leave my cell phone everywhere, lock myself out of the house/car, burn things in the oven, lose my train of thought – and this is so unlike me! I am also very sluggish, which is not like me either. I am getting depressed because all these symptoms are getting worse – the forgetfulness, my skin, the hair, the pain/bloating, the tiredness. I am only 36 and I have 2 very active/involved kids! I really need to be on top of my game right now! Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Mandy,
Thank you for contacting the PCOS Support Blog. I am so sorry to hear that you are experiencing so many symptoms.
The irregular periods, acne, hair growth and ovarian cysts make me think that the Insulite PCOS System can help you. Have you been diagnosed with PCOS?
It is terribly frustrating to deal with exhaustion while also trying to be a parent! Your case sounds very complex to me and I don’t have any simple answers for you. I have a hunch that you may be dealing with a combination of endocrine (hormonal) dysfunctions that are leading to the fatigue. There can be many, many causes of fatigue, including but not limited to: hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism (i.e., having symptoms but it is not detectable by lab work), insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and diabetes, adrenal hypofunction, systemic Candida, anemia, chronic diseases, stress, etc.
I think your best option is to consult with a skilled naturopathic doctor who can help investigate the causes of your fatigue. He or she will do some thorough testing. For thyroid disease, I would look at TSH, free T4, free T3, and reverse T3. Most MD’s only measure TSH and occasionally T4.
T3 is the actual active thyroid hormone, and if your body is unable to properly and efficiently convert T4 to T3, then you could be hypothyroid even if your TSH and T4 are normal on bloodwork. Reverse T3 can lead to falsely normal TSH and T4 as well, and it runs high when the thyroid is not functioning well due to stress.
To test adrenal function, a naturopathic doctor would look at cortisol levels throughout the day. This is typically a saliva test.
If you would be interested in working with a Naturopathic Doctor, a physician who specializes in alternative medicine, go to http://www.naturopathic.org and do the “Find an ND” search located on the opening page. You would want to look for an ND with some expertise in women’s medicine.
The benefit of working with an ND is that they work holistically, treating the whole person, and address nutritional needs. This is important in a disease like PCOS, which responds well to lifestyle changes.
Please let me know if you have additional questions, Mandy. I hope I hear back from you soon.
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector Deneen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
Hello. I have been living with diabetes since I was 3 years old. I am now 17 years old. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism when i was around 11 years old. When I was 16, i was diagnosed with PCOS. I take Levothyroxine (pill for thyroid) 25 MCG, 2 50MG Spironolactone a day, and 4 500MG metformin pills, 30units of Lantus(insulin) and a sliding scale if you wish of Humalog(insulin. Since taking metaformin i lost ten lbs. But even with diet and exercise I can’t seem to drop more. Mostly because of thyroid and PCOS working agaisnt me to gain weight. I was wondering these past few days a few questions i would like to ask you guys.
Dear Emily,
Thank you for writing into our blog. I’m glad you found our website!
The source of your issue isn’t your ovaries – they are not really working ‘against you.’ The problem is insulin resistance, and/or perhaps in your case, your body not using the insulin you’re putting in as efficiently as it could.
If you become pregnant, you would move away from using Metformin and depend on the other diabetic
medications. Using birth control pills might help resolve some issues, but they will not fix the basic problem either. Also, the amount of thyroid medication you’re on is minimal, so I’m wondering how much it’s actually influencing your situation.
Let me send you some basic information on PCOS, Insulin Resistance, and the Insulite PCOS System, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin.
This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other
androgens (male hormones). The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain often associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Some other symptoms that women with PCOS suffer from are acne and excess hair growth.
The Insulite PCOS System consists of several elements, all designed to work together to address PCOS and its underlying cause, Insulin Resistance. The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, addiction awareness, and customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult to make without some help!
The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin. Here is a link to a page on our website that describes the
supplements in detail: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php
The diet and exercise aspects of the Insulite PCOS System are also crucial to your success. You can read the general information about these guidelines at the following link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Nutrition-and-Exercise-Plans.php.
Of course, more detailed information is provided in the Insulite Guide that our customers receive.
You can read much more about the entire Insulite PCOS System by visiting
the following link: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Lastly, there is a book that you might find very helpful to help with your Diabetes: Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution: A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars by Dr. Richard Bernstein. He encourages eating a low carb diet, as we do at Insulite Labs, and you might find his book very elucidating and inspiring.
