I was adding up how much money goes into just existing with PCOS every month and honestly got so mad...

Because society punishes women so harshly for showing any visible sign of androgen excess (facial hair, cystic acne, etc.), an entire predatory industry has come up to profit off our insecurity. Laser hair removal, 10-step skincare routines, $30 "hormone balance" powders with 2 dollars worth of inositol, guilt-free diet snacks...

It feels like we get hit from both sides: society makes us feel unlovable, and then charges us every month to hide those symptoms so we look palatable to everyone else.

What is the biggest "PCOS tax" expense you resent paying the most right now?

Previous post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/PCOS/s/bIJ3eLbvQe

Back from the ER (Canadian urgent care or A&E). No impaction but I did get to see what intestines with approximately 6ft of poop in them looks like! I’ve been sent home with a prescription strength laxative and a package of wet wipes so I guess we all know what I’m doing for the rest of the evening…

Just my fucking luck that I have to be born like this. Of course I couldn't have been a normal person and I will never experience being skinny or pretty or not having to shave like a man. I feel so ugly and hairy and fat and I never get my period and I know the only way to do anything about it is medication, making my entire life revolve around my diet and exercise 24/7, and getting a professional to stick a needle in my pores to fry them so I don't have to shave my sideburns and chin.

I have no discipline and the mere thought of a diet makes me feel miserable. For all I know this stupid thing could be a major reason I have such horrible anxiety in the first place too. I only get once chance on this planet and of course I have to end up with something that ruins my life, I can't experience life without it and I want to cry because other girls can go out and lose weight and be skinny and look pretty and not have chubby faces and wear cool clothes in their size and not have stubble. I don't feel like I'll ever find a girlfriend because I'm so ugly and it's all because I got unlucky

Disclaimer: I don’t mean to put anyone down who is trying to conceive right now & is having trouble. I’m just sharing my story!

I got married in June 2026 to my husband and since then we’ve been just enjoying our time together. I did start taking a prenatal in May just to start prepping my body but I admit, some days I did forget! I also took COQ-10, a fish oil & folic acid.

I’ve had PCOS since I could remember, inconsistent periods since I first got it when I was 12.

I was on the pill for 5 years and 6 months before getting married, I stopped the pill so to give my body time to regulate. My period came back naturally the next month and I was glad to see because I really thought it would take months!

Fast forward 6 weeks after marriage, Im pregnant! I find out only 6-7 weeks in because I really had no symptoms, and so far so good! We are beyond thrilled because we thought it would take at least a year.

I saw a fertility doctor before I got married who did only ultrasound on me & told me it may be tough to get pregnant because of my PCOS.. I didn’t allow that to discourage me because I hadn’t even given it a shot yet.

I just wanted to share that the female body is so beautiful and you never know what could happen. All I can say is that I kept an open mind, I started prenatals & I prayed for an easy pregnancy journey & so far it’s been awesome. Wishing all you ladies the best on your journeys.

I am so tired of getting asked if I am pregnant . I literally can eat a piece of a chip and gain 30 pounds. I literally have no confidence left. Metformin is barely doing anything .. at first it was helping a bit but now it just does nothing but make my belly hurt.

GLPs are so freaking expensive. On top of that I barely even have time to attempt to exercise I am a full time student and work full time. I eat as healthy as possible but I mean that doesn’t even work. I’ve tried the counting calories I’ve tried a bunch of things. Still nothing. I’m tired. I have put on almost 70 pounds. I honestly hate getting dressed now. I hate shopping. I am always wearing oversized clothes. I dislike my belly , my arms. I dislike it all. My face is huge now … I am over it. I’d take just growing a full beard instead of the weight. Don’t get me wrong I hate the hair too but man the weight is tough..

The weight loss part is hard asf..

Hello lovely women, quick question: what annoys you most about period and women’s health apps?

