Polycystic Ovary Syndrome treatments?

[ReadingMama]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2002. There have been no visible cysts via ultrasound, but my FSH and LH ratio is messed up, I'm infertile, and I have hirsuitism (don't like that word!). Until this year I had regular periods and just had a few hairs on my chin and neck. But more and more hairs are coming up, some of them ingrowns and it's starting to bother me. I carry tweezers with me at all times! I've also started having weird spotting between periods.

My doctor gave me a prescription for Vaniqua for the chin hairs, but my insurance doesn't cover it and it's $100. She also prescribed the Nuva Ring for me but I haven't filled it. She said it's safer to use the Ring when you're over 30, but since less hormones are absorbed systemically, it won't help the facial hair.

I tried metformin years ago, but it caused really bad diarrhea so I stopped taking it. What are my options for treatment?

[Rainy229]

I had really bad GI reactions to metformin when I first started it, but I am/was SO intent on reversing the problems PCOS causes, I stuck with it for a month (omg, everyone thought I was preggo 'cause I was so sick!) and asked for the extended release version - and I now have NO side effects from the metformin.

Defining treatment of PCOS is difficult - it depends on what your goals are. I'm TTC, so I'm trying to make sure that my fertility cycle is restored to proper balance, so I'm aiming to correct IR (insulin resistance), lipid imbalances (normal, but low end of normal HDL and high end of normal LDL), which will hopefully help regulate the hormonal wackness... (like my technical vocab there?!) If you just want your periods to come regularly - then hormonal birth control would immediately get you there. If you want to fix the underlying problem, there's several options - including metformin and other antidiabetic drugs...

Like I said... this is just what I've chosen, what I feel is the right path for me to take...

Hope this helped!

Rainy

[ReadingMama]

I hadn't heard that metformin can be tolerated after a while. If that's the case for lots of people, that'd be great! Although my insulin and blood glucose tests have always been normal too. So was my free testosterone test in 2002. I assumed everyone with PCOS would have insulin issues.

I've begun eating 2 servings of oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning. I also have a sweet potato every day. And I just had a lipid profile done. My total cholesterol was 163, my triglycerides were 143 and my HDL was 37. My doctor told me to try to raise my good cholesterol. The last time my cholesterol was checked it was 198 so I was happy to get those results!

My goals are to lose weight, get rid of the facial hair, and stop the spotting. When I was first diagnosed I was sent to a nutritionist who put me on a low carb diet. It was really, really difficult for me. I don't eat much meat. How do you eat?

[Rainy229]

Hmmm... I thought metformin was for treating IR in PCOS patients, so if your GTT insulin levels were normal, I'm wondering what else it does, since you were on it for a bit. When I was on the regular met - I was HORRIBLY ill, but seriously, the DAY I started the extended release version, all the ill feelings went away. I've heard that other places (which is why I stuck out that one month of illness...) too (I think soulcysters).

If I remember right, having IR interferes with lipid metabolism, and if the IR is corrected, the lipids correct themselves... but don't quote me on that......

As for my diet, I haven't changed it much in a while... I'm a vegetarian, I try my darndest to avoid processed grains (=I eat brown grains!), anything fried, battered, breaded, or cheesy, and try to eat a rainbow every day. I was off dairy for a good 10 months, per DTCM, but was craving (craving doesn't actually begin to describe the level at which I was desiring) yogurt and kiefer (I hate kiefer normally!) and, um, fell off the wagon. I don't drink, smoke, or partake in substances that can get one arrested; I try to get 8 hours in bed each night, I try to drink more than 2 L of water every day, I've (finally) kicked caffeine, soda (once or twice a month, I might have a soda), and drinks I can't make at home (e.g. if I can't make the ingredients out of my regular pantry, I probably won't drink it... or eat it...).

I've heard that there are some OTC supplements that may help similarly to the way metformin does - d-chiro-inositol specifically, but those pills are SPENDY (you can google what foods are high in d-chiro-inositol), and I think similarly recommended was soy lecithin, but again, don't quote me on this...

eta: I've noticed less "man" hair (so much better than hirsuitism!), lost at least one size (without trying), and I've actually had an ovulatory cycle w/nearly zero spotting since starting metformin 2 cycles ago.

:-)

Rainy

[KMK_Mama]

My SIL had this and reversed it with the paleo diet. Her doctors were shocked but she started ovulating and having regular periods and within a year she has gotten pregnant twice on her own after having used fertility treatments to get pregnant with my nephews.