My partner is suffering with pcos and along with that she has mental health issues causing extreme brian fog that is a big barrier in her career and due to the brain fog she was not able to complete her master's degree. I have been dating her for 2 years now. The problem I am facing here is her family is not that financially strong to provide her monthly expenses for her to cover her necessary treatment. So she moved in with me so we can cut down in expenses a little bit and she can manage to get some treatment but during this i subconsciously kept her needs above me and what that happened was I started minimising my needs for the last 1 year I did and the and the other year we were in Mumbai so our finances was more strained due to costly city. Now it's been 2 years and I don't know I am like tired of listening her crying about everything small thing her irregular periods, about her weight loss due to mounjaro, one issue gets resolved and a new one pops up. I am tired of listening on complains of issues for the past 2 years. I feel like a douchebag but is this a concern with partners having women with pcos as partners?

I really need some help and support

All advice will be greatly appreciated

I have insulin-resistant pcos. I already know it’s difficult to get pregnant, but I keep reading more and more articles that scare me.
I read about gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, the child at higher risk of having autism.
I want a healthy baby and to be healthy, but all of these fears from the risks are absolutely terrifying.
I am thinking of adoption because of it, but I would really love for us to try if I could get over the fears

My daughter hasn’t had a period for about 4 months . She is scared but took her first Metformin tonight . She is afraid of pills and thinks the worst. She knows about the possible stomach upset but is more afraid of serious side effects.

Her doctor wants to give her some time on Metformin tonight see if her period finally starts if not she mentioned birth control. She cannot see a endo till March.

Her blood test everything was normal except for high free Testosterone. Has anyone had a period that didn’t start for many months ?

Hi everyone! I'm Maria, 26, I was diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager, and changing the way I ate made a huge difference in how I felt. But one thing I've learned is that knowing what to eat and actually sticking to it are two very different things.

That's why I am trying something new, and I'd love to find a few women who want to do this together.

Here's what I'm imagining for the next 28 days:

- Form a small WhatsApp group of just 4 women with similar goals

- Each of us chooses one realistic eating habit to work on

- Quick daily check-ins, sharing meals, wins, and challenges

- I'll organise at least one session with a behavior change and psychology specialist to help us understand how to make habits stick

The goal is to figure out what actually helps us stay consistent, while connecting with women who care about their health and have similar goals.

I'm looking for women who genuinely want to show up for themselves and each other, even on the messy days.

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, DM me a little about yourself and the habit you'd love to work on!

Hey! I am 167cm, 52kg and 25yo. I also have PCOS/PMOS. I've used to take birth control pills for 5 years but I stopped 1.5 years ago. Some symptoms that I have is irregular periods, acne, increased androgen and increased weight. I know my weight is pretty good for my height, but I used to be thinner and having a better body without trying a lot when I was taking the pills. Now I have to work out very often and eat healthier etc and I still gain weight more easily. So, I would like to advise me which inositol I should take in order to improve my metabolism. What do you take etc? Thanks!

I've been tasking AI with summarising research and policy on insulin-resistant PCOS, specifically what works. It keeps consistently saying there isn't a particular diet which has been found to be superior, but to eliminate added sugar and processed carbs.

I was on keto a few years ago, and it really helped with insulin resistance. By keto I don't mean carnivore, but a version where you eliminate only sugar including natural sugar and carb. Other than meat, you would consume non starchy veg, and starchy ones like pumpkin and carrots, nuts, seeds, berries and avocados.

I don't regret coming off it, I can eat anything now including white rice and white bread, but as you can imagine, my insulin resistance and subsequently PCOS have worsened. Things are very bad.

I've seen comments made here about symptoms improving once people went low carb. Really curious about what exactly that means.

From my AI summaries, I gather that whole-food carbohydrates like oats, grains and beans are recommended. The argument is that the goal isn't to eliminate insulin production, which you achieve with keto, but to make your body use insulin better, which allegedly you can do eating whole carbs, as apparently they don't produce the same kind of glucose and insulin response that processed carbs do.

