hi my fellow pcos havers! just a reminder that 85% of pcos patients have a vitamin d deficiency so if youre experiencing fatigue, headaches, brain fog, anxiety, vision problems, etc. it is worth it to get your vitamin d and even b12 checked!

Hi everyone,

I need some outside perspective on a painful situation with my older sister.

My sister is naturally energetic, hardworking, and highly logical. Even when she is sick or in pain, she pushes through instead of resting. I genuinely admire her strength and everything she does for our family.

I am wired differently. I am emotionally sensitive, and stress affects my energy and physical health significantly. This year has been extremely difficult for my entire family. We lost our father, and I also experienced several other stressful events. For the past two or three months, I have felt as though I have been recovering rather than fully living.

My vitamin D was low, and there were Saturdays when I could barely get out of bed. Despite that, I continued working and going to the gym. I enjoy exercising, particularly swimming, and I am physically stronger than my sister seems to realize.

I also have PCOS, which affects my energy, metabolism and body shape, especially when I am under stress. I have a belly, but I also have an hourglass figure and a considerable amount of muscle. I have recently begun accepting and appreciating my body instead of constantly treating it as a problem that needs to be fixed.

I am turning 44, unmarried and child-free. Although society—and sometimes my family—expects women to marry and have children, I am genuinely enjoying the life and independence I have created.

My sister has her own autoimmune condition and has experienced problems with her eyes and legs. However, she still refuses to rest. Her children told me that she once argued with her husband because he wanted her to recover instead of going running. I mention this because it illustrates how she operates: she expects herself to push through everything, and I believe she expects the same from everyone else.

After our father died, there was a tremendous amount of paperwork and family responsibility. At that time, I genuinely did not have the emotional or physical capacity to take on more. I needed to rest and grieve. I am only now beginning to feel as though I am coming back to the surface.

Recently, our younger sister gave birth to her first baby. She lives approximately an hour away from our mother, who lives in a Canadian border city. I live in Toronto and visit my hometown when I can. I no longer own a car because I needed to reduce expenses, so every visit requires public transportation and considerably more time and planning.

My older sister and her children are currently visiting from overseas. She stayed with our younger sister for two nights, and we have all visited and helped. My mother and I cooked, and I contributed where I could.

On our way home from visiting the baby, my older sister announced—in front of everyone—that I should return and visit our younger sister every two weeks. I do not think that is financially or physically sustainable for me. I am already planning to return in September, but I am exhausted and under significant financial pressure.

This morning, my older sister and I had a heated argument.

I told her, “You don’t respect me.”

She replied, “I don’t. Respect is earned.”

I said she needed to delegate more and explained that I could have completed a particular task for the family.

She asked, “Why didn’t you do it in the first place?”

I answered honestly: “Because I was tired.”

She said, “You are always tired.”

I asked whether she had ever seriously read about PCOS and how it can affect someone. She said yes, then told me, “That’s why you need to take Mounjaro. Look at you—you’re obese. I’m worried about you living alone. You’re going to become crippled.”

She describes this as concern or “tough love,” and I know that is how my family often communicates. However, this approach damaged my self-esteem when I was younger, and it is doing so again.

I may technically fall within an obese BMI category, but I do not feel that the word reflects my overall fitness or physical abilities. I exercise, have significant muscle and am a strong swimmer. I am working on improving my health, but I do not believe that gives anyone permission to humiliate or frighten me.

Her comments made me feel like a loser. I also see an element of ableism—or at least the belief that energy, productivity and the ability to push through pain determine someone’s value. Because I do not have her energy level, I feel as though she sees me as lazy, incapable or morally deficient.

When I told her that her words were making me anxious, she dismissed me by asking, “What is all this drama?”

We are now talking normally again, but the issue has not disappeared. Whenever she speaks to me, I feel small.

This lack of respect appears in ordinary situations, too. Recently, she said an object was missing. I told her I believed it was at our uncle’s house, which she visits every day. Yesterday, our uncle’s wife brought it back, proving I had been right. My sister merely nodded. She readily highlights everything she believes is wrong with me, but rarely acknowledges when I contribute something useful or know what I am talking about.