I hope this information provides you with what you were looking for. Feel free to write again with any other questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
If i wanted to conceive a baby in the future, if my ovaries dont kill it, would taking all that medication cause defects or mutations?
If i use birth control will it treat PCOS, to the most effect since im already insulin resistant?
How can I loose more weight when my thyroid and ovaries are working so hard against me?
HI
i am lalytha i am a 30 year old women form virginia.I am trying to get pregnant .I have been diagnosed with PCOs when i was 18 . My doctor has put me on birth control pills for 2 years and now i am on diane .Please advice what i can do to increase my chances of pregnancy i have started working out and am overweight .
thanks
Dear Lalytha,
Thank you for writing into the Insulite PCOS Support blog. I’m glad you found our website!
Working out is a good start for you. Another good thing you could do is to limit your
carbohydrate intake. At Insulite Labs we generally recommend between 60-80 grams of
carbs per day for women who are suffering from PCOS. A good thing for you to do is
to get a calorie counting book and start watching your diet that way, in addition to eating
lots of veggies and lean protein.
The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other
androgens (male hormones). The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain often associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Other symptoms that women with PCOS suffer from include acne and excess
hair growth.
By exercising and controlling your diet you can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. The Insulite PCOS System might be of great help to you as well. Here is the link link to the area on our website that talks about PCOS: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this is helpful. Feel free to write again if you have any more questions
or comments.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
Hi,
I was diagnosed with PCOS around 5 years ago. All my doctor told me was that to help treat PCOS I needed to go on birth control. I still have my yearly visits to the gyno, however, my PCOS has never been mentioned again and I’m so confused. I went to the doctor this past week and asked her why it had never been mentioned again and she said that it really doesnt come into play until i try to get pregnant and then they will take it into consideration. I feel like there is a lot of information i am missing out on, and that there should be something else i should be doing to help control my PCOS.
Hello Rene,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
You are right being concerned that your doctor is not addressing the PCOS. Your weight gain and absent menses are symptoms of PCOS and could be treated now. Also, since you want to have a child in the near future the sooner you start treating the PCOS the better your chances are of conceiving naturally, without fertility treatments.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill!
The supplements of the Insulite PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
Glucophage (Metformin) acts as an anti-hyperglycemic; it reduces glucose thereby reducing insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by insulin resistance.
Some women with PCOS respond well to Glucophage in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin, which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on Glucophage, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of insulin resistance and PCOS.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have recently been having a lot of problems with my birth control, spotting, cramping, and breast tenderness. I was switched brands and i was told to use them for two months to see if it works. I have been looking up PCOS online for a while and i keep hearing about metformin. Is this a good alternative? Does it actually increase the liklihood of ovulation? I would like to have a baby in the near future-not currently trying- so would this be a good choice? The only symptoms of PCOS i expirience are being overwight and an absence of menses when not on birth control.
I would really like your help. Any information is greatly appreciated considering i havent really been informed on anything dealing with PCOS. Thanks
I was diagnosed by my doctor as having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and promptly given a script for the pill. However I have believed for sometime now that it was the contributing factor to me getting this strange condition. I thankyou for your article as it’s nice to see someone else with some sense!! I can’t believe the amount of doctors and people out there that are so blind. I will get to the bottom of this condition and find a usful solution someday, and it wont be the pill.
Thankful
Dear Katrina,
Thank you for writing into the Insulite PCOS Support blog.
Birth control pills just regulate your period and as you read on our blog, they can actually cause insulin insensitivity.
You mentioned that you would one day find a solution to your PCOS. What I recommend to my patients is different than what conventional doctors might. The foundation of your treatment should include nutritional and exercise changes. If these are not employed, medication will only work while you use it and it may not be giving you the results that you are looking for.
In addition to lifestyle changes, I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System. It includes guidelines for lifestyle changes and also nutrients/herbs that address the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin and insulin resistance also contribute to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity and promote healthy weight loss with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS. You can read more about this at: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com
I hope this is helpful. Feel free to write in again with any other thoughts or questions you might have.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
Hi,
I was just recently diagnosed with PCOS back in December. I am currently taking Metformin for my insulin resistance, but I still need to be on birth control pills aswell. I was told that there may be certian types of pills that are better for women who have PCOS, but am having trouble identifying them. Do you know anything about that?
Also in the above article it said that some pills may actually worsen insulin resistancy, if that’s the case would me taking a birth control pill along with my Metformin be a problem?
