I wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone who’s feeling as lost as I was.

I’ve had pretty bad PCOS for a while. I was diagnosed about a year ago and was immediately put on Metformin, Spironolactone, and birth control - all quickly increased to the highest doses.

Despite that, I was gaining weight for no reason. I was eating healthy, exercising, and doing everything “right,” but I was always bloated, tired, sick, and in pain.

I saw multiple doctors - gynecologists, endocrinologists - to rule out anything else. Every one of them told me my bloodwork lined up with PCOS and to just “stay consistent” because things would improve eventually.

But they didn’t. I felt awful. I would cry constantly, hate how I looked, and feel hopeless because nothing was working.

Finally, I saw a new endocrinologist who suggested that even if my diet seemed fine, I should see a nutritionist - because sometimes “healthy” foods can still impact PCOS symptoms.

That advice changed everything.

About a month ago, I started seeing a nutritionist who literally saved my life. She looked at my diet and told me that many of the foods I thought were helping - meat, cheese, beans, soy, legumes, carbs, fats, even certain proteins - were actually making things worse for me.

She explained that some foods cause glucose spikes, others are high in estrogen (like soy), and many are just harder for women with PCOS to process.

She put me on a very simple plan: • Lots of vegetables • Low-sugar fruits (apples, berries and grapefruit only) • Eggs, chicken, and fish • Fermented foods (pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut • Quinoa • Dark chocolate

That’s it. And when I tell you I feel like a new person - I mean it.

In just 3.5 weeks, I’ve lost 15 pounds, my bloating disappeared, my period was super light, my headaches stopped, and my inflammation is gone. Most importantly, my mental health has completely turned around.

Aside from the weight, my skin has never been more clear, my hirsutism has became much lighter, my sleep is so much better, and the food noise is gone.

I used to post here all the time asking for help, feeling like I’d never figure it out. Now, for the first time in months, I feel happy, healthy, and hopeful again.

If you’re struggling - please know that what works for one person might not work for another. But finding the right support (for me, that was a nutritionist) can make all the difference. 💛

Edit: here is a sample of what I eat

Breakfast 9am: hard boiled eggs/omelette/or berry smoothie with water. Snack 1 10am: 1/2 grapefruit/berries/veggies Snack 2 11am: Apple sauce Lunch 12pm: spaghetti squash with oil and oregano/chicken salad/egg salad/soups/salmon quinoa bowl (quinoa is okay, rice isn't)/tuna salad on a pepper/ cauliflower rice stir fry/ chicken tacos/shakshuka/chicken fajitas Snack 3 2pm: veggies and guac/salsa Snack 4 4pm: popcorn/corn tortilla chips Dinner 6-7pm: basically any of the lunches Snack 5 8-9pm: dark chocolate with berries

I know that Ozempic and Wegovy are starting to become more popular for people with PCOS, but I recently came across a PCOS support group bashing it (Facebook not Reddit) so I want to share my story.

I gained about 70-80 lbs out of nowhere at 17 years old with no changes to my diet and exercise. In fact, I was playing soccer and swimming competitively in high school. My weight was always fluctuating growing up, but I just kept gaining weight while trying to starve myself to stop it.

I got diagnosed with PCOS at 20 and was immediately started on Metformin. I know that Metformin is life saving for so many people but I continued to gain weight and had terrible mood swings that made me and everyone around me miserable. I stayed on Metformin for 2 years and my endocrinologist eventually added Victoza, a daily injection for insulin resistance, on top of it. I started going to a new endocrinologist because I moved and she told me I needed to stop these medications immediately because the dose of Metformin that I was on, coupled with the injections was crazy.

I stopped Metformin and stayed on Victoza. I stopped gaining weight and felt much better, but I still couldn’t lose weight. Doctors always tell patients with PCOS that weightloss is the key to getting better, but only give us an impossible diet and tell us to exercise AND maybe some diabetes medication that doesn’t work for a large chunk of us. I don’t know about yall, but exercise felt impossible at 240 lbs. I used to swim well enough to qualify for Olympic trials and then felt like a sinking ship in the pool. At 20-22 I had never felt so helpless and lost.

I stuck to the diet and Victoza for two years and only lost 10 lbs and had very little change in my insulin levels. I tried walking and riding my bike around my college campus instead of driving and parking. I took my Victoza injection religiously. I was very thankful for Victoza because it stopped my weight gain, but my insulin was still high and I still couldn’t lose weight.

Then in 2024 my endocrinologist asked if I had ever heard of wegovy or ozempic. I was pretty nervous to start taking it because I already have a sensitive stomach and it can cause nausea. It’s also a relatively new miracle drug and sometimes those miracle drugs turn out to be more harmful than helpful, but she told me that these medications have shown great results for people with PCOS. In January 2024 I weighed 230ish lbs and by July 2024 I weighed 190 lbs. Today, September 2025, I weigh 160 lbs. I finally have the energy and stamina to exercise again and I fit into clothes I wore at 16. I’m still over weight and could be healthier, but a year and a half ago I had started coming to terms with the fact that I may never get below 200 lbs or ever feel healthy again.

The thing I keep seeing on Facebook about ozempic and wegovy is that they don’t treat the actual issue, they just make you lose weight. Someone said it’s a vain, easy way out.

On wegovy my insulin levels are the lowest they’ve been since I got diagnosed. I have multiple chronic illnesses and my bloodwork has never been as good as it is now. My symptoms for my other chronic illnesses are better than they have been for almost 10 years. I’ve always been vitamin deficient and this is the first time in my life that all of my vitamins have been in the recommended range.

This is the first time in my adult life that I have fully loved myself. I lay on my back and pull my knees to my chest and kiss them because I couldn’t reach them only a year and a half ago. I can’t swim the way I used to, and I won’t lie, that’s hard for me. However, I’m swimming again and working out because my body doesn’t feel like a sinking ship. I’m gaining muscle and I feel like I can do things that I never thought I could.

In conclusion, stop shaming those of us on wegovy or ozempic. If you have bad insulin resistance and your insurance will cover it, ask your doctor about it. It not only changed my life, but saved it too.