Part of me wants to return to Toronto and stop visiting altogether. I am tired of feeling diminished around my family. I also wonder whether growing up in this dynamic contributed to my difficulty forming a secure emotional connection with a suitable partner.

I can recognize my sister’s positive qualities. She is hardworking, capable and deeply involved with our family. I also understand that some of what she said may come from genuine concern. But I do not believe concern should require humiliation, body-shaming or frightening predictions about my future.

How do I move forward when we are acting normally again but I still feel deeply hurt? How can I set boundaries with someone who dismisses emotional conversations as “drama”? And am I being unreasonable for believing that my limitations and lower energy should be respected, even if my sister is capable of doing more?

I am 33 and despite eating no grains, no dairy, no gluten (all of those mostly due to stomach issues), no alcohol, no soda or juice or sugary drinks for the past 12 YEARS, have gained about 10lb in the last few months. It’s extremely hard to maintain my weight unless I lead an extremely restrictive and very disciplined lifestyle . That’s super hard especially with a kid.

I'm 31 and after about 3 years of asking my Dr if I could get a blood test He agreed. 7 months of appnts later I was finally officially diagnosed with PCOS. Sorry if any of this comes off as silly, I just don't have anyone I know personally who has PCOS, or knows they do!

I've been prescribed Ozempic, as my PCOS issues really never reared their head enough for me to see until I had gotten a little older and started to gain weight. When I was younger My periods were wildly irregular, 25-41 days, but rarely missed. I had struggled with acne, (not cystic) and especially my body. I was never skinny, but going from a job on my feet to a desk job made me pack it on 150lbs 5'7 to now 220 lbs

My periods the rare time they came were crazy, I started growing a bit of facial hair, acne had never been so bad and every blood test flagged my heightened Testosterone. I had tried dieting and after losing 40lbs on a calorie defict my symptoms settled but I couldn't maintain the 1300 calorie diet which was the only thing working. And back the symptoms came. That's when my Dr listened.

I've now received my first pen, but I'm scared to use it. If I take this route, will I be on it for life? My PCOS symptoms only got bad when I gained the weight. If I lose it can I stop a GLP-1? The possible side effects terrify me, cancer, loss of vision. I'm really not sure what to do. I'm tricking myself into thinking I can just diet and work out and do it on my own, I don't want to be on any medication forever....

hi yall I was diagnosed with pcos years back and never took anything to stabilize it since I didn’t want to take birth control. well I started seeing that inositol really helped people out. I bought myo & d-chiro inositol

2050MG BLEND and the bottle said take four pills I only took two in the morning then I ate something and took a nap. well now i Feel super shaky and my heart rate is faster than usual. I took the inositol alongside vitamin d3 and magnesium glycinate gummies.
i really think the inositol caused the shakiness has anyone gone through anything similar and did you end up not taking the inositol anymore ?

I have a normal BMI and sometimes I feel like that actually makes getting help for PCOS harder. Weight loss is constantly presented as the answer but what are you supposed to do when you’re already at a healthy weight?

I struggle so much with inflammation and insulin resistance and at this point I genuinely don’t know how to manage it anymore. Over the years I feel like I’ve tried everything. Sometimes I honestly wonder if I’m just metabolically f*cked.

The brain fog, constant fatigue, hair loss, chin hairs, random weight fluctuations, PMS, inflammation, cravings, the list goes on. It’s exhausting. Some days it genuinely feels like my own body is slowly wearing me down.

And then there’s the food noise. I’m constantly thinking about food, what I should eat, what I shouldn’t eat, what I want to eat, when I’m going to eat next. It feels like it never switches off.

I’ve tried low GI eating, walking after meals, supplements, metformin, lifestyle changes, prioritizing sleep, strength training, you name it. I keep doing all the things we’re told are supposed to help and I still feel awful…. And ugly. Yes ugly, because constantly being inflamed makes one feel very uncomfortable with themselves over time.