Dear Karee,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog!
This is a great question since birth control pills (BCP) are often recommended to control menstruation for many conditions in addition to PCOS. There are some that have higher amounts of certain hormones (usually progestins, a synthetic form of progesterone) and are known to increase androgenic effects. Androgens as you may already know, are hormones that all women have but can be increased in women with PCOS and often are responsible for symptoms such as acne, excess facial and body hair and male pattern hair loss, etc. The hormones that exert androgenic effects include DHEA-s and testosterone.
Here is a link with more information on which types of birth control have low androgenic side effects: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm.
However your doctor should be familiar with the effects of different types of BCP’s and be able to help you find a good fit.
It is not that taking both BCP and metformin would interact and these are often how women are being treated. BCP can worsen insulin resistance and it is our goal at Insulite Labs to help women address PCOS from a non-pharmaceutical treatment plan that includes the ever crucial nutrition and exercise components but also helping your body heal the underlying insulin resistance and reducing the symptoms with vitamins/minerals/herbs so that medications are not necessary.
Regarding metformin, it acts as an anti-hyperglycemic; it reduces glucose thereby reducing insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by insulin resistance.
Some women with PCOS respond well to metformin in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin, which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on metformin, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS. These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of insulin resistance and PCOS.
In the end, it is really up to you how you decide to address PCOS. I would recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System and how it may help you.
Karee, I hope that this helps and gives your more information and choices. Please feel free to write in at any time.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16, and only incidently because I had an excruciating back pain which all the doctors thought was a rheumatiod or kidney problem. Three weeks later and still in pain and after countless xrays and u/s scans they found a 13cm cyst and I had immediate surgery where they found it ruptured and I was haemorrhaging, and in the end had to take out the ovary because it was so badly damaged.
I’ve been on BC for the last 9 years. I recently missed a months worth of pills and have now just missed that period and am now wondering if that could affect my remaining ovary, and cause cyst formation in that one month even though I’ve been on BC for so long. Or could I get pregnant (even though protection or the withdrawal method was used) just by missing a months pills even though I have PCOS?
Dear Shantal,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog!
A cyst of that size is not common in PCOS. More often than not there are small multiple cysts on the ovaries. It must have been a very frustrating and painful process to say the least. I am glad that you have not had any further complications following the initial diagnosis.
So with that, missing your pills can result in ovulation and if you did ovulate the risk for pregnancy is certainly increased if you had intercourse 2-3 days before or after you ovulated. If you are concerned about pregnancy, you can take an at home pregnancy test. For the most part if you have missed your period, you should get a fairly accurate result at this point. You can talk to the pharmacist and ask for the most sensitive test. The tests measure human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that increases once the fertilized egg is implanted into the uterus. Some tests will be able to detect lower levels of hCG even before your period is due but the level of hCG is still more than is present when a woman is not pregnant.
Also, here is a link to efficacy of different forms of birth control: http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/birthcontrolmethods.aspx.
And a link that discusses efficacy of withdrawal method for preventing pregnancy, as you will see efficacy is significantly decreased to 73% but when used properly can be about 95% effective, as compared to about 99% with the pill: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control/BI99999/PAGE=BI00038, http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/withdrawal-pull-out-method-4218.htm
In addition, if you did not ovulate, there is a chance that a cyst was formed. But I am not sure that it would necessarily grow and rupture as it did in the past and affect your other ovary the same way. Also, if you have resumed the pill this can prevent growth of the cyst. You can always check with your doctor and ask that they perform a vaginal ultrasound to see if that is the case.
I hope that this answers your questions. Please feel free to write in again.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am 23 and I have PCOS, i am currently taking Yasmin 28 but with this new out break that it was found to be causing more serious side effects I am considering getting off the pill. Now my problem is this I am not diabetic, my BMI is 23 which is great and I have never shown signs that I will be insulin resistent. So taking Metformin is not an option for me, I did take it in the past and lost too much weight so I stopped taking it. Is there any other BC that you suggest I take?
Hello Emma,
Thank you for contacting our PCOS Support Blog.
Your doctor may be able to recommend a different birth control option. There are many options available for birth control.
Do you want to be on the pill for treating the PCOS or to prevent pregnancy? We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill! The supplements of the PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Hey Sandra. R. – So glad you found our PCOS support blog and that you love it!