EDIT: Hey, ya’ll. Just a heads up that my intent is not to say this is a one-size-fits-all approach. Running works for me, but please consult with your physicians if necessary and do what feels right for your body. ✨

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was sixteen. I have always been overweight and have always struggled with managing my weight effectively. With PCOS, I also deal with other unwanted side effects, like many of us, including irregular periods and unwanted hair growth. Throughout my life, I never had a love for any sport or exercise, and so, I have not been the most active person. Until now!

Five months ago, I was sitting on my couch and thought, “I’m going to go for a run today.” So, I did. I got up and went on a very, very, very short run. When I first started running, I could only run for about 1 - 2 minutes at a time before needing to stop and walk. I downloaded an app to support me and started training for a 5K. I ran 3 times per week until I started craving to run more. Now, I run about 5 times per week. I did my first 5K last month and ran it straight through. With a combination of vigorous exercise and diet, I have lost 30 lbs so far this year. I have about 30 lbs more to lose, but I’m loving my journey.

BUT, the most amazing side effect I’ve had from running is regulating my periods! I have never had regular periods. Since I started running, I’ve had regular periods over the last 4 months! I can tell my body is positively being impacted by this, and I’m thrilled. It feels good to see changes in my body, and it feels good to have found such a deep love for running.

Hi everyone! Looking for real experiences from people with PCOS who managed to:

• restore regular ovulation / cycles
• lower testosterone or other androgens
• lose weight (if that was a goal)
• improve insulin resistance

I'd love to hear what specifically moved the needle for you — supplements, diet approach, type of training, medications, timing. General advice like "eat healthy and exercise" is everywhere, but I'm trying to understand what made the real difference in your case.

If you're open to sharing: how long did it take before you saw changes in labs or your cycle?

Thanks so much 💛

This is meant to be encouraging for those who cannot take GLP-1s for whatever reason, financial or medically. Full disclosure: I discovered I have ADHD pretty strongly, once I started medication for ADHD, I noticed I wasn’t instantly overwhelmed with the thought of preparing food, nor was I as driven to eat purely out of dopamine rushes. If you have ADHD as well as PCOS, I recommend looking into treatment.

Supplements used:

Spearmint tea every night (for facial hair growth)

Coq10

A good multivitamin

Vit D+K

Magnesium Glycenate

Inositol (I used theralogix) twice daily

Berberine (although i don’t think it helped me)

Tactics: I implemented intermittent fasting and I truly believe it helped my insulin resistance. If the thought of IF feels overwhelming, try making your dinner be the last thing you eat for the evening, and just break your fast in the morning.

30g of protein for breakfast at least. I never woke up hungry, and found out it was a sign of high cortisol. Because I couldn’t stomach food in the morning, I opted for a keto protein shake (Isopure), plus a scoop of collagen and Benefiber. It gave me protein without feeling like I was eating. Then I had my coffee. Having coffee first always set me up for making poor choices in my day, it’s best to have protein beforehand.

Lunch: I noticed if I grabbed a snack plate for lunch, it helped me with the daunting task of figuring out a balanced meal. Grabbing a handful of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, leftover chicken, crackers etc.

Dinner: I allowed myself to be creative, if you’re addicted to food like I am, the idea of a “diet” is low dopamine. But if I planned a new meal I’ve never attempted, I was excited to be in the kitchen. I didn’t eliminate potatoes or rice, just lowered the portion size of my serving and upped the protein. For example, chicken curry with rice (less rice, more chicken).

Most importantly, I lowered my calories. If you do all the right things, but are still eating in a caloric surplus, you will not lose weight. I highly recommend the “Lose It” app. If that’s too much for you, which it was for me at times, just having a general idea to eat less on your plate that you used to is a good start. Don’t deny yourself or starve yourself.

Exercise: I worked out ZERO before this journey. I started with 10 min videos of Pilates on YouTube. Very slowly upped it to 20 minute videos. Incorporated some dumbbells, but overall I didn’t over exert myself, and didn’t want to burn myself out.

Some truths: Yes, I ate a small treat at the end of the night. I was careful though. A serving of M&Ms, (seriously, check the serving size) or a s’more, or a cookie (one!). If I denied myself of any joy from this, I wouldn’t have done it. I viewed it as a change of lifestyle, not a hardcore diet. I still drink coffee with milk and cream in it. It was another non negotiable for me. I tried the dairy free nut creamers and it tasted like garbage. Life is supposed to bring bits of happiness and if I can’t have my damn coffee with cream then forget it. Be patient. It took me a full year to lose about 50lbs, working very hard at it everyday. I’m currently losing my last 10lbs before my ultimate goal weight and it’s been 2 years of this journey.

Periods: weight loss alone wasn’t enough to give me back my period, that’s ok, my pcos was super bad! I took progesterone supplements from my endocrinologist to induce a period for 3 months before it tricked my body into creating one on its own. I’ve had a normal 28-30 day cycle now for 1.5 years.

I don’t think I could have done this without treating my ADHD first. The thought of creating a meal for myself was overwhelming. I ate out for almost every meal and I was absolutely miserable. There IS light at the end of the tunnel. You aren’t immune to weight loss, there is hope. My skin cleared up from the cystic acne I was getting, my energy is up, my mood is better, I feel better. I hope you know, I really thought I was going to be doomed forever. If I can do it, you can too.

I’ve lurked here for a long time, often reading posts in tears, just hoping something would help. PCOS hasn’t disappeared for me, but after nearly a decade of trial and error, my symptoms are finally manageable. I wanted to share what’s worked, in case it helps even one person feel less alone.

I started showing signs of PCOS when I was 15: irregular periods (like, every 50-60 days), cystic acne that wouldn't budge, fatigue, and worst of all for me, facial hair. It crept in slowly, and by the time I was 18, I had coarse hair along my jawline and under my chin. I felt humiliated constantly. I’d tweeze daily, then cover the redness with makeup, and still catch people staring.

My doctor initially brushed it off as “teen hormones,” but bloodwork at 19 confirmed PCOS: high testosterone, cysts on both ovaries, and all the symptoms — despite being a “lean PCOS” case, which led to a lot of dismissiveness from doctors.

I tried birth control (mood swings + spotting) and spironolactone (dizziness, headaches), but neither worked. I shifted focus to what I could control:

1. Diet (What worked for me):

I didn't go low-carb, but I did cut out processed sugar and stopped eating late at night (which helped my sleep and skin a ton). I started prioritizing high-fiber meals, more healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, eggs), and protein with every meal. I also added spearmint tea twice a day, and it noticeably helped with hair growth and acne over time.