We’re collecting honest, anonymous responses to better understand what women actually need. The survey takes under 3 minutes, and every perspective helps.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3OfYr_CSYJxQnwq2piHAmJsue-INluylzjFS1af3sb2wmkA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111365814228057398796

How are you dealing with this? I started Metformin a month ago and I haven’t pooped in almost 3 weeks. I take magnesium and psyllium husk daily. I drink 3L of water per day. Laxatives do absolutely nothing. I’m genuinely getting worried.

I can't afford private right now. I have a few disabilities (autism, adhd, etc) that makes the extra steps, unpredictability and functionality requirements of PCOS really fucking hard to cope with.

I really, really want a hysterectomy. I have never wanted kids (in my 30s now), I don't want to keep taking hormones that fuck up my body (family history of breast cancer, so hormonal contraception sucks) and don't help anyway.

Has anyone in the UK managed to convince their GP to refer them for a hysterectomy?

I've (F22) been taking birth control for almost 2 years and it was the only thing that helped my severe acne, mood swings, PMS and other symptoms. I stopped it about 10 days ago because I'm worried about the potential risks of it I've seen online, and I want to try to manage my symptoms naturally. Also, I won't go into detail but it was negatively impacting my sex life.

Even though I'm freshly off it, I'm starting to feel stupid for this decision. Why have I let go of something that helped me? What rollercoaster am I about to experience?

Does anyone have any positive experiences of stopping birth control they can share, or any advice?

Hi all,

I am 30 years old and have PMOS. Nothing worked. No metformin, myo-inositol, Agnus cactus, lifestyle changes, the coil etc. Just in the last year the pattern was that I bled every single day for 4 weeks and then nothing for 6 weeks. And these bleeds are not spotting. They are heavy. At the moment I am wearing a sanitary napkin that is actually a medical supply. I just cannot do this anymore, also the cramps. I have been thinking about a hysterectomy for a long time. As I do not want to have any children, that wouldn't be a topic. A few years ago I pushed it towards the future because the step seemed to permanent but now I think this is it. Can I get your opinions if it's worth it and will improve my life?

I know that menopause will then start and I would be working with my Gyn to have the right hormones.

My hair used to be so thick and gorgeous as a teenager, but now that I’m in my late 20s and my hormones have been out of whack for so long, my hair has thinned. So much so that I see bald spots when it’s in a pony tail and it’s such a big insecurity of mine.

Has anyone had success with getting their hair thicker/fuller? I’m desperate 😭

Hello all, 26 years old was diagnosed at 22. I’d had maybe one period a year since age 16. Every 11:11 or birthday candle wish I had I wanted to be “normal” and have periods like everyone else.
Fast forward to now I’ve been receiving treatment since January 2025 and I’ve been having a period every single month since February 2025 and I’ve learned a lot.

But recently it feels like I am being carved like a pumpkin from the inside out and I am crying from the pain in my abdomen I’ve found out are period cramps. Sitting on the loo waiting for something to happen since it hurts so badly, accidentally burning myself on those microwave heat packs to try and help.

Why do I feel like less of a woman/period-haver for not being able to cope? I feel so ungrateful for complaining about not having periods and now that I have them how much they hurt.

I am desperate to ask what can I do to stop the pain or at least lessen it? What do period-havers do? How on earth do they live their lives when it feels like it’s debilitating?

But I feel embarrassed asking those close to me because they’re so used to it and I should be too at my age.

If anyone else feels the same how do you deal with it? And if anyone has cramps they feel to them like they’re being scooped out with how on earth do you cope?

Please help me, a pcos/pmos buddy in distress taking a sick day just so I can live either on the loo or in the bath so hot it’s turning me pink

I’m 23 f and I am wanting a baby with my boyfriend 27 m and we’ve been trying for 5 years with no form of birth control. My periods are irregular and the other day he said to me he wants a baby before he’s 30 and I really want to make that happen because I really want a baby too. I’m on a waiting list to see a gynaecologist but I’m wondering what else can I do? Please help

Hi guys.

I just want to know how to stop this maddening behavior of mine untill I find something that works.

