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’m 9 months postpartum with my first IVF baby and I’m wondering if anyone’s PCOS got noticeably worse after pregnancy and breastfeeding. I already had mild PCOS before pregnancy and needed IVF to conceive. From our first IVF cycle in 2024 we got 15 eggs and 8 blasts, and my daughter was conceived from our 3rd embryo transfer. Before IVF my AMH was 7.5 µg/L and testosterone 1.4 nmol/L. After giving birth my periods returned and have been fairly regular, although some cycles are longer. Breastfeeding gradually decreased from around 7 months and my baby completely self-weaned at 8 months, so I’ve barely breastfed for almost 2 months now! I recently went back to my fertility clinic to start planning IVF #2 and was surprised that everything now looks significantly more pcos-like than before pregnancy and IVF: my ovaries had many more small follicles, I didn’t ovulate that cycle, my lining was only 4.5 mm on CD24, my AMH has increased to 13.52 µg/L and testosterone elevated to 2.9 nmol/L (lab range 0.5–2.0). My doctor thinks getting eggs with stimulation shouldn’t be a problem, but I’m more concerned about transfers because I tend to have a thin lining and may not ovulate every cycle anymore. I strongly prefer natural/modified natural transfers because my first two medicated transfers failed, while my 3rd transfer using my own ovulation worked despite a 6mm lining. Has anyone had their PMOS look significantly worse on ultrasound and bloodwork postpartum, especially soon after weaning? Did it settle down after a few more months, or did it stay that way? I’ve been taking myo-inositol & d-chiro, NAC, ALA, prenatal, etc., eating healthy for the past two months. How is it possible that it’s gotten so much worse than before?

I’m really happy that I got a conclusion but I’m also sad. I don’t really feel like a woman anymore. My testosterone levels, weight, cramps, and fatigue always affect me. I’m gonna try to find the best supplements for my condition but rn I’m in a bittersweet state

If you’re on 1000mg of metformin what are some improvements you’ve noticed?

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?

I've seen a lot of posts in this sub Reddit about how people have had great results with Metformin. I have been on 1500mg of Metformin for a couple of years and I don't see anything different. I'm taking a lot of other medications as well and now I'm just wondering why I'm taking this on top of all my other things if it's not actually doing anything!

i know this will not be the case for everyone and some people will get paradoxical hair growth from ipl so try this at your own risk !!
i am on spironolactone which has already slowed down hair growth considerably and have used ipl on the rest of my body with good results. i decided after seeing a few posts about using it for chin hairs to take the risk and try it for myself. i dont have a crazy amount but it was enough to need to pluck daily. it’s been about a month of doing ipl 2-3 times per week on my chin and almost all of the dark hairs i had are now growing in white! it still feels stubbly but at least i dont have to be paranoid about people noticing if i forget to pluck!

Hey girls,

I'm (26) writing today because I think I've reached my limit and gave it my all. So PCOS is one of the many conditions I have and I actually get my periods every month now(after losing 40 pounds), my blood work is totally normal.  I did everything I could not to get on bc to ease my acne and oiliness. The issue is I can't even use topicals because I have type one rosacea and am very dermatitis prone. I can't get on antibiotics or accutane either because I have ulcerative colitis. I also developed seborrheic dermatitis because of pcos.

I really want to start bc but the thought of it causing new symptoms that I never had (hirsutism, alopecia) once I get off of it is terrifying me and it's the only thing stopping me from taking it.

I'm just tired of being sick and ugly and want to feel more comfortable in my own skin..

Has this happened to anyone?

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.

i’ve been put on yasmin for several months now by my obgyn. it works just fine but its not covered by my country’s national insurance sadly. i’m not in my best financial situation right now so i’m thinking if i can get another drug.
other than yasmin, i’m on metformin 500mg once a day. my period is regular but light. my main problem is high androgenism (acne and hair loss). i’ve heard spironolactone as potent anti androgenism and wanna check the option with my obgyn sometimes later.
anyone here not on BC but on spiro? how does it affects you? does it take around 3-6 months to exert its benefit just like BC? i have normal to low BP does that mean i cannot go under spiro? do you have to check your minerals by blood test regularly?

thank you!

In around April of last year I was diagnosed with PCOS following my meeting the criteria of irregular periods, acne and an internal ultrasound that showed my right ovary having over 23 follicles. I have a normal BMI so I think I would be lean PCOS.

I did not want to go on any medication as I do not want children, my only major concern has always been my acne.

I bought a couple supplements that I had heard were good for PCOS (Inositol and Zinc) shortly after diagnosis and used them maybe 3-4 times per week. Didn't see much change probably as I was not using them consistently.