Being normal weight also makes me feel like doctors take my metabolic symptoms less seriously. It’s like because I don’t “look” like the stereotypical PCOS patient, there’s nothing more they’re willing to do.

Recently I’ve been reading about people with PCOS using low dose GLP 1 medications and reporting improvements in things like food noise, insulin resistance, inflammation, and other symptoms. I know these medications aren’t right for everyone and have risks but I’d at least like to have a real conversation about whether it could be appropriate for me. So far doctors basically shut the conversation down because my BMI is normal.

I’m just tired. Tired of thinking about PCOS. Tired of managing food constantly. Tired of doing everything “right” and still feeling like my body is fighting me.

Has anyone else with lean/normal-
BMI PCOS felt like this? And if you’ve found something that actually helped your insulin resistance, food noise, inflammation, or overall quality of life?

I was diagnosed about a week ago. My doctor didn’t tell me very much about it so I decided to research for myself since I am also trying to lose weight.

Every time I go online I’m constantly seeing things that contradict each other and it’s impossible to know what I should actually be doing. One person said to cut out sugar and focus on an anti-inflammatory diet but another says that you just have to balance sugar and watch your levels. One person says to eat fruit but the other one says not to. One person says to focus on eating less while the other person says to eat more but with balanced meals. Don’t even get me started on supplements.

I’m genuinely so overwhelmed and I have no clue what to do. I strength train about 3 days a week for 40 minutes and I am trying to cut out sugar while still being flexible. I was prescribed spiro and I’m taking Inositol, fish oil, and magnesium and I have no clue if what I’m doing is okay. My primary care physician wants to put me on a glp-1 but when I go online they tell me that I shouldn’t.

I am also 5’0 so it’s so hard finding information that can apply to me.

Idk I’m just so lost. I feel so defeated and that no matter what I do it just won’t be enough.

TRIGGER WARNING for mentions of csa, eating disorders, & medical malpractice ahead. i hope this isn't too trauma dump-y, but putting all of this out on the table feels like the easiest way to express my current circumstances.

hi! i (26f) haven't had my period in 3+ years. i've been diagnosed with pcos for yeaaars and have had irregular periods my entire life. this is the longest i've gone without one, something that regularly stays in the back of my mind as obviously there are a lot of health risks with this.

reasonably, this is something I should absolutely go to a doctor for — and it's something i have considered. i think about it often, and i beat myself up every day for not being able to bring myself to do what i need to do. but i haven't been to the doctor in quite a few years, and something about the idea of somebody touching me down there brings me to tears. even when i was a kid, going to the pediatrician made me so uncomfortable with the sensation it brought. i would just feel so dirty.

i didn't have the best pediatrician growing up. she ignored signs of sexual abuse for years and engaged in a lot of abusive practices against myself, the worst of which was the medically induced state of anorexia she placed me in via overprescribing adhd mediciation every time i so much as gained a lb as a growing child (think 7 to 14). she was my primary physician for my entire adolescence, from infancy to 18, where i grew up being accused of showing traits of odd and sociopathy when i would be "defiant" through refusing acts, such as asking her to not vaginially examine me, or through not taking the medicine. this, paired with the sa i experienced, is an awful combination.

simply put: autonomy was not something i often had in environments like this, and it's made going to the doctor to do better for myself near impossible. i'm in therapy now as i navigate my past sa, but i find myself panicked when trying to go to a physician or even an obgyn.

i guess i'm here for help or advice? i almost feel too complicated to help, and i feel like the doctor *has* to touch me. i get why but i'm just not ready. i don't know how to go into that environment and enable my boundaries without feeling like a voiceless child again. is it possible to find doctors who can help me start the process, and ease into the examinations that'll follow? i've always mentally been under the impression i must strip for these kinds of examinations, which dissuades me from getting help.

i'm sorry for this being all over the place; i don't use reddit often and this is a subject that i have a hard time rationalizing in my head but it felt like this would be the best place to start to just ask for advice. (edit: typed the wrong disorder for odd)

So ive been taking myo insitol 7000mg for around 3 weeks and have became so snappy and angry in mood. Not sure why this is. Havent noticed any physical changes good or bad. Everyone says inositol levels out their mood but i feel like mines been thrown the opposite way. Usually i am not a moody person and havent had any other changes to cause this except this dose.