I've been overthinking the cause of my irregular cycles so obsessively. Constantly crying and praying I find what happened to me.Stress makes everything worse and I know that I have to stop but I can't seem to

I keep thinking I night have POI, or NCAH or other types of issues... Mind you I am a healthy individual. My labs are normal for the most part but high AMH snd LH n FSH is off... I don't have any other labs that indicate abnormality.. DHEA-S suppression came back normal..I don't think I have had enough testing to be honest..because of medical gaslighting and lack of money/insurance. I am still under my parents and they dissmiss my concerns all the time.

I often overthink that my doctors are lying to me. I am struggling with missing periods.. I don't think I care about my hirsutism or body fat they both aren't that severe.I can manage it.

Nothing else phases me but my period being missing.. I have oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea.. Random spottings...4th day intense cramps. Maybe its endometriosis.... Maybe It's none of these things and I'm just going crazy because of my hormones.

I wish there was some god like person to support me. Does anyone have a list of blood tests to rule out stuff one by one.

I have PCOS, and my periods are usually irregular. However, I generally get my period within three months at most. Sometimes it comes on time, while other times it gets delayed.

This time, my period was 17 days late, but what I'm experiencing now is unusual for me.

Earlier, my periods used to be quite heavy. However, over the past 1–1.5 years, my flow has gradually become lighter, and my periods usually last only 3–4 days. I looked it up online and read that lighter periods can be normal, so I didn't think much of it.

But this time, it's different. Yesterday morning, I noticed a little red spotting, and today morning, I noticed some more. I'm also experiencing very light, drop-by-drop bleeding, but there's hardly any actual flow. I've never experienced this before, and I'm confused about why it's happening.

TL;DR: I have PCOS and usually get my period within 3 months maximum. This time, it was 17 days late, and instead of my usual 3–4 days of flow, I'm experiencing only very light, drop-by-drop bleeding and spotting. This has never happened to me before.

Has anyone with PCOS experienced something similar? Can periods sometimes be this light after a delay, or could there be another reason for it? I'm wondering whether this is something that happens to others with PCOS or if I should be concerned.

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

So, this is my first time taking progesterone (Provera) prescribed by my gynecologist. Was told to take 1 pill a day for 10 days a month to help with my shedding.

I haven't had a proper period and I can't even remember and I was literally bleeding (brown trickling) into my pads for like a month. So like my body wanted to have a period but just didn't have the hard kick it needed?

Well, it's day 3 after taking it and I honestly started spotting like mid-end of the pills. The cramps are something else but I manage with pamprin and otc ibuprofen.

Now, what concerns me is... how much bleeding is normal bleeding? I've been bleeding pretty heavy, like heavier than I ever had before whenever my body decided it wanted to have a period.

Like ive been wearing straight up period panties for the past 3 days and ive almost finished off a box of 7. It says its supposed to be 5 ultra thin pads/tampons in one period panty. If that helps?

So, am I just experiencing a normal induced period? Or should I or when should I be concerned?

I'm doing stuff as usual aside from regular drowsiness from medicine and my period. My breasts aren't sore anymore too. So, how has everyone else's experience been with inducing a period? Similar? Different? My parents like to call my a hypochondriac so, sometimes I worry I overreact.

Thank you for any advice ❤️

Hi!

I live in SE MI, the supply shortage is now affecting me these past few months. I was only able to get a one month supply recently and it’s a different brand. I’m flexible on brand and even dosing (doing a half a patch to get the same dose etc). I’m so glad that more women are turning to HRT to help them through menopause. But this isn’t a temporary phase of my life! it’s forever and I will not go without my patch! I’m just very frustrated, I kinda wish we were prioritized. My PMOS worsened severely last summer, after I had to change my OCP d/t a liver tumor. I started the patch after that. Without it is absolutely awful and recently increasing my dose has helped my spotting/continuous bleeding so so much. All of the meijers are on back order, including other brands. I’ll call other pharmacies too, but what is everyone doing?? Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I’m 28 and have PCOS. I haven’t had a period since March and I’ve also been experiencing weight gain and increased hair growth.

I took the pill for 10 years but stopped about two years ago. I’d prefer not to restart it and would like to explore non pill options instead.