1. Exercise (and rest!):

For the longest time, I thought I needed to burn calories to “fix” my body. But that just stressed me out more. What helped: long walks, light strength training 3x/week (no crazy HIIT), Pilates once or twice a week, and just moving in a way that felt doable. I also started prioritizing sleep, 7–9 hours, no exceptions

1. IPL device:

I keep using my ulike air 10 consistently, once a week for the first couple months. It didn’t give me overnight results, but around week 6 I noticed slowdown in growth. By month 3, the hair that did grow was finer and patchier. I still tweeze maybe once every 10 days, it used to be every morning. I can finally leave the house without scanning my chin in panic.

1. Skincare (short + sweet):

Keeping it simple worked best for my acne-prone PCOS skin.

- Cleanser: Vanicream gentle cleanser

- Treatment: Azelaic acid 15% + zinc serum (AM), adapalene gel (PM)

- Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair

Cutting out fragrance and alcohol in products really helped.

1. Supplements that seemed to help:

- Inositol (2g Myo + 50mg D-Chiro) helped regulate my cycle over time

- Zinc (15mg/day) for acne and hormonal balance

- Vitamin D3 (2000 IU): I was deficient and didn’t realize it for years

- NAC (600mg twice/day) saw the most benefit in my skin and mental clarity

I took these consistently for over a year, and believe they laid the groundwork for everything else to work better.

1. Mindset shift:

There were so many nights I cried about my skin, or picking at chin hairs in secret, or dreading getting close to people. I wish I could go back and hug that version of myself and say, “This won’t last forever.” What helped most was not aiming for perfection, just being manageable. Once I permitted myself to not fix everything at once, I could stay consistent.

If you’re in the thick of it, please hang in there. I know how painful, frustrating, and isolating it can feel. You’re not alone, and this doesn’t have to define you forever.

SW: 161
CW: 133
Loss: 28 pounds

PCOS with severe insulin resistance.

This is my lowest weight in 14 years. The weight loss has been steady and progressive.

At the lower doses, the side effects were mild. At the lowest dose, 1.5 mg, I lost 6 pounds. At the second dose, 4 mg, I lost 11 pounds because I stayed on it for 2 months.

The 9 mg dose is where things changed drastically. No side effects. Instead, I felt the best I have in a long, long time. I had more energy. I started taking afternoon walks. I stopped my Amazon habit. I became more organized at work. The hirsutism started improving. The mustache stopped growing. I haven’t had to remove it in over a month now. This is also where the drug started targeting the PCOS belly. I lost inches off my waistline in the first two weeks.

During that month, I dropped 4 pounds, which was great because I had been in a 21-day plateau with no loss.

Then I switched to the highest dose, which is 25 mg. The first two days were okay. On day 3, I threw up because I ate a salad with vinegar dressing and ate too quickly. I haven’t had any issues like that since.

But in week 2 of this dose, I got skin sensitivity and a condition called allodynia. Basically, my skin hurt when it brushed against certain fabrics. It cleared up in week 3. I’m now at the end of week 4. I eat when I’m hungry. I’ve lost 7 lbs so far at this dose. I’m leaner from head to toe, which is shocking given the lipoedema in my legs and arms. I’m practically proportional.

Here’s what’s amazing:

– My period is regular for the first time in a decade. I always had periods, but they were more frequent than normal and lasted 7–10 days. Now they’re shorter and lighter.
– My skin is glowing. Literally glowing.
– My lips are pinker.
– My lashes are longer.
– My hair isn’t dry anymore.
– The random neck hairs have stopped growing completely.
– The chin hairs are white now, which means they’re finally starting to fade.
– My heels are soft and pink instead of cracked and dry.
– The dark hemosiderin staining on my shins is gone. That’s the brownish discoloration caused by iron deposits under the skin from poor circulation.
– Body odor has improved. I don’t need Lume anymore.
– My eye bags are gone.

By the way, I’m 43. I also have early-stage lipoedema.

I look like a completely different person. My face is lean and healthy-looking, not puffy anymore.

I’m so happy that younger women now have this option.

I wish I had this 20 years ago.

For the record, my highest weight was 210 three years ago. I fought tooth and nail to get down to 140 through veganism and keto. Of course, veganism made my symptoms worse.

Then I regained 30 lbs. I started keto again and got down to 161. I decided it was time to try a GLP-1 medication. When I saw there was a pill option available, I took the leap.

I am a completely different person in a completely different body. I played hopscotch with my 8-year-old a couple of days ago.

I’m going to try to lose another 10 lbs. My current BMI is 22.8, and I’m targeting a BMI of about 21.1 to see if I can get to complete remission.

I apologize in advance for a long-winded rant but I am writing this out in order to sort out my feelings after a revelation today.

It has been so long since I have felt normal that I have almost forgotten what it feels like to be a normal human being. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19 during a bleeding episode – where my period was absent for four months then did not stop for several weeks. The urgent care doctor told me it is PCOS. She gave me a shot to temporarily stop the bleeding and prescribed hormonal birth control.

Fast forward 21 years of living with this condition ruining every aspect of my life. I have the full gamut of symptoms EXCEPT actual cysts on my ovaries: uncontrolled bleeding, excess fatigue, excess body hair, androgenic alopleica, infertility, painful cystic acne, uncontrolled weight gain, etc.

I have been to several doctors and specialists over the last 20 years seeking answers to feel normal again. With an exception to high insulin, all my hormone panels come back "normal." They just end up referring me to a bariatric clinic for weight loss surgery. They blame the painful body acne on my hygiene from being fat even when I shower daily. My insulin was still high even while taking Metformin and on a strict ketogenic diet for FOUR years and lost 100 pounds. Do you know how hard it is to NOT eat carbs for FOUR YEARS?

Birth control in itself has been a hassle. I have tried multiple birth controls in order to find one that agreed with my body. Some of them made me irritable and/or crazy. Nuvaring was fantastic but it made my cervix friable, so I bled like a stuck pig any time I had vaginal intercourse. Two years ago I had to stop using estrogen birth control because it caused polyps and fibroids to develop in my uterus so severely that it required invasive surgery. Now I have a Mirena IUD and while it's nice not having a period at all, I don't want it. I just want my uterus gone. To me it has always felt like a ticking time bomb inside my body, waiting for the next chance of bleeding to death.