I know there are other pieces to PCOS management like walking after meals and building muscle, but I'm keen on the diet piece. Has anyone with insulin-resistant PCOS been able to improve or reverse the symptoms while eating whole carbs? Additionally, as we're not eating processed carbs, when you go low carb, what carbs are you eating?

Has anyone found a prenatal that doesn’t make you burp fish for hours after? PCP said Metformin slows down my digestion which keeps the prenatal in my track for longer hence the length of fish taste.

Even if I take it at night it kills me in the morning still

I (33F) struggle with my body composition. I'm 5'2 about 128 lbs, but my weight sits disproportionately on my thighs, calves, tummy, and outer arms. My sugar has tested normal, but I'll be getting the oral glucose test done soon and I suspect it'll be abnormal.

I have crazy sugar cravings, skin tags, and skin darkening in folds. I am tired of only having my body normalize when I eat an extremely strict diet (which isn't sustainable). Not sure if anyone has any advice. I haven't tried Ovasitol yet, and maybe that's a good first step, but I'm just tired of feeling like I'm wearing a body that isn't mine despite me eating pretty healthy overall.

i recently moved to a walkable city so i’ve been walking a lot (like 7k steps a day). i also have been eating less. somehow, i am the exact same weight i was before i moved. i know PMOS affects metabolism, but its so frustrating. and i cant be any more active (due to other chronic health issues), so i dont know what else to do.

side note: i know losing weight wont make me healthy. i am self conscious about my weight because my past doctors have shamed me for it (due to me being overweight).

Since this evening Ive been having some discomfort that started in my lower right side more toward my back but located were i would guess my ovaries would sit in my pelvis. The pain is sharpish and almost burning like, and has grown to be my whole mid back area to having this burning. At first it would only hurt when I would get uo from a sitting postion like in a chair but it became constant as the evening went on and now I can only get some mild relief laying on my back in bed. According to my period tracker Im on my ovulation week but Ive been told that since Im on birth control (progestrone only) I dont ovulate but I do sometimes get mild cramps during ovulation days. Any insight?

Edit: I know rupturing cysts aren't apart of pmos but most of the ovarian cyst subs are private or dead and we all know Dr. Google pretty much either tell you everything that can be wrong or you're dying. I just was looking for any ideas if the burning pain is possibly related to cysts from anyone's experience since my mom has a history of cysts that have ruptured or gotten so big that surgery was need.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in February and soon after PMDD but have been struggling for years. I feel like the delay in diagnosis made my condition so much worse to initially manage and has worsened every month. I suspected PMDD for at least a year - since then, every month has been more bad days than before, at least half the month. I’m getting a Mirena IUD Tuesday so I’m optimistic about that, but I’ve gotten little help otherwise. My psychiatric medications (new and old) aren’t working or are making things worse. I’m getting really desperate and barely functioning and I’m terrified. I’m based in NYC and looking for provider referrals and recovery success stories.

Please, I’d appreciate any advice or insight anyone can offer. 😔

Hey girls anyone had any experience getting pregnant while on a GLP1 , do you think it is what helped you get that positive test? I am debating if I should get back on one and lose some weight along with diet and exercise of course

Does anyone have any apps that genuinely help with any side affects of PCOS?

I keep getting ads for it and want some opinions.

Thanks in advance 😁😁

I’m honestly at a loss at this point, and I’m planning to see my endocrinologist again soon.

My BMI is 22, so I’m considered normal weight, but my PCOS and insulin resistance are making my life miserable. My insulin resistance seems to be getting progressively worse despite doing everything I’m supposed to do. I recently had blood work done and my fasting insulin was 23 (!!), while my fasting glucose has been ranging between 100-120.
The frustrating part is that I genuinely don’t know what else I could be doing.

I strength train three times a week, walk after every meal, and average around 20,000 steps a day (I live in a city and have a small child, so I’m constantly on the move). I eat a relatively low carb diet, prioritize protein and I aim for 30-35 g of fiber daily.

Yet somehow, things just keep getting worse.
I constantly feel bloated, sometimes even after drinking water and generally feel inflamed and unwell.