In addition to articles and posts, we have a wonderful group of caring & knowledgeable female doctors on our Consulting & Advisory team. If you have any questions or need some guidance about your health – you can post it here for a response or write privately to me, the Blog Editor, and I’ll ensure you get a private response back from the doctors.
Cheers, Catherine L
i am 23 yo and was diagnosed to have PCOS months ago. i was only given progesterone acetate to induce menstruation because my endometrial lining was thick during the ultrasound.
my dr. did not give me contraceptive pills because the problem with PCOS is that, a woman does not ovulate so why would she prescribe pills in the first place.
i was prescribed to take metformin (humamet) but am scared to take it coz i have a kidney problem and i need to consult my nephro about it.
reading thru books,blogs and other informational sources, PCOS is simply a syndrome meaning a constellation of signs and symptoms. the only way, we/i can minimize cyst formation in a healthy way is to exercise, eat healthy foods and have enough sleep. its an endocrine problem which means, a hormonal problem. and irregularities with our hormones is best treated with a stress-free lifestyle..
Hi,
I am 26 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS 3 years ago. I was put back on bc and then a year later began to take met and spirolactone. I did lose weight on met but it made me sick. I decided i no longer wanted to take prescription drugs and stopped taking both of them. After stopping, my hair began to thin. I believe it is because my body became dependent on spiro, as I never had this problem before. I have had my testosterone tested and it is really low. I just don’t understand why it would be falling out?? Can anyone help?? I also began taking insulite and love it!!
———————
Hello Jessica,
Thank you for contacting Insulite’s PCOS Support Blog. It’s great to hear that you are doing well on Insulite’s PCOS System!
That is unfortunate about the change in your hair after discontinuing the medications. Has your doctor also tested your thyroid hormone levels? Hair loss can happen for many reasons. Other conditions to consider are hypothyroidism, anemia, extreme stress, vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If it is indeed PCOS causing the issues, the PCOS+ supplement of the Insulite PCOS System will be very helpful because they help rebalance hormones. Also, an omega supplement can help in correcting any essential fatty acid deficiency. Starting and stopping the birth control pill can cause hair loss as well.
The thyroid test is TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and this number should ideally be at 1.0 (or very close by). The range for this test is very broad (0.45- 4.5 or in some labs 5.4). Most women say, “My TSH was normal” because they fall in the range however if you are above 2.5 this confirms that your thyroid is sluggish (a common cause of hair falling out in addition to many other PCOS symptoms).
It can take 6 months to see new hair growth in the form of baby hairs on top of your head or around the margin of your hairline. This is perhaps the slowest symptom to improve on the Insulite PCOS System, so be patient, and keep doing what you are doing. Hopefully many of your other symptoms will start to improve sooner so that your wait for the hair-regrowth doesn’t feel too long!
One final note, stress can have negative effects on our entire body, including causing hair loss. If you are feeling overly stressed, I recommend finding stress relieving exercises like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
hi,
My name is lizzie, I am coming 24, i was diagnosed with PCOS about 2 and half years ago. I am abit confused like reene, after i went for quite a few tests and scans they told me i had pcos, the hospital said that they will see me when i want to try for a baby but i suffer really bad with my periods they are very heavy and very painful, i have been to the doctor and he hasnt perscribed me anything…….. i just feel lost beceause i dont know what to do for the best the other thing the doctor said to me was to have the marina but lasts for 3-5 years he said but me and my husband want to try for a baby next year so i dont know whether to have this because of wanting a baby?Can anyone advise me what to do please thank you lizzie.
Dear Lizzie,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I can understand your frustration, Lizzie. Unfortunately, there is a large part of the medical community that looks at PCOS as a fertility issue and will only address the problem when a person is trying to conceive. However, we know that PCOS is much more than a fertility issue. Certainly, many women struggle to conceive but in addition to that, there are many other affects that PCOS has on the body that lead to the symptoms.
Birth control can regulate your cycles and can help you to ovulate when removed in the initial months following discontinuation, for some women, but that is not really addressing the problem at the level it needs to be considered.
PCOS is an endocrine problem with effects on the reproductive system. It is the hormone imbalances that impact ovulation, cyst formation, etc. making pregnancy more difficult.
However, what is important is educating yourself about PCOS and all the effects that it has on the body, in addition to the reproductive implications. Having PCOS increases risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well.
