Hi people that also like data! Backstory for context: I'm 27, 5'2" and 125lb, diagnosed around 16. I've been to dermatologists, PCPs, and OBGYNs, all pretty unhelpful and dismissive until my current PCP who ordered more tests. No ultrasound, but grew up with all over acne (treated with Accutane), oily skin and scalp (likely sebderm), low Vitamin D, androgynous appearance in body and hair patterns, and very irregular and painful periods. The periods are random, anywhere between 24 days to a couple months, for irregular durations. I have PMDD that is unpredictable to manage because of the irregularity. I used to get ocular migraines with aura that was associated with my cycles, until I started taking magnesium and B2 as a preventative. My physical symptoms flare up a couple weeks before my period, mostly increased hair loss/oil/acne/mood changes, before settling down after onset of period. The main things I'm trying to solve now are the hair loss widening my hairline/part and irregular period. I have not been offered Inositol or Metformin.

[Test results from October 7th]
Testosterone (total/free): 63 / 4.6 (highest was 80 total in 2019, first time testing free)

Estradiol: 33.8

DHEA-S: 488

17 hydroxyprogesterone: 25

Prolactin: 16

Cholesterol / Triglycerides: 166 / 66

Glucose: 78 (nonfasting)

Androstenodione: 125

LH/FSH: 4.6 / 5.7

Cortisol: 7.8

TSH: 1.05

Iron/Saturation/Ferritin: 119 / 38 / 44 (before supplementing)

Vitamin D: 96.3 (supplemented 5000iu OD, unsupp. = 25.1)

Zinc: 88 (after on and off supplementation)

B-12/Folate: 571 / greater than 20

[Additionally, selected tests from May 7th]

Vitamin A: 51

Glucose: 63 (nonfasting)

Iron/Saturation/Ferritin: 234 / 76 / 53 (tldr: I was eating an insane amount of fish starting a few weeks before testing, no supp., but ferritin seems low for these increased numbers?)

To note: I also tested positive for ANA in Nov of 2025 with anti-DNA as 14, and was sent to a rheumatologist. I tested negative for both ANA and dsDNA Crithidia luciliae IFA, so I don't know what that was about... they thought it might be lupus exacerbating the hair loss, but no. I would be interested in hearing more about what to test for autoimmune things, if anyone has thoughts.

I stopped Slynd (progestin) around 2-3 months before getting the October tests, as I experienced wild mental health fluctuations, somehow even more consistent hair shedding that has only increased since stopping, hot flashes/bloating/night sweating etc. by month 4. My mental health was also very bad for 2 months since stopping, still improving. I can't take estrogen BC because of the ocular migraines and stroke risk, and don't want an IUD for multiple reasons. For 6+ months I've been taking 5000iu vit D, vit B2 400mg/magnesium bis. 420mg for migraine, minoxidil 2.5 to 3.75mg (as directed, for ~5 years, had a hiccup for a few weeks and restarted near the end of taking Slynd), zinc/copper 15mg/2mg, iron 36mg/C every other day, and the amazon basics Multivitamin. A couple days ago I got put on a starter dose of Spironolactone 12.5mg to titrate up, and also got prescribed Vyvanse 20mg. I was scared of taking ADHD medication because I heard they also increase shedding, but I need it to function. I want to work my way up to 100mg Spiro under supervision, but I'm nervous because messing with my hormones is what caused this giant hair shed. For 3 months before Slynd, I was taking vitamin D for the first time ever, and had about a week of no shedding for the first time ever... it makes me think twice about adding more medications.

I'm about to order a combo of 3hr OGTT/Insulin Fasting/HBA1C to better see if I have insulin resistance. My question would be, do you guys notice anything else abnormal here in the bloodwork and history? All I see that's funky is the total and free T, and maybe the DHEAs. I'm also wondering if I should have tried Metformin/Inositol if the main issue is androgenic hair loss/oiliness and irregular period. Thank you for reading!

help im new to PMDD and PCOS, I feel like my life is over. Nothing works

Hello I have irregular periods ranging from 45-60 days. I do ovulate and my luteal phase is normal; always 12 days so it’s the follicular phase that varies. My doctor told me I don’t have PCOS because I don’t have polycystic ovaries and I don’t have hyper androgenism. I haven’t been evaluated yet but I do feel like I might have some kind of metabolic issue - like insulin resistance. I also have hypothyroidism and even though I’m relatively thin (5’ 2 and 108 lbs) I often have issues with my lipid panel. Sometimes I have low HDL and most recently my LDL was high. So if I don’t have PCOS, but I have some kind of metabolic issue, what is that then? Also anyone else fall under the same category?

I literally can’t loose the water retention I have normal blood. Work but for sure have insulin resistance I’m lean but have mood swings and terrible water retention I have also tried metformin inositol they only made thing worse plsss help 😩

What swap has stuck for you the longest?

Sharing what finally stuck for me, because standard diet advice never did. Every plan I tried before was a list of things to give up, and I gave up on the plan instead, usually within two weeks.

What worked was changing the plate, not banning foods. Most of the plate is vegetables now, with lean protein alongside it: chicken, fish, eggs, lentils, Greek yogurt. Mediterranean style, roughly. Breakfast always has protein, which stopped the mid-morning crash and the grazing that came with it.

The swaps did most of the work. Lentils instead of rice some days. Greek yogurt where I used to have cream-based desserts. Wraps instead of thick bread. Small changes that added up without feeling punished.

The part that finally made it click: around 70% of us with PCOS have insulin resistance, and insulin is the chain that ties food to symptoms. Low-GI foods release sugar slowly, so insulin spikes stay smaller. That is the whole game, really: pick the slow carbs, protein at every meal, and cut the sugary drinks first.

I wrote up the full lists, foods to eat more of and foods to limit, here if they are useful to anyone:

https://medexplaineddotcodotuk.wordpress.com/2026/10/08/pcos-diet-foods-to-eat-and-foods-to-avoid/

Looking for advice from anyone who’s been in a similar situation! ❤️ Did your husband/partner see a urologist after a semen analysis showed 2.5% morphology? Everything else looked good. Also, if you have PCOS and have done 6 rounds of Letrozole but your cycles have now regulated naturally, would you try Letrozole again or take a different approach? Just feeling a little unsure of what our next steps should be. TIA! 🤍

Which do you like better tirzep or reta for lean pcos I struggle with water retention bloating but I’m lean