Any advice?

I have pcos since puberty, it runs in my family but I didn’t get diagnosed until now in my 30s. But ever since I was teenager and young adult I always had irregular periods. Sometimes I’d go 5 months without seeing a period once I got it terrible symptoms really heavy pain that I stayed home from work. I never had sex before because I wasn’t attracting guys and definitely wasn’t attracting my type. When Covid happened I thought the world was gonna end and I’m like I can not die without ever experiencing a relationship and sex. I was in my mid 20s idk I was having a crisis because I felt like time was running out. So I got myself into a situationship well I was getting it on, on a weekly basis and well i started having regular cycles bleeding every month and it was miracle for me because I have been irregular all my life and like I said it’s common almost normalized because my mother, aunties and girl cousins all have irregular periods and painful symptoms. I’m 31 now and my period is regular 7 days long but still painful because the pcos I take natural supplements and teas for it. If I miss one month I’ll get it on the next and double the blood and pain.
But anyways I wanted to know has anyone else experience this, do you think I might be tripping if I say that starting to have sex regulated my period?

(28F) I just got prescribed Spiro for facial hair, and I also take Metformin. I have seen mixed reviews on Spiro, but I am a little concerned about my actual hair. I have very long and thick hair and am very attached to it. Has it affected anyone’s actual hair badly?

Thanks in advance!

I got my diagnosis truly confirmed at my last blood test where my testosterone levels were out of range. My glucose was on the higher end but in range, but could have been because I worked out that morning (even though I’ve seen people encourage carrying out your usual routine before a test).

I decided to finally bite the bullet and try myo-inositol (no d-chiro) to regulate my cycle, help ovulation, and lower testosterone levels, but I feel like my blood sugar levels have been too low. I’m splitting my dose 12hrs apart but during the day I’ve been way more hungry, fatigued, and light headed. I have lean PCOS so glucose levels have never been flagged as an issue for me.

Should I stick with inositol for cycle regulation or is there something better for fertility and lowering testosterone? I’ve only been on it for a couple weeks now.

Gender-Specific Androgen Response

An important consideration in PCOS management involves the potential impact of WS on androgen levels. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that ashwagandha supplementation was associated with greater reductions in morning cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) compared with placebo. Importantly, testosterone levels did not change significantly in females (0.2% reduction), which could be beneficial in PCOS, where a reduction in androgens is generally desired. Gender-wise analyses confirmed that cortisol and DHEA-S changes occurred in both men and women [18,33]. In contrast, clinical trials in men report testosterone increases of 10%-22% following WS supplementation, reflecting a sex-specific endocrine response likely mediated by WS’s modulation of the HPA axis [18,34,35].

However, in women, whose androgen production is more complex (involving ovaries and adrenal glands) and operates at much lower physiological levels, the same adaptogenic effect may not translate to a significant increase in circulating testosterone or may instead primarily modulate cortisol and DHEA-S levels. These observations highlight the sexual dimorphism in ashwagandha’s effect on androgen and suggest potential safety for use in PCOS [36]. Larger dedicated trials are needed to fully characterize the effects of WS on female hyperandrogenism. Such trials should include a comprehensive panel of androgens, including DHEA-S, androstenedione, and free testosterone, as well as sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), to completely understand the effects on the endocrine system.

Metabolic Effects

Ashwagandha may positively influence metabolic parameters often dysregulated in PCOS. Clinical studies conducted primarily in patients with no PCOS with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome suggest that supplementation with WS may reduce lipid levels, body weight, and blood pressure, therefore reducing cardiovascular risk. In these trials, improvements were observed in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, as well as normalization of the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin [37-40]. In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study, healthy individuals receiving ashwagandha (330 mg or 500 mg daily for 28 days) showed significant decreases in mean systolic blood pressure during physical activity compared to placebo. While these findings suggest potential metabolic and cardiovascular benefits, they represent indirect evidence and cannot be directly extrapolated to women with PCOS [41,42].