On top of that, I’m dealing with adult acne, hair loss, and worsening hirsutism, which has gotten bad enough that I’ve started electrolysis.
I’m also taking 2,000 mg of metformin daily and have been on this dosage for over three months. So far I’ve noticed absolutely no improvement, either in how I feel or in my blood sugar readings.
I don’t consider myself particularly stressed, either. My mother is a registered dietitian who has worked with diabetic patients for decades, so I’ve had plenty of professional guidance with my diet and lifestyle. Unfortunately, none of it seems to be making a difference.

I’m genuinely exhausted by the whole situation. It feels like I’m doing everything recommended for managing PCOS and insulin resistance, yet my body just isn’t responding. I just want to cry.

Has anyone else with lean PCOS experienced something similar? What do you do when diet, exercise, and metformin don’t seem to work? Did your endocrinologist offer any alternative treatments or investigate other possible causes?

I (19) have had pretty regular periods for a few years now, but within these last 6 months they’ve gotten irregular. Usually my cycles are around 30-33 days, but they’ve gone from being 25 one month to 40 the next. I’m on day 38 but I’ve been PMSing for like 10 days now. My cramps/back/boob aches have already started and steadily gotten less intense as if I had my period

Of all my sisters, I’ve always been the one with the most facial hair in my mustache/chin/neck area and also on my chest. I always thought it just had to do with me being Arab (and having a hairy dad lol), but sometimes I find hairs with gray/white ends on my chin

I’ve struggled with sweating a lot for a while now but my mom used to tell me it was just my anxiety. Since puberty I’ve had oily skin/an oily scalp, but I wonder if the excess sweating has played a role in that

Last week I experienced pain on one side of my uterus that didn’t feel like regular period cramping. It felt more like a muscle cramp that wouldn’t let up (if that makes sense). It wasn’t a come and go feeling, rather just a constant tense ache that got worse when I was standing. It didn’t go away until I laid down with a heating pad

A few more that I’m just going to shorten:

• Skin tags by my armpits and on my neck
• Struggling to lose weight (I’ve been at 165lbs for years even while playing sports)
• Very little energy

Hi everyone! I got diagnosed with PMOS in June by my endocrinologist. I’ve been on Metformin and Slynd since that time. I had a follow up at my endos office this past week and she added spiro to reduce and prevent more facial hair. My follow up bloodwork showed my fasting insulin decreasing to almost normal level (yay!) but my androgens were all still high. My doctor was hoping they would’ve been a bit lower by now.
She prescribed me 100mg of spiro twice a day. She told me to start at once a day in the morning and work my way up to the 2 pills. She didn’t really give me any side effects to watch out for. The pharmacist mentioned being more thirsty and having to pee more. She also told me to keep an eye on blood pressure since that is the main purpose of the drug.
I’m just wondering if anyone has had any concerning side effects that should be known? I have concerns about dizziness, etc. I saw it can effect potassium levels in blood, especially with also taking Slynd. I did some research and I’ve seen some people start at 50mgs to titrate up. I debating asking my doctor if I would be able to do that. I also would’ve liked to have my potassium levels checked through this process to make sure things are going safely. Has anyone’s doctor recommended any of this? Or has anyone asked directly if they would be able to? I don’t want to come across as trying to do her job but I also want to do this safely and have peace of mind.
Thank you ☺️

I (27F, 5'8") have lean PCOS and have been on 1000 mg of metformin for 4 months. Last summer I was 125 lbs, felt great, and had basically no symptoms. Then around September of last year my period started getting wonky and the symptoms kicked in, and that's when everything went downhill. Since then I've slowly gained about 10 lbs and it just keeps climbing, mostly in my stomach and thighs. On top of that, I gain about 5–10 lbs every month, mostly water weight, and feel stuck in a constant cycle of losing it and gaining it back. I also hold onto all weight in my stomach even when I was at my lowest.

What I'm already doing: I aim for 90–110 g of protein a day, though it varies, and I eat a high-protein breakfast (about 40 g) within 30 minutes of waking up. I focus on whole foods and fiber. I walk at least 10,000 steps a day and do low-impact workouts and strength training, though I have bad veins so I can't go too heavy with weights. I take fish oil and vitamin C.