The choice to use birth control is certainly up to you. Mirena is an IUD that contains the synthetic form of progesterone (levonorgestrel). I have included a couple links here on different forms of birth control as well as another that explains more about IUD’s.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/overviewtypesbirthcontrol.html
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/iud.html
I am not sure why your doctor is choosing not to recommend a form of treatment to address the PCOS. But what can be helpful for your current and future health and your goals is taking steps now that can positively impact how you feel and how you are affected by PCOS. I would recommend that you check out the Insulite PCOS System, Lizzie.
This is a comprehensive approach to PCOS that addressing the underlying problem, insulin resistance, as well as helping to rebalance hormones, reduce symptoms, and reduce future risks associated with PCOS. This is a way that you can take control. You can read more at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I hope that this gives you some good information and options. Please continue to visit and participate in the Support blog and let us know if we can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have been experiencing hair growth in unwanted areas since I was about a Freshman in high school, so, for about 6 years. I’m 21 now. There is absolutely no records of insulin resistance or diabetes in my family. My periods for the most part are regular. I may not get them within the recommended 18 days (or whatever it is) but I do get them within a reasonable time frame, around 28 days to a month and a half– but, I never, ever go more than a month and a half without a period of some sort. They have always sucked for me… such as having terrible cramping that makes me want to throw up or heavy bleeding. However, not every period is like this. Some are perfectly smooth. And lately, these awful periods have been happening less, but have been more normal. Its the hair thats got me worried. I am overweight, but I do eat a lot of natural and home grown foods, I neverrr eat junk food (my weight I attribute to no excercise and a lot of stress.)
Can the hair growth be attributed to excess male hormones in general? Or is this always linked to PCOS and the other symptoms of PCOS too.
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders leading to excess androgenic (male) hormones.
However, there are other disorders including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Cushing’s disease that can cause similar symptoms.
However, having hirsutism in addition to irregular periods and excess weight gain points to probable PCOS.
I encourage you to have some baseline labs done, including DHEA, testosterone, fasting insulin, LH, FSH, cholesterol. You could also ask your doctor for a pelvic ultrasound to look for cystic ovaries.
I hope this information if useful to you, Lisa. I hope to hear from you again!
Best wishes,
Dr. Shana Spector Deneen, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
hi, my name is syndi.. I have been diagnosed with PCOS about five months ago.. and i was given something to start my period & they put me on birth control.. for the first for months I got it at the same time and this month I’m late.. I’m a little worried.. can you tell me if me missing a period means I’m pregnant? or is it just because of PCOS & the pill?
Dear Syndi,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.
Birth control as you know, is given to help re-establish your period. Many women with PCOS experience missed or irregular periods due to the hormonal imbalance caused by insulin resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS.
However, since you are late or have missed a period, you can easily take a home pregnancy test. If you have been taking the birth control pill as directed, then it is less likely that you are pregnant. However, birth control is not 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, but it is close (95-99%). So, it is possible that any of the reasons may be responsible for your period being absent or late. It is a common symptom in PCOS, and there are some women who do not have a period even with using birth control.
The best thing to do at this point if you have not had your period yet, is to take a home pregnancy to rule this out.
Syndi, I also wanted to recommend the Insulite PCOS System as well. This can also help to regulate your cycle and to help address and control the insulin resistance. Also, our website has a wealth of information on PCOS and all that is related to having this condition.
I hope that this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
The birth control pill, Yaz, has been linked to a number of adverse reactions, including strokes and lawsuits are growing over these issues. Here is some good information: http://www.yaz-may-cause-strokes.com/
Hi I’m relz 25yrs of age 26 in January.I’ve been married for 1year 8months.been havin sex with my boyfriend b4 I got married and now he’s my husband since then I couldn’t get pregnant.I heard people talking about PCOS and decided 2 take a check up only 2 find out that i had PCOS. My gyn gived me metformin and serophene it made me sick I took them 4 a while nontheless until I couldnt anymore.2 wks ago I went 2 my gyn my cysts were gone. But I’m stil not pregnant so I’m on birth control pillls from the 5th day of my menstruals which is in a few days. Any advice plz give I’m desperate.
Dear Relz,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support blog. I am so glad you found our website.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. The pill may help to regulate your menses, but once you discontinue it the irregular menses and hormone imbalance may return. Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and improving the insulin resistance that underlies PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System, which you may have read about on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, is designed to help heal PCOS by addressing its underlying cause, which in most cases is insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. Also with PCOS the ovarian cysts can be absent.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
Our system is designed to balance the testosterone, insulin and other reproductive hormones that impact ovulation.
While we cannot promise that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving.
It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
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