I moved overseas back in July to serve in the Peace Corps Response Program and since being here my acne and hairloss has been a bit worse. I assumed that my PCOS must be worse and spoke to my in country doctor about considering going on spironalactone.

Before they would support me going on medication they wanted me to get another ultrasound and have my hormone levels tested. In my ultrasound the ovary that had 23 follicles had reduced to 8. My testosterone was in the low 20s. My blood sugars/glucose have not changed significantly between now and before I started taking inositol but were already in normal levels

The only real change I have made is taking the supplements, I am in shock that a supplement could have done all of this but it is the only thing I think it could have been!!!

While I still have the acne and hairloss its seeming more like it is from the high chlorine content of the water here, not my PCOS ?? which seems to have completely reversed ???

Hi everyone,

I had a baby in 2025. I’m still breastfeeding but he is pretty established on solids, so it is mostly only at night / nap time. For some context, I did need to use letrozole to get pregnant and was successful on the third medicated cycle.

I had some blood tests done as I’m experiencing a massive amount of hair loss. I feel like theres always hair all over my house and I’m having to hoover it up so many times a day! I also have only had 4 periods since giving birth. My periods were quite irregular before but I always heard this usually improves after pregnancy.

I would love to address the hair loss but also to do something to help regulate my cycle. I would like to have more children in the future and it would be nice to be able to monitor my cycles and not have to go through the fertility clinic again, as it was quite mentally exhausting. I have been taking myo inositol but other than having one period after starting it (which could have been a coincidence as it arrived about 5 days later), i have not seen much of a change at all.

I would love some advice on what actually I need to ask my dr for following my blood results. Do i need further tests, e.g for insulin resistance ? If so, what tests? Is there a specific medication i can request to manage my condition? I’m in the UK and the NHS have been really bad at helping me manage this condition my whole life (I have known about my PCOS since I was 14).

My blood results are;

FSH 5.0 IU/L
LH 18 IU/L
Progesterone 0.8 nmol/L
Total testosterone 1.5 nmol/L
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) 22 nmol/L
Free androgen index (FAI) 6.8%
Prolactin 374 mU/L
TSH 1.05 mU/L
HbA1c 35 mmol/mol
Vitamin D 46 nmol/L
Ferritin 46.4 µg/L
Total cholesterol 5.7 mmol/L
HDL cholesterol 1.49 mmol/L
LDL cholesterol 3.89 mmol/L
Triglycerides 0.70 mmol/L
Full blood count Normal
Urea and electrolytes (U+E) Normal
Liver function tests (LFTs) Normal
Bone profile Normal

Really appreciate any advice and support!

PLEASE ANSWER…I have had female pattern baldness for around 8-9 years. Never managed my pcos. Things kept getting worse. But 3 months ago i started met and inositol and since then my kp is gone, acne is not there, skin isnt oily anymore, have lost weight( i have lean pcos tho), seb derm has resolved!
But my question is will it stop( if not reverse) my female pattern hair thinning simce i believe my hormones are levelling out ?

since i've had my period at 12 i've always had irregular periods, fluctuating weight, and a lot of body hair(ex chest hair) etc and all my period symptoms are never consistent enough to really keep note. its always been everywhere honestly but it wasn't until i was older that i found out about pcos. now im almost 26 soon and i've yet to be diagnosed simply bc i havent been able to afford to go to a doctor. i still have irregular periods, irregular symptoms, body hair, and nonexistent sex drive. it doesnt help that ive always been prone to stress and depressed as an adult. how do you even manage pmos w/o a doctor or diagnosis and little money? is it even possible?? tbh i needed to vent

Sharing this for free: the most common mistake when counting your cycle is the start date. Day 1 is the first day of real bleeding. Light spotting before it doesn't count. If you're not sure, write the date with a "?" instead of guessing. A blank is more useful to your doctor than an invented date. Just something that helped me. 💛

i got diagnosed with PMOS earlier this year and i haven’t had a period since october 2025. i’ve had discussions with my endocrinologist about medication and all, i just want reassurance that other people have also gone this long without a period. this whole situation makes me so anxious which doesn’t help make my period come back.

i hate that there are so many different 'rules' and opinions on treatment for PCOS. One person will say do keto, take 9000 supplements and go run 10 miles aday. someone else will say only eat meat and just weightlift, dont run. i hear so much different advice on social media and from the doctors i dont even know what to do anymore. the social media aspect just pushes us to take 12 different pills a day and to never touch sugar. i know i should be doing what feels best for me, but i have yet to find something that actually works. #exhausted #overit

​

I have PCOS and I'm struggling so much to lose weight, especially around my stomach. What has actually worked for you? I'd really appreciate any advice on diet, exercise or managing PCOS symptoms.