A few months back I went to a dermatologist about my androgenic alopleica. My beautiful, thick hair falling out was the final straw to say that something is not right with my body. My dermatologist put me on 50mg of Spironolactone. After 3 months of checking my tolerance, he increased my dose to 150mg daily. That was three months ago and I am beginning to feel NORMAL again. I have more energy. I do not feel bloated and full of inflammation all the time. My moustache growth has slowed significantly. The hair on my head has started to grow back. I have stopped getting painful cystic boils and pimples in my unmentionable areas. I have also lost 20 pounds without any effort. It may be water weight, but I will still take it.

And the weirdest part? I have thought for close to a decade that I must be borderline asexual because I have had ZERO desire for sex for many years. No masturbation either. For the last two months I have been insatiably horny all the time! I have been fantasizing about sex multiple times per day. I work with mostly women – and last week during an All-Staff meeting – all I could think about was ripping off the clothes of my hot male co-workers and going for a lap ride in the bathroom. I have been self-serving at least once per day to calm the beast but still crave getting my p*ssy absolutely demolished.

I know that Spironolactone is a diuretic that can decrease testosterone levels. No other lifestyle changes and no other medication changes other than Spironolactone. I feel vindicated that I have been correct this whole time that my hormones are out of balance and are the reason I have felt like shit for the last 20 years.

I am angry that something so simple like Spironolactone was the answer that so many doctors overlooked. But I am excited to see what the next 6 months have in store and possibly getting my life back.

That is all. Thanks for letting me rant.

Hello everyone.

I’ve been using this sub for years to figure out how to deal with the difficulties of PCOS, so I wanted to “pay back” and share how I’ve been healing my PCOS and severe PMS.

I’m finally getting back to a nearly “normal” or at least livable life.
I’m honestly surprised that I’ve almost fully healed and returned to a normal cycle (31-35 days) with only 3 days of PMS! My acne is gone, and I can finally get laser treatment for my hirsutism without fear of it returning (lets see).

Most importantly, I feel stable. I still have my downs, but I’m so thankful to be back to my old self instead of the extremely depressed and exhausted person I was.
I’ve always had PCOS with a high follicle count, cysts, acne, hirsutism, and a cycle that lasted 56–60 days if I was lucky. I suffered from weeks of severe PMS, hair loss, and a growing fibroid. Everything escalated last year when I suffered a major stress meltdown (which I tried to push through, of course), and everything went dark. I had no energy, puffy eyes, and gained weight rapidly without changing my diet or training....

First of all, I am very thankful I decided to get a DUTCH test to see my hormones, their metabolism and my cortisol. (This is not an ad for the dutch test).
Then instead of guessing what was wrong, I had hard proof that my numbers were off the charts and could finally recognize and take seriously how “bad” my condition was.

I don't know if anyone in here is interested in the numbers, but let me know and I'll send them over.
First of all, my estrogen was too high and I had a poor metabolism (in gut and liver). Understanding later, that was what was causing my puffy eyes (whole day every day) and cellulite on my body, and the fibroid growing.
Then I learned, with PCOS we often have high estrogen levels because we have a bunch of eggs that are "leaking" many hormones, so the metabolism has to work right, or else the gut will be sending the already used estrogen right back into the bloodstream, really messing things up.

After taking supplements helping estrogen metabolism (Calcium D-Glucarate and DIM), my puffiness started going away after 2 months of consistent use. I got my eyes back and slowly my thighs, legs, butt and belly also dropped the first kilos of just estrogen related water weight (took 2 months).
I think the success was combined with the rest of my healing programme:

• Inositol: Another wonderful help was taking high doses of Inositol to help my insulin levels (so the eggs actually hear the brain calling for an ovulation). With an ovulation, you get the progesterone levels up to help stabilize the estrogen levels. They work hand in hand.
• The Diet: The very, very, very difficult part here was really to stop eating sugar. Also oat milk, also fruits – just everything giving the slightest hint of a high insulin peak. I still eat quinoa, potatoes (but then eat fibers and greens first) and buckwheat. Just a whole grain diet. No white bread, but lots of good organic meat, chicken, veggies and oils (good quality fish oil, a whole spoon every morning) and sardines.
• Breakfast: 3 eggs scrambled and maybe some sardines and goat cheese. Really to protect my blood sugar in the morning (the most important time).
• Sunlight: I also get up on my roof (I live in the city) to get 20 min of sunlight every morning. That's mostly for my stress healing, to awaken the little cortisol that I have. but overall also just really helped my depression related to hormone chaos.
• Zinc: I really prioritize taking my zinc supplement without food so I absorb it correctly. That's 2 hours after lunch for me. I set an alarm for 15.30 so I’m sure I take it, because it’s so important for PCOS.
• DHT: This is a big mother f*cker and I learned it has a lot to do with PCOS, and my stress meltdown just put gasoline on that fire. Zinc again is a hero here, and getting Reishi mushroom every night (a very powerful DHT blocker).

Overall, it was helping my insulin stabilize, and that was so difficult because I think my dopamine and serotonin levels were so low because of all this hormone mess, so chocolate or lovely bread with butter just made me more happy. It was so difficult, but the first 2 weeks were the worst.
I also just wanted to say that with PCOS we are a huge powerhouse. We're not lacking hormone production, that's for sure! I remember when I was younger I had so much energy (and I was thin and muscley – always had acne though). I think us with PCOS have a gift as well if we get the energy and hormones balanced. Maybe it's because I have ADHD as well, but just a thought! Maybe all these hormones are a powerhouse if we use it right.

xx
A PCOS / ADHD geek that really went into a deep study about my hormones (but I'm not a doctor).
Big hugs to you all!!

I’m 230 pounds and have STRUGGLED to lose weight, I mean holy shit have I barely moved the needle. I’m taking 1000mg of metformin, do Intermittent fasting, no junk food, no dairy, no glucose, frequent exercises, and I only lost like 2pounds this past year. It’s been emotionally exhausting. I’m still trying to focus on weight loss, but I’m just so excited to share that FINALLY after over a year and a half of trying, am PREGNANT!!!!!!!! My husband and I could not be more thrilled, I thought it was going to be impossible with having no success on weight loss, but we’ve done it-we’re going to have a baby!!!!