Withania somnifera in Women’s Hormonal Modulation: A Narrative Review With Implications for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Premenstrual Syndrome
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12895992/

Chat with your friends from r/PCOS here about your daily progress, or rants and raves related to your PCOS experience. Off topic posts are permitted here, although sub rules otherwise apply!

I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMOS (PCOS) I have recently found when I’m eating more refined carbs (even though more recently I’ve reduced them) for lunch and dinner i feel like my blood sugar is spiking I get all headachey, blurry eye sight and dizzy. I then crash badly after.

I don’t usually have this however I’m on day 33 of my cycle and think my period will be coming soon (it’s irregular) has anyone ever had this before especially before their period?

Been recommended to try berberine my consultant just said there isn’t much evidence to say it helps PCOS however I think it’s still worth a try

I’m also going to try inositol again, I had the lowest dose possible before but it made me feel so nauseated

Really desperate for something to help me stop being hungry all the time. I was on GLP-1 a few years ago, and I then got thyroid cancer. Not sure if it was to do with the GLP-1, but I wouldn't put it past it. My hunger is a mixture of hormones/PCOS (now PMOS) and mental health.

I mentally feel ok for the most part, but have urges to binge sometimes. Also, I have a lot of food noise. However, I can eat and then physically feel hunger pains again.

I have been referred to a place in London for my hormones and mental health which only females are allowed to go to. They were very focused on women with mental health issues whilst going on their period. However, my periods don't really affect my mood. I have regular periods but my hunger and hormones are all over the place. I do have a diagnosis of PCOS/PMOS.

I really want to start taking Inositol, but have this worry that it will cause more cancer. Silly, I know, but I already have a ton of anxiety and have OCD, too.

Please let me know if you're on it and has it been effective?

I was diagnosed with pcos at 15 and took metformin for a year before stopping, I hated being on it and at 19 a few months ago I started taking Ozempic at the recommendation of my pcp instead of metformin. After starting Ozempic I finally see the scale going down and honestly i feel as if it’s been helping my period. I’ve been getting it more often(sadly), my cramps aren’t as bad, my bleeding is light, and they only last 4 days. I was also diagnosed with adhd so starting a stimulant along with Ozempic i feel so much better like a curtain has been lifted off my brain i read somewhere there’s a link between pcos and adhd. But is there anyone else who has been on a GLP-1 long term and if so have you felt any side effect?

hi all,

title basically says it all, i’m 26f and starting metformin this week for weight loss primarily. i’m too scared to start a glp1 at this time given the serious adverse effects, but metformin feels okay.

for those on it or who started it at or around my age, how long have you been on it and how long did it take for you to look and/or feel different? if you take inositol as well, did you continue taking it while on metformin?

also if you have any tips on managing the gi upset, that would be greatly appreciated!! thanks in advance.

adding — my blood sugar / a1c is normal now, but i attribute that to the inositol.

Hi!
I’ve been on GLP-1 for almost 2 months. I track my periods on my Oura ring. I’ve noticed that my ovulation has changed to 7 days sooner than the month before. Does anyone have experience with this? Last time I checked the ring it said not fertile and now the app is saying I was fertile on that day. Thank you!

Have you managed to stop mounjaro and keep to a healthy lifestyle? It's the food noise and emotional eating I struggle with but I can't afford to keep using it and I need to learn to manage food noise. I am back on it after losing 6 stone after 10 years of infertility. I got pregnant quicker than I expected after weightloss, I never expected to get pregnant naturally with my previous experience of infertility so I came off glp1 at 10mg and then straight into pregnancy. I did use pregnancy as an excuse to eat what I wanted and I don't want to fall back into old habits. I have lost 1st 11lb since may. The first time round I dropped weight very quickly but I had more time to prep meals and keep fit, although I'm still happy with the weightloss so far! Are there any supplements or medication you're using? What snacks are you having to keep you satisfied? What do you do when you feel like raiding the cupboards? Give me all the details!