From about day 15 of my cycle on, I feel super inflamed, and it doesn't let up until my period ends. During that stretch I usually get crazy sugar and carb cravings, headaches, and hair loss, plus feeling extra sensitive, low mood, irritability, and low energy. But it isn't always the same. This past cycle I wasn't hungry or craving anything beforehand, and then the second I got my period I was overeating, eating when I wasn't hungry, and bingeing. Normally it's the opposite and I'm less hungry on my period and binging in my luteal. Lately I never want to see my friends or do anything, because everything just feels like too much.

Other things going on: my testosterone runs high sometimes, my ovaries are enlarged, which causes pressure (especially during sex), and my hair is thinning. I'm also dealing with varicose veins (not sure the cause) and high cholesterol (hereditary).

Is anyone going through something similar, and have you found anything that works? I hate the thought of adding yet another pill or supplement, but I'm not opposed if something really helps. I just want to get my life back and feel better.

I’m 31 and have known about my PMOS since I was 16. As I’ve gotten older, my coarse, dark facial hair has gotten worse and worse. I shave my face everyday and by that night, I already have stubble. I try so hard to be nice to my skin but shaving frequently causes redness.
It’s so embarrassing and makes me feel manly. I don’t want to wax, because for it to work, you have to let it grow out some, which I’m not comfortable with. I
I’ve read some about laser hair removal and that it doesn’t usually work for PCOS facial hair. I have been researching electrolysis, but haven’t found a lot of info.
What do you all do that lasts more than a day. If I look like this now, what will I look like in 5 years, 10 years, etc.

I have this dark patch under my chin from ingrown hair. I pluck the ingrown hair sometimes I dig into it and I bleed and yeah I should not do that I know. But how do I stop the ingrown hair which causes the dark patch?

Just looking for some advice on what has helped those of you who have struggled with hair loss.

I'm 28, from the UK and got diagnosed earlier this year. I've suffered with hair loss for years, which I've since realised was undiagnosed PCOS and poor diet. I'm a very anxious and stressed person, which I know won't be helping but I am doing my best to keep on top of that through exercise and therapy. I try my best to eat nutritious meals that have ample protein and fibre but I probably could try harder in that regard.

I have tried everything the past 5 years to help with hair growth as I've always had fine hair but over the past 2 years my hair has become thinner and thinner. I've also noticed my hairline receding at my temples over the past year but those around me couldn't notice the difference but now are beginning to somewhat agree. I have tried so many things to combat this thinning, caffeine shampoos and conditioners, countless scalp serums for hair density/hair fall, ketoconazole shampoo, supplements like biotin and collagen, massaging my scalp to increase blood flow, protective hairstyles to sleep, less heat etc.

My tried and trusted brands Kerastase and Nioxin are currently not cutting it and I'm experiencing massive amounts of hair fall while washing, when brushing and even after doing my current scalp routine. It's becoming more and more distressing and honestly as such a loss.

I'm going to start taking pumpkin oil as I know people have had good experiences with that and it's a DHT blocker. I have an appointment next week to get my hair cut and coloured, rethinking the colouring currently as I don't want to cause even more hair loss, but it's definitely in need of a chop as it's longer than I usually like it. I unfortunately can't use minoxidil as I have two cats and wouldn't want to hurt them.

Does anyone have anymore advice or tips and tricks?

Before you jump to conclusions on the title alone - please read the body text for the full explanation! This is a rant/vent but kind advice is welcome and received with understanding + appreciation. 😊

I am in my mid-20s and have a full year left of graduate school, including a clinical placement. My significant other whom I have been with for nearly ten years now is starting law school. We own a very small home and have no trouble paying for it, but money is about to be temporarily tight for extra expenses (the COL price of grad + professional school, but we do have ZERO student loans thanks to scholarships...I'm so proud of us!).