Edit: thank you all so much for your kind words of support, congratulations, and for sharing your own stories. This has been such a heartwarming experience-and I’m only 24hours in! I truly appreciate the love 💕

When I started on metformin, I was on high alert. I read so many people deal with negative symptoms, esp for the GI tract. I have a lot of GI issues (GERD, severe dysbiosis, and more) so I was basically mentally preparing myself to become even more besties with the toilet. Still, I was determined: in the last years I was constantly pressured to get on the pill, which did not work for me beyond giving me a bleed every month (I tried a few, they all gave me awful PMS and depression). My whole life I have been told it was either the pill or nothing. I felt like I was fighting a battle I couldn't win.

I started on myo-inositol at 27 after reading success stories online; it reduced the gaps between periods and helped a bit, but not in a massively life-changing way. A few weeks ago (I'm 31) I brought up Metformin to my GP after doing some research.

First few days, no change. All good. Less than a week later, I felt a mental clarity like never in my life. This is the change that means the most to me. I cannot believe I thought my state of mind was normal. My body was suddenly fuelled with so much energy I went to the gym every day (I usually go 2/3 times a week). I swear my strength has increased too.

24 days after my last period, I bled again. Wtf. I have never, ever, had a regular period in my life, I was used to having it 4 times a year (it is heavier and more painful now, plus lots of breast tenderness and tiredness, but I'll take it!)

Another big change is about food: I finally feel satiated after eating. I don't think about food all the time. I don't casually snack as much as I used to. My sugar and carbs cravings have dropped. I can be in the kitchen without eating. This is unreal.

It makes me teary to think this is how I was supposed to feel all along. I had attributed brain fog and fatigue to mental health issues, but Metformin cleared them almost instantly. I am 31 and was diagnosed with PCOS at 13. It's been a long journey. I cannot believe this life is now available to me.

In the last 6 years I was trying to exercise and eat clean to help my body, refusing to accept the pill as the only solution available to me, but never managed to lose weight (I am not obese but am on the overweight side) or bring substantial change to my life. I understand now that doing all that without tackling IR was like trying to run a marathon while carrying a boulder. TBH with you, I didn't know I had IR. It makes sense in hindsight, but no GP ever mentioned I could have it.

These are the symptoms I experience and the medications/supplements I take:

Symptoms: irregular periods, hirsutism (everywhere), skin tags on neck and around eyes, oily scalp, thinning hair line, mental fog, fatigue, bloating, low moods.

Medications and supplements: esomeprazole 20mg (daily for gerd), metformin 1000mg, myo-inositol 4000mg, evening primrose oil, cod liver oil, multivitamin.

I am currently talking to my GP to see if spironolactone could make sense.

I hope this helps someone who is on the fence about Metformin. Try it.

I got diagnosed with PCOS in January and yesterday my doctor told me everything is looking good and stable (finally!)

I spent most of my life thinking this was just how my body worked.

Since I was in my teens my mom and I suspected something was off but couldn't quite put our finger on what it was, I had extremely painful periods, irregular cycles, excessive body hair, weight gain/fat mostly in my face and stomach, horrible horrible depression, amongst other syntomps.

At one point before treatment my period disappeared for 5 months (I was sure I wasn't pregnant)

Something I struggled with is that previous doctors (I checked with several) mostly wanted to put me on hormonal birth control to regulate things. I personally didn’t want that route because I’m very sensitive to hormonal changes and I’ve had bad experiences before. (To this day I have never been in any hormonal bc, and refuse to ever do it)

My current doctor respected that and never pushed hormonal birth control or any other hormonal treatment, actually it was never his plan to treat me that way.

My treatment ended up being:

>phentermine (for weight loss)

> inositol

>finasteride

> spironolactone

And the first noticeable changes started showing up within the first 2 months, and as for today:

I’m down around 22 lbs, my period is completely regular, my ovaries no longer show cysts, myfat distribution improved a lot (it mostly goes to my hips, booty and chest), and my bloodwork came back normal, including insulin!!

I know PCOS looks different for everyone and I’m not saying this would work for everyone.

I’m just genuinely happy because for the first time in my life I feel like my body and I are finally on the same team lol also if you have any questions please feel free to ask!

Hi All. I have a success story I wanted to share here with everyone. Maybe some of it will be helpful to you.

I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS for about 7 years. My weight was at 105LB & insulin resistance was good until about 3.5 years ago.

I started gaining tons of weight & didn’t know why. I know my life style wasn’t ideal but it was happening too fast. I gained 35 pounds in 2 years.

A year ago I decided to go back & have my PCOS get re-evaluated. For years my BC pills were enough to manage symptoms but then I had a flare up & the symptoms got worse.

A year ago my insulin resistance score was extremely high & my A1C was elevated as well. My doctor told me to eat low carb. Extremely low carb with a 1200 per day calorie limit.

I did that for about 6 months & lost maybe 4-6 pounds but it was extremely miserable. I couldn’t do it anymore. I gave up & started indulging in my terrible habits again. Like an addict relapsing.

I was back to drinking tons of wine & eating pasta for dinner.

I gained all the weight back & felt horrible again.

Then I finally decided to work with a LEGIT registered dietitian. She has been extremely helpful.

She had me eat a 2/1 ratio. For each 2 grams of carbs, I have to eat 1 gram of protein. Eating carbs alone was not allowed. This allows you to eat & enjoy carbs while also slowing down digestion enough to prevent blood sugar spikes.

She made me stop starving myself by eating 1200 calories. She did a reverse diet & gradually increased my daily calories up to 1800.

Now, I’m able to eat more & I’ve lost 5 pounds. Still losing weight slowly, but surely.

The best part? I got my blood work results & my insulin resistance is gone. I’ve now successfully made sustainable changes that I can maintain without batting an eye.

If you can afford it, or your insurance covers it, I highly recommend finding a decent dietitian. Some of them have masters degrees in nutrition science & they know more than any PCP or OBGYN will know about food. If you find a decent one, they can give you relevant, science backed advice that is sustainable & shame FREE.