So I have had pcos since the age of 16, it has caused irregular periods and insulin resistance. Since last year I have managed my PCOS and started having regular cycles. Over the last 5-6 months I have noticed that my blood flow during my periods has reduced drastically (even when my pcos was unmanaged, I have a pretty good blood flow). I am not sure what is the reason behind this and I am stressing out a little bit. Has anyone experienced this? I would love to hear your opinions!

Looking for the best ways to improve hirsutism.

I took spironolactone for years and loved it, but it was lowering my blood pressure too much.

Also trying to conceive, so some things like spironolactone aren’t safe!

Please no advice - Just need to be heard

I was diagnosed with PCOS (PMOS, I guess) in my early teens because my periods were so irregular. I have always been fat, had signs of insulin resistance, and had HS from a young age.

In my late teens I starved myself and exercised brutally until I lost a bunch of weight only to gain back twice as much. I am 29 now and gain weight EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I have been through 2 eating disorder programs (OP & IOP) and I cannot fix my relationship with food and/or exercise.

Today, I don't work out and I don't eat "healthy" either. I keep gaining weight.. each meal feels like a struggle because I try to find the most PERFECT thing to eat at each meal and can never decide.

I am close to hitting 300 lbs and miserable about my health. I feel like if I hit that number I will have a psychotic breakdown.

I am not diabetic, I don't have high blood pressure, or high cholestrol. I have tried Inosital, Doxycycline, Clyndomicine, and Metformin. I had a CT scan done for my lungs a few months ago and they caught fatty liver in that screening. I also have mild sleep apnea. My PCP has put in for GLP 1s MULTIPLE times but the insurance keeps denying it.

I started a TTC journey earlier in the year, but it is on hold right now. I have been advised to get WLS to at least get the "temporary balloon". I have been so against WLS but as I creep closer to 300 I feel so out of control. However, my fear with both GLP 1 and the WLS is gaining all the weight back when I stop taking the medication or remove the balloon when I am ready to TTC...

Does anyone understand or relate? Please don't tell me about your exercise routine, diet plan, or assortment of vitamins and supplements that helped you lose weight.

Hi! I’ve had PCOS since I was 17 (I’m 26 now). I currently weigh 66 kg (145 lbs) and I’m 1.63 m (5’4”) tall. I struggle with a lot of facial and abdominal swelling/bloating, and I’m about to start retatrutide (reta).

For those of you with PCOS who have tried reta, how did you feel while taking it? What changes did you notice? Did your symptoms improve?

I’m nervous, but honestly, I’m also so frustrated and exhausted from dealing with these symptoms. I’ve tried everything: inositol, weightlifting, increasing my protein intake, supplements, and walking after meals. Despite all my efforts, I haven’t been able to lose even a single kilogram. I just keep gaining weight, and it’s so discouraging.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences, especially from others with PCOS. Did reta help with your weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, or other symptoms?

2 years ago I got a concussion and my health completely changed. I had previously been diagnosed with PMOS but was able to be symptom free after having my gallbladder removed and moving countries. My body balanced, I lost weight randomly, cycle regulated, more energy, no inflammation… all was good! My hormones were also normal.
Then the concussion hit. My energy tanked to the point I was bed bound every day after work, I had sleep issues, gained a bunch of weight (despite being way more active AFTER the concussion), moon face, periods disappeared, body composition shifts, severe bloating, swelling in my whole body but especially legs/feet and face… it has been rough.
My body then shifted about 1.5 years post concussion from a distended stomach to very squishy and new angry stretch marks. The swelling in my legs and face also slowly got worse. Thankfully, my energy had improved somewhat and no more sleep issues. (I have been tested for Cushings/cortisol stuff, pituitary issues, etc and all normal).
I’ve tried inositol/a supplement blend (this worked well for me before the concussion), acupuncture, herbal remedies, antihistamines (for suspected MCAS that helped my energy), compression garments for the swelling, magnesium glycinate… basically you name it, I’ve tried it.
I’ve currently 4 weeks into metformin (week 1 500mg, week 2 1000mg, week 3 onwards 1500mg). My energy has improved I think but otherwise I’m not seeing any changes yet. I know it’s early and I’m trying to stay positive. Does anyone have success stories, especially with symptoms like inflammation, or even post concussion? I’m sure my symptoms have flared from the PMOS, but I also know the concussion completely dysregulated me and I worry that metformin won’t do everything I need it to.
Thanks in advance for your stories and thoughts xx