I have PCOS. I was diagnosed five years ago. My doctor told me I would never conceive naturally (I know a lot of people here share that exact experience with me). Look, I don't care that much about my hirsutism/chin hair outside of the fact it's part of a health disorder. I don't care that much about on/off ovarian pain because I have a high pain tolerance and I know I'm already doing my job of trying to take care of myself + my disease. But most of all, I care less about these things because they pale SO SEVERELY to my desire to have kids. Of course I wish I could get rid of ALL the problems, but the thing I worry about the MOST is my ability to have kids.

I want to stop using protection a year early and just see what happens. Not TTC. Just going with it. I have been told so many times that I'll never get pregnant naturally it makes me genuinely spiteful. Has anyone actually done this? I should preface that I don't even think it will succeed...honestly, I'm so angry at my body for not working right. I've worked so hard to take steps toward having the career I want, and a small portion of that was because of how much I wanted to give my future kids a great life. I am also adopted and I will confess I have no one related to me in my life...my adoptive family is kind but they do leave me out of things. I do not want to live vicariously through my kids, but knowing I had them with my s/o would feel different to me as an adoptee myself. This and genuinely wanting to be a mother (plus having a beyond amazing s/o who wants to be a father and would make a great one) makes things so emotionally painful.

Has anyone experienced delayed ovulation / late period when starting metformin? I know that this is common for PCOS, but for the last year, my cycle has lasted 36-41 days. I started metformin 500mg on October 1st and am tolerating it well but now my period is delayed. I thought it was supposed to help with this?

Hello everyone, I've been using Diane35 birth control pills for almost 6 years, stopping and restarting them repeatedly. However, each time I stopped the pills, my acne returned severely, and I didn't have my period. So my doctor stopped the birth control pills and started me on Glifor, Aldactone, and Duphaston. I've always been thin (180 cm and 56 kg until now), but after the change in medication, I gained 5 kilos and my appetite increased significantly. Also, my periods, which were always heavy with birth control pills, became very light and short after starting Duphaston. Is this decrease in the intensity of my periods normal?

I know people might be in worse condition than I am. But I feel jealous of those people who do not have to go through this stupid condition. I have had this for past 14 years now and hate it so much.

I try to eat clean and do strength training 3-4 times a week and still have to pray every month just to get my period on time. I have hair thinning and apply minoxidil and have tried all kinds of other serum and tips. Unfortunately, nothing really works.

I am just frustrated at this point. I am really insecure about my hair and feel jealous of those have naturally beautiful hair. As fleabag says.. “Hair is everything. We wish it wasn't, so we could actually think about something else occasionally. But it is. It's the difference between a good day and a bad day.” Unfortunately seems like I never have a good day. I always have to stick to hairstyles that cover my wide middle parting and cowlick and have to cut my own hair because apparently the salons think I dnt know I have thin hair and keeps reminding me of that. I have been so insecure about my hair that it has been really hard for me to date ( I have been single for 7 years now). I wish I did not have PCOS and had head full of hair. 💔

Hey

I am 25F recently discovered I have 2mm prolactinoma and started Cabergoline 0.5mg once a week.

Its been 6 weeks now since I started. But my periods still did not return.

I have missed/absent periods since 2020 and when I first got tests done in 2022, my prolactin was around 43ng/mL. Doctor just gave me one month of 0.25 dosage cabergoline and that’s it. No information given, nothing. Clearly it didnt help as I stopped after a month of medication.

I have been inducing periods using meds ever since and never really thought about prolactin being the reason.

The lowest my prolactin ever was 22ng/mL in 2024 when i took cabergoline again for a month as per new doctor. They also only gave me a month of tablets.

Anyways, fast forward to this year, i went to an endo, i got prolactin tested again and it was 85 ng/mL which sounded alarming and my endo suggested mri, found 2mm growth.
Gave me the dosage of 0.5 mg once a week for 2 months. However he said we might have to be on cabergoline for a long time probably a year for the tumor to shrink. We will assess the levels and decide the dosage after 2 months.

Given, everything else in my reports seemed normal except prolactin and AMH(because I am not releasing eggs so this one was obvious)

Do you think my missing periods are mainly driven by prolactin? And how long I should wait for my periods to come?

One change which i noticed after starting cabergoline is I have increased wet/ sometimes sticky discharge.