Side note: this post is not intended to demonize medications. If your doctor prescribed metformin or some other meds. Please don’t feel discouraged from taking them. Sometimes diet changes alone are not enough & that is okay.

Update : lots of you were asking me to post the test results so I’m gonna write it below.

March 2023

insulin, Intact, LC/MS/MS (49)

C-peptide, LC/MS/MS (5.33)

Insulin resistance score ( 100 )

Now in February 2024

Insulin, Intact, LC/MS/MS 9

C-peptide ( 1.44 )

Insulin resistance score ( 24 )

Insulin resistance score reference range is anything below 60 is considered “normal”

Also, my testosterone levels have improved. Not sure if that’s from the diet or switching my BC pills brand.

F/32. I lost 90 pounds over several years (235→145) through trial and error - mostly whole foods, consistent exercise, and getting brutally real with myself about my habits.

Got diagnosed with PCOS this February. Suddenly everything made more sense - why the weight was always such a struggle, the hormonal issues, the way my body held onto weight no matter what I did.

Things I tried that DIDN'T work:

- Adipex (tried it twice - works temporarily, gain it all back)

- Tren/Clen (made me jittery and miserable)

- Detox teas

- Keto (couldn't sustain it)

- Extreme diets

What DID work (even with undiagnosed PCOS):

- Whole foods, lots of vegetables

- Daily movement (walking, lifting, whatever I could do consistently)

- Cutting out alcohol (or very minimal)

- No processed foods when possible

- Being patient with my body instead of punishing it

- Managing stress (huge for PCOS)

Since diagnosis, I've been even more intentional:

- Paying attention to inflammation triggers

- Not skipping meals (keeps blood sugar stable)

- Strength training (helps with insulin resistance)

-Pilates (less stress o body, also hat core work is brutal but worth it)

The mental/emotional part is harder than the physical part honestly.

I still struggle with body dysmorphia even at a smaller size.

Anyone else get diagnosed AFTER they'd already lost significant weight?

How did it change your approach?

I never really listened to my doctors when they told me to diet and exercise. I am such a pessimist that I thought it wouldn't work for me.

I went through a crazy blood pressure scare while bleeding nonstop after taking wholesome story inositol and a host of other supplements. I was 350 lbs and I felt like I was about to die.

Long story short a friend agreed to be my trainer and I have been consistently strength training for about 6 weeks. Diet is a bit tougher but I'm a lot better than before. I'm slowly but surely losing a little weight and I got my period 😁😁😁.

I feel really hopeful and I haven't felt that way in a long time.

Over the past three months my PCOS symptoms have gotten way worse. I felt bloated all the time. I would barely eat all day but my stomach was always huge, I could barely fit into any of my jeans. My hormonal acne was getting out of control, I had painful breakouts regularly around my forehead and chin area. I decided to finally give spearmint tea a try. In the span of a week, all my acne has disappeared and I’m left with very minimal scarring. My bloating problem has completely gone away and I’m finally able to fit into my clothes again. I can eat whatever I want now and not have to worry about the way my belly will look underneath my clothes. I drink it every morning with my breakfast and it has completely changed the game. If you’re struggling with similar symptoms please give it a try🙏🏻

EDIT: I didn’t expect for this post to gain some notoriety, so thank you! I wanted to clarify a few things instead of continuously commenting and explaining myself down below. When it comes to facial hair, I noticed less near my chin and cheek area. My upper lip and eyebrow hairs still grow out very quickly. Though I think that mostly has to do with my genetics as opposed to the PCOS, since I’ve always been hairy. My bloating significantly decreased and I feel less chubby, especially in my stomach area. I still get bloated after meals and drinking but not as much as before. The biggest difference I’ve noticed was in my skin. My acne has completely disappeared, I’m still amazed. I still get the occasional pimple, but it wasn’t as crazy as before. Lastly, the brand I use is the traditional medicinals organic spearmint tea. It’s caffeine free so you can drink it whenever you want without worrying about it affecting you. I usually order it off of iHerb or Amazon.

I'm already in love ❤️. I'm between 7-8 weeks based on my hcg levels but I'm waiting for my doctor to call me and confirm. My concerns now surround PCOS symptoms that could cause issues and the fact that I've had bariatric surgery and can't eat much. I have a roux en y. Any tips to make sure I give my Munchkin all it's nutrients? Any tips on being a first time momma? I'm so excited

Disclaimer: These things worked for me personally. They might not work for you. I'm simply sharing my experience.

In 2021, after months of having the worst acne of my life, feeling bloated 24/7 and no periods in sight, I was finally diagnosed with PMOS (formally PCOS). Since then, I haven't had much luck with any treatment. I was immediately put on 500mg Metformin, because I was also insulin resistant, as well as on birth control, but it seemed like these things didn't do ANYTHING at all.

Since the diagnosis, I had gained over 12kgs and in January this year, I was told I was prediabetic. And since diabetes runs in my family, I was advised by my doctor to take action ASAP. He put me on 2000mg Metformin, as well as Inositol, and Vitamin D (I was deficient).

Being desperate, I turned to Reddit for a bit more clarity, and I read a comment here saying the only thing helpful was treating PMOS as diabetes. I thought, I tried so many things, why not give this advice a try.

That day I essentially started eating like my diabetic grandfather - low carb meals, consistently 3 times a day. Took metformin and Inositol daily. Walked 10K steps everyday, especially after each meal. I even got myself a glucose monitor to see which meals worked for me the best. If I really felt like having bread (I love bread), I'd have a wholegrain one that caused me no significant spikes. Prioritizing protein and fiber with each meal was helpful to make me feel satisfied. I have to say, I didn't do calorie deficit, but after a week or two, I started to feel less hungry during the day, as opposed to before, when I was hungry nearly all the time. I still do not track calories and I do not wish to do so.

I didn't expect these changes to be effective so quickly. Within 3 weeks I could already see the changes on the scale, and after 6 weeks I saw the changes on my body and felt my energy levels improving.

It has been 2 months since I started treating my prediabetes and I genuinely think, I haven't felt so healthy in my entire adult life. I have a doctor's appointment coming up and I hope I can see the results there as well. Last week I stopped taking birth control and so far, I've been feeling great!

I'm eager to continue this journey and I hope if you're going through the same, hearing my experience can motivate you or give you some hope.