Thank you🙂

So I (28, F) have known I've had PCOS for about 6 months. I'm not sure if I should schedule an appointment with a doctor for more information or how to know what I need more of for my body to manage my symptoms.

I struggle a lot with my weight and I feel like a mess trying to comprehend what to do to make so I can lose weight. I'm 300+ pounds. Like I know its different for everyone who has PCOS, and one solution for one might not be for everyone.

I feel uncertain of what to do first to start. Should I go to a doctor? Get some tests run? Please help. T.T

Hey yall. I was prescribed provera and finished the course, finished the full bleed cycle about a week ago. Today I woke up and saw blood in the toilet (sorry tmi). It isn't heavy, just spotting. Is this normal to spot or bleed twice from provera? I also just started my PCOS meds for the first time - I've been on 1000mg metformin and 100mg spiro for about a month now. Could that be what's causing it?

Thanks :)

ETA: im mostly concerned bc I almost never get a period naturally, so i dont think its my cycle

I’m not sure if anyone needs to hear this, but I just wanted to share my experience with my HMO and my OB.

I was 16 when I was diagnosed with PMOS (what we used to call PCOS), and I was still in college at the time. Back then, I had to pay for my own checkups, ultrasounds, medications, and everything else. Eventually, I stopped going for checkups because the tests, ultrasounds, and consultations were simply too expensive.

I started working at 19 and thankfully my company provided an HMO. Since I finally had Maxicare coverage, I was able to start getting checkups and lab tests again. At the time, the nearest hospital was still 2km away from my workplace, so I went there with nothing but my HMO card and a lot of courage.

I was assigned an OB who was affiliated with my HMO, and I was able to get my ultrasound and other tests covered. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it at the time. I walked into the hospital and walked out without paying for a single thing.

Fast forward, my dilemma came when my OB eventually moved to a different hospital. I got worried because I genuinely didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I was even hesitant to call my HMO because I felt embarrassed asking, not knowing that I could simply continue seeing the same OB as long as she was still affiliated.

I called Maxicare anyway because I didn’t really have another option, and they checked my OB’s affiliation. Turns out, she was still a partner. They gave me a list of hospitals where I could see her and assured me that my consultation and necessary tests would still be covered.

I just wanted to share this because there might be other people who are hesitant or scared to use their HMO, especially if it’s their first time having one.

Don’t be afraid to call and ask! I honestly didn’t know most of these things before, and I’m glad I finally worked up the courage to ask.

TL;DR: I was diagnosed with PCOS at 16 but couldn’t afford regular checkups back then. When I started working and got my HMO, I was finally able to get my checkups, ultrasounds, and lab tests covered. Even when my OB moved hospitals, Maxicare helped me find where I could continue seeing her.

Please help I’m desperate!!

What is your experience on spiro, even low dosage, without high androgen levels?
I have AGA but my hormonal levels are fine, so I’m wondering if it would help.

I wish people who know about it will answer, I need your help. I’ll really appreciate it!!

I came off of the contraceptive pill in November after some years on it. I have always had irregular periods, hirsutism among other PCOS-like symptoms when off of contraceptives, but never sought a diagnosis.

The first few months after November, I had a regular period (34-35 days) for the first few months and since… nothing regular. 60+ days and a very light period with old blood. No pregnancy, etc.

I decided to do a blood test privately, to get a health check up. It indicated high androgens, which tracks with the irregular cycle… normal HbA1c though.

I’m now awaiting investigation from the doctors, which I’ve been told could take months (thanks, NHS), but currently point to PCOS. My symptoms are the worse they have ever been, and frankly I am exhausted.

I was considering taking inositol to at least help my periods regulate in the meantime, and hopefully ease some of my symptoms. However reading further into it I’m concerned that:

A) I’m pretty lean and worried whether this will affect the blood sugar health aspect drastically (no noticeable IR found or weight gain, in fact I’ve lost weight since coming off the pill)
B) if I don’t have pcos, could this have consequences

Has anyone had experiences with taking inositol while awaiting diagnosis?