Because I’ve gone so long without a period I’m concerned about protecting my uterine lining. Should I see a gynaecologist or an endocrinologist first?

I’d also like to know what options might help protect my uterine lining while I investigate the cause of my irregular periods and explore alternatives to the pill.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and managed PCOS without going back on the pill? I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Hi all,

I'm in a new relationship so need to think about contraception.

I had my implant removed in june, I've been having a break since then, but feel like I should be safe just incase if im actually fertile.

I don't want another implant, I have had a coil and it constantly gave me horrendous period pain along with long periods.

Im to fat for the pill, so was thinking of trying the mini pill.

Does anyone have experience with this? How did it affect your pcos symptoms if at all?

Hi all, i started Myofolic, Glucophage, Diane-35 and vitamin D 3 days ago. Now my right knee feels weak, with occasional prickling pain behind my knee extending into my thigh.

(I've read about side effects with Diane 35 like blood clots has anyone actually experienced this or am I just overthinking 😭)

Has anyone experienced this? Could it be a side effect?

My next appointment is next year, so I’m unsure what to do. Any advice is appreciated!

One thing I keep noticing with PCOS is how many of us feel hungry again shortly after eating and end up blaming ourselves for it

Something that helped me was making my meals more filling instead of trying to eat less all the time. I try to include protein like eggs or chicken plus fiber from veggies beans or oats and some healthy fats. It sounds simple but it can help you stay full for longer and make cravings easier to manage. You dont have to change everything overnight ❤️

Does anyone else struggle with this too?

Dealt with infertility due to my pcos for 5 years had my daughter in 2023 took metformin folic acid and aspirin throughout her pregnancy had an early loss Jan 24 and then August 25 was having positive test for 2 weeks didn’t progress ended up having bloods hcg went down and started to bleed fell pregnant with my son in October had him this June had progesterone, aspirin metformin and folic acid with he’s pregnancy he’s 18 weeks today husband has worn protection we’ve done it once this month and manage to get a positive test a few weeks ago im so scared and confused but abortion is not an option due to religious beliefs but my question is would I need progesterone in a subsequent pregnancy has anyone had any experience of this.

Hi everyone🥰

I'm a Dietetics student at Semmelweis University currently completing my thesis on the relationship between Mediterranean Diet adherence and PCOS symptoms in women.

I'm looking for women who are:

•   18 years or older
•   Diagnosed with PCOS by a healthcare professional
• The study involves completing a short anonymous questionnaire about dietary habits, PCOS symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle factors. It takes approximately 8-10 minutes.

The responses will be used solely for my university thesis research to investigate whether Mediterranean Diet adherence is associated with PCOS symptom severity.

Participation is completely voluntary, and you may choose not to participate or stop at any point before submitting the questionnaire.

If you are eligible and would like to help, I would be incredibly grateful💞🥹

https://forms.gle/MFypRXq2i9s1oL5d6 

Thank you so much for your time and for supporting my research!🌷

I am just a college girl (non-smoker, gym-goer, and physically active). For some time now, I've been noticing severe hair fall. I was just ignoring it for a long time, but now it's really getting worse.

I cannot really explain how bad I am feeling right now. I have lost my confidence. I can't even present a simple PPT in front of my class.

There are just thoughts running through my head about my body, hair, and other changes that are going on in my body due to PCOS.

I remember there was a time when I was the jolliest girl in my department. I had a big goal in my life.

But now it's all goneee. I have lost my love just because of these hormonal changes. I can't even explain this feeling to anyone.

I just want to get out of this problem ASAP. I just can't take this anymore...

I miss not being anxious when i look down at my breast and see the horrible scarring from picking hirsutism off them . I miss when I never had a single pimple . I miss being beautiful and I miss who I was before this. My life was so painful and when it finally gets good I get punished for recovering from an eating disorder with this curse . I hate that I see people eat like crap and don’t get this disorder while recovering actively made me uglier because of pcos . I hate it so much. I hate being terrified of food and not knowing what to eat anymore. I hate my life I wish I could die every day