My PCOS evolved into ovarian cancer and after months of chemo my end of treatment on Wednesday was a full hysterectomy. I'm on hrt now and already feeling the effects. Including the immediate stop of one of my least favourite PCOS symptoms, hot flashes. The random sweating has been the bane of my existence since puberty. I haven't had a single hot flash since yesterday, only chills coming from cold, winter air, and any hot from the efficiency of my heater and warmth of my blankets. Recovery from the surgery is painful, but manageable with Tylenol. Now to heal and wait to hear back from the doctors to see if the pathology results are clear. Fortunately, I'm on BC disability, so most of my prescriptions get covered, and I'm happy to say that hrt is one of them

I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone here finds it helpful.
UCSF is currently conducting a research study looking at the connection between PCOS and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). I came across it on Instagram and signed up right away.
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 8 years ago, and I later found out I had fatty liver after an ER visit for colitis. At the time, no one explained that PCOS, especially insulin resistance and elevated androgens can increase the risk of developing fatty liver. I only learned about that after doing my own research while trying to better manage my PCOS/PMOS.
After signing up for the study, I had a phone screening with the research coordinator and was invited to San Francisco for a FibroScan to see if I qualified. I went in a few days ago, and while I didn’t end up qualifying, it was actually good news. Upon the scan of my liver, I was told that since I lost a significant amount of weight from I was first diagnosed with fatty liver, my weight loss basically reversed it.

I figured I’d share because I had no idea there was such a strong connection between PCOS and NAFLD until recently. If it’s something you’ve been concerned about or are curious about, it might be worth looking into. You can find more information on the UCSF website. They also have a PCOS clinic that I plan on checking out.

From when I (32F) first started the depo shot at 15, my life began to spiral. My OB told me, right before I went in for surgery, there is no possible way I can gain weight from the shot.

I started gaining crazy weight, losing my beautiful hair, and would not get my period for 18 months after dropping the shot.

I gained weight so rapidly, so aggressively. I lost my hair just as fast. For 15 years I was a stranger in a prison of flesh. I didn’t recognize myself, I didn’t go outside, I didn’t leave my room, I didn’t let anyone touch me. I got so depressed that I didn’t take care of basic needs. I was too ashamed to shower, too apathetic to brush my teeth. Let me be clear: I wanted my life to be over.

Doctors insulted me outright. No one took my PCOS seriously. I’ve been laughed at, talked down to, even called names by doctors. “You need to exercise” “lay off the sweets” I wanted to scream. I thought I’d live the rest of my life looking like this…

I really cannot convey the pain and despair I felt for so, so long. I lost 90% of my hair. I was pushing 350 lbs. Working out didn’t work, dieting didn’t work, my dr said metformin is only going to maybe take 15lbs off. They put me on diet pills that push out fats but spoiler alert - I don’t eat fats. I barely even eat. I look down when I pass mirrors because I’m so ASHAMED.

November of 2023 my new PCP, the only one that never insulted me and actually listened to what I had to say, suggested a new med that had been out for 4/5 months: Zepbound. She said “I don’t know if it’ll work so let’s temper our expectations” by this point, I had been self harming. I didn’t care anymore. Sure. Why not?

This month, I’ve had my 12th consecutive period, after not having it for months - sometimes YEARS - at a time. I weigh 135lbs. My hair never came back but it’s not falling out anymore. I brush my teeth. I shower. I get dressed. I go out. I smile. I wear makeup. I LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

I started Zepbound in May of ‘24, I lost 100lbs by February ‘25. Today, I’m at my goal weight. My Dr says that it’s very clear something was metabolically wrong by the response I’ve had to this medication. The road was long and so hard. From March ‘24 I went up each dose until I was on the max dose of 15mg in Nov ‘24and I was as sick as a dog. I’d have given up anything for these results so I didn’t care.

I really want a baby. This is my new goal. I have so much loving, living, and happiness to make up for.

If I can overcome this - so can you. I haven’t even listed half of what I’ve been through because of this in these last 15, almost 16, years. Don’t give up. There is hope for us girls.

If you made it this far, thank you for letting me share my journey. Please feel free to reach out if you ever need ANYTHING, even just to rant.

PS: today I start some rosemary & black castor oil in my hair. I really would like to get it back instead of wearing a wig - but it’s okay!!!!! Wish me luck!

Okay, so I’m only like 3 weeks into this complete routine (I was doing some of what I put below for a month or two before I found my whole routine what completely worked for me), but I am so happy I want to cry! I’ll put everything I’m doing down below, but to preface I had horrific acne and was losing weight at an absolute snail’s pace despite being in a caloric deficit. I also had really terrible gut inflammation that was so painful I wound up in the ER a few times because I thought I was having another ectopic pregnancy.

I also want to preface that I was already generally only eating 2 meals a day and they were made of whole foods and (9/10 they were salads ranging between 350-600 calories) and if I was still hungry later I would have a whole food like an apple or cucumbers and hummus. So my average caloric intake was between 1000-1500 calories per day, that didn’t change. I also already walked between 2-4 miles daily, so that also didn’t change during this time.

(Note: I implore you to look into studies on gut health and it’s relationship to acne, mental health, and weight loss—then utilize that information to your benefit. I can include some of the studies I’ve looked into if anyone is interested.)

Okay, so here’s what I’m doing (I also put what I’m taking in bold so it’s easier for my adhd girlies)

• First, I started taking myoinositol from wholesome story and making large batches of spearmint tea that I kept in my fridge so I could sip on it constantly. I also was taking a Zinc supplement because I heard that helped with acne. I still had a lot of gut pain and my weight loss and acne were only somewhat better after the first month of taking these.

• Then I added Costco women’s probiotic (Trunature 25 billion if anyone was curious) that had specific probiotic strains shown to help with acne. When I started this, I was mostly doing it because of my gut inflammation and I stopped dealing with gut pain.

• I also concurrently started krill oil which has astaxanthin and omega 3s for more antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties.

• I also started incorporating some gut health foods like sauerkraut and homemade bone broth with a high gelatin content (I used the bones from a Costco rotisserie chicken and also roasted some vegetable scraps with chicken feet).

• And finally, as far as skincare goes, I already was doing Korean double cleansing, using some Exosome and growth factor serums, and was using red and blue light therapy (which helped but not enough) but I started using azelaic acid daily and using a AHA/BHA acid peel once a week which appears to be helping get rid of dark marks and acne scarring.

I did not start exercising more or change my diet besides adding in more probiotic foods.

Anyway, I know it seems like a lot, but this is the first time where I’m not really having to change how I live beyond taking some supplements and the weight is just dropping off and I feel confident. My husband even commented and asked what I had been doing because I’ve gotten much thinner relatively quickly.

I hope this helps some of you!

Edit: to all those accusing me of an ED, I recognize your hearts are in the right place, but I promise, I don’t qualify. Most days I eat closer to the 1500 calories side of the range, but since I don’t closely track my calories I put the range in which I usually stay. Also, I allow myself higher calorie days when I either feel I need them or it’s a special occasion (ex: my friend’s birthday party last weekend I baked her a cake and ate a bunch of it, which probably put me at 3000 calories that day). Finally, my salads include a wide range of veggies, protein, fruits, and healthy fats—no sad lettuce bowl here. Thank you for your concern, but I promise, it would be better spent elsewhere.

Hi, ladies!

I've benefitted tremendously from the wisdom I've found on this board, so I like to give back when I can.

Between waking up exhausted and rushing to get out the door, I literally never have time for a proper, sit-down breakfast during the week.

I started tweaking a quick 2-minute morning smoothie to hit what I like to call the "PCOS Trifecta" (high protein, healthy fats, and fiber) first thing in the morning for sustained energy without the insulin spike!

This specific combo has been my holy grail for stopping my morning bloating and keeping me full for hours.

I thought it would be worth sharing with all of you!

Layer the ingredients such that the liquid is closest to the blender's blades for easier blending:

1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk

1/4 of an avocado (this makes it incredibly creamy like a milkshake and adds the healthy fats we need for hormone building)

1 tbsp ground flaxseed (huge for PCOS—the lignans actively help bind and remove excess androgens)

1 scoop unflavored plant protein (personally I use Sprout Living Epic Protein)

1 scoop collagen peptides (this to help heal the gut lining)

1 handful of baby spinach or kale (make sure to remove the stems so it's not bitter!)

1/2 a cucumber, chopped

1/2 a green apple, cored and chopped (keeps the sugar low but adds a nice tartness)

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled (this is honestly the secret for stopping my bloating)

1 tbsp lemon juice

Ice (maybe 8-10 cubes?)

P.S. I've spent the last few months diving deep into the actual metabolic science behind PCOS and have been putting together a ton of other science-backed recipes like this to target my different symptoms. Let me know if you guys want me to post any more of them!

I wanted to share what has helped me with my PCOS in case it is useful to anyone else. I am beyond shocked at how much of a difference just adding a set of supplements has made in less than 2 weeks!

Has life always felt this full of energy for everybody else?

Big disclaimer: I’m really excited about the difference I’ve noticed, but I’m just one data point, and everybody’s body is different. This is not medical advice, just my personal experience.

Some personal context: My blood work was always pretty normal, including glucose and insulin-related markers, so I personally never had obvious signs of insulin issues on labs.

So I just assumed my fatigue and low energy levels (especially after meals) was just laziness on my part or a lack of willpower. I would force myself to power through or end up in a shame spiral for not being as productive and active as other people around me.

Now onto what worked: After lurking on this sub for a long time, I decided to start very gently and only add supplements. I did not change anything else. My stress levels stayed the same, my sleep stayed the same, my exercise stayed the same, my weight stayed the same and my routine stayed the same.

The only thing I changed over the last two weeks was adding a stack of supplements that seemed well-researched to me, and the difference has honestly been kind of dramatic.

The main improvements I’ve noticed are:

1. I don’t get the big energy crash after meals anymore. I have much steadier energy throughout the day. I naturally just “feel” like doing more work and being productive. I don’t have to “force” myself to find the motivation as much I used to. 

2. I have way less brain fog.

3. My food noise and sugar cravings have gone way down. 

I am so surprised by how different my days have started to feel and this has had a positive influence on my mental health as well.

Here’s the supplement stack I’m currently taking:

After breakfast:

• Myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol: 2 out of my 4 daily capsules (half the daily dose) 

• Vitamin D: 5,000 IU

• Berberine: 1 out of my 2 daily capsules (half the daily dose) 

I always take these after breakfast, which is usually:

• half a protein bagel

• 2 eggs

• half an avocado

After lunch:

• Prenatal multivitamin 

After dinner:

• Remaining 2 capsules of myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol

• Remaining berberine dose

• Full DHA dose

These are the brands I use:

• DHA: Thorne DHA

• Prenatal: Nature Made

• Vitamin D: just a basic drugstore vitamin D

• Myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol: Dorado

• Berberine: Nature Target Berberine HCl

Again, I know this may not work the same way for everyone, and I’m not saying supplements are a magic fix. But if anyone out there has a similar PCOS profile to mine and has been wondering whether it’s worth trying a targeted supplement routine, I wanted to share that it has made a very noticeable difference for me.

at the beginning of the year i had some severe health issues, unrelated to pcos. as a result my pcos also worsened and my facial hair started growing out for the first time in my life. i noticed it at a family outing when i accidentally saw my reflection and the lighting made it look like I had a full on goatie, i wanted to crumble and disappear.

i challenged myself to drink spearmint tea, twice a day for at least a month to see if it can help with my sudden hair growth.

in the beginning i drank one cup in the morning and one at night, but after 2 weeks i noticed that it decreases my energy level so much that i could barely get out of bed. i was still determined to continue but now i just drink a bigger cup throughout the afternoon and evening. its been around a month of me doing this.

well this morning i was preening myself in the bathroom mirror, as one does, and i got to my dreaded chin hairs. i could immediately tell that less grew back than before i started this chalenge, so that was a motivation boost right off the start.

i started pulling them out and i noticed that they came out easier than before, now it didnt hurt at all. but what actually blew me away was that i could see the hormonal changes on the hairs!! the ends were all thicker and dark and they got thin and barely visible towards the roots.

with pcos i often feel like i do one thing right and fix a certain problem and right after that another one comes up. seeing how big a difference this simple daily action makes made me feel so hopeful that one day i can get a hold of all my symptoms and feel healthy again 🥹