So I had my last period in November 2023. I got diagnosed with PCOS in February 2024 and started taking metformin in March. I got pregnant immediately, didn't have a period, in April.

I had my baby in December. It was a c section.

Yesterday I had bloody discharge and today I had cramps and actual bleeding.

I'm supposed to call my obgyns office when I get my period back to make an appointment to have my IUD inserted.

I'm just not sure this it? Like I had stopped bleeding from you know, giving birth, and then bled again for 6 days in January, very little blood. It hasn't been a month since. So my best guess this is still postpartum bleeding. I'm seven weeks postpartum.

So how was your experience getting your period back after pregnancy? How did you know it was your period?

With my first I stopped bleeding completely at 6 weeks and then a month later I had my period but it's been soooo long since my last period it's like a distant memory that I can't seem to reach

I’ve been reading a lot about PCOS and have done a lot of research on my own. But I want to ask those who have to deal with it. I ask for any tips and just good ways to help me be a good boyfriend for my girl. She told me about her PCOS a while before we even started dating. I was secretly learning more about it but eventually she learned that I was researching more about it. I just really want to be able to help we feel comfortable. She struggles with having more hair, she struggles to lose weight, she’s struggles with depression and overthinks a lot too. Please teach me what I can do to help her.

Questions: Do you relate to my hairloss conundrum? Any product or supplement recommendations (I'll even take spiritual/meditation advise)? Have you lost hair on bupropion? Have you purchased red light combs or helmets and are they worth the money?

Anybody deal with my hair issue before? I have PCOS - all my hormones are controlled according to bloodwork 3 months ago. My Iron is on low side of normal. I've been taking 120mg of gentle iron every other day. More than that or regular iron supplement are too hard on my stomach. I take 2500 mg Vitamin D, 1250mg B12, a high dose multi vitamin, 1 g metformin daily and Mya brand birth control. A1C is a perfect 5.1, and as far as I know I have never had issue with blood sugar or insulin resistance. I also take 300 mg bupropion daily.

I know I am lacking in protein intake. I get between 30-60 grams daily.

I cannot use minoxidil
topically because of my cats nor do I want to take it orally and risk
hypertension or facial hair (I luckily don't have any). I was told that taking
Spirolactone beyond 5 years isn't safe for reproductive health or blood
pressure. I don’t want to risk it as most relatives on one side of the family
has high blood pressure just from crappy genetics and I don’t wanna lose my sex
drive. I am scared on Finestrade for the same reasons. I was also told that
once you are off both meds, you loose hair permanently like crazy.

My doctor says there no indication from my blood tests that I have androgenic hair loss. Idk what to believe. I have been experiencing extreme mental health stress for about 4 years now due to grad school, and I do notice when I am more stressed about deadlines my hair gets dry and has a bit more fallout in the shower for a few weeks, then it’s nothing for 3-4 months.

I realized that my scalp is often itchy in different spots randomly throughout the day and sometimes is randomly red. I have noticed random small red bumps sometimes in my scalp, but I’ve always figured it was pimples. I wash my hair every other day as it is quite fine so I cannot go beyond that. I do not have any dandruff though.

I’ve read up on all kinds of alopecia, and I’m not losing body hair or having other weird changes. My eyebrows grow slowly but I plucked the heck out of them as a 2000’s teenager so they are just in a thin perma-shape I think.

I noticed very very very small amounts of thinning about 4 years ago around my bangs, but I assumed it was because I had side bangs in one direction for over 10 years.

In 2018 I also had a moderate/severe C-Diff infection and was on hardcore antibiotics for 4 months and my gut has never been the same. They had to give me the type that is used to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria like flesh eating disease.

My hairdresser says she hasn’t noticed any changes in thinning since August, but my one friend thinks my part is getting wider. My BF doesn’t notice any changes in my hair since we started dating and thinks that my bangs look a bit thicker. Idk what the heck to think anymore.  

I don’t have health insurance and am broke AF, so I am hesitant to seek out a derm or trichologist. I am more inclined to think I have TE, rather than androgenic hair loss at this point. I had a psychological crisis about 16 months ago and during that time I was loosing hair in small chunks. But I’ve been reading up on how fungus, folliculitis and sensitivities to chemical can lead to hairloss too so I am curious if anybody else has or is in a similar spot and has seen a specialist.

Questions: Do you relate to my hairloss conundrum? Any product or supplement recommendations? Have you lost hair on bupropion? Have you purchased red light combs or helmets and are they worth the money?

Was wondering if anyone has taken Berberine? I’m starting tomorrow!

I have probably read all the post on this topic I'm not on birth control, I'm not stressed. Any advice that can apply to me. It's making me feel not like a woman

Not sure if it is metformin related but my head feels clearer, my anxiety seems to have reduced, I’m sleeping much better & time isn’t going as fast ?

The only thing is that I have to keep going to the bathroom to pee? I’ve never had to so much in my life. I have checked my levels and they are fine as well, in fact they are within range for once. I also have the biggest urge to lift my feet up and it feels so goooood when I do

Anyone else experience anything like this?

Hi all! I have been told by my RD that it’s sounding likely that I have PCOS and should talk to my OB about getting a diagnosis. My only worry is that back in summer 23, I had a pelvic ultrasound which showed no cysts on my ovaries. Could I still seek a diagnosis because I do have other symptoms of PCOS? Thanks!

Disclaimer: before you say “speak to a professional”, I have/I am, I would just like to hear personal experiences about seeking a diagnosis with other symptoms :))

The only good thing about my pcos,pcs and endo is that the cycle of pain ends with me.

As the title says, this is my (31F) third cycle with letrozole. Have been TTC for over a year now. Diagnosed with PCOS.

This last cycle I was doing progesterone as well so was hopeful it would work. But never any luck…

The country I am in doesn’t allow IUI/IVF without a marriage certificate. So now my fiancé and I are thinking of rushing our marriage plans (which were planned for fall of this year) to get the certificate asap (and have the ceremony later).

I’m just curious, do you think letrozole without IUI is a lost cause at this point? How helpful do you think IUI will truly be?

Ugh, I just want to be pregnant….

I’m posting this because the person who ordered this labwork had to google stuff in front of me & isn’t familiar enough with diagnostic criteria of xyz, but I don’t want to elaborate further. I’m already diagnosed with PCOS. Seeing an endocrinologist isn’t an option right now. I just can’t fully trust this current provider’s opinion on what the labwork indicates. What I’m trying to rule out isn’t specific to PCOS but is somewhat related.

My labwork says

8.0 cortisol (morning)

0.18 progesterone

31 estradiol LC/MS

<0.10 Estriol

31 Estrone

21.80 testosterone

18.6 SHBG

2.28 free testosterone (percent)

13 testosterone (bioavailable)

On a separate day I had 17-hydroxyprogesterone tested in the morning and the result was 204.

Now I’m confused on whether that result is normal or elevated because the all-mighty-google says a normal level is 15-70 during the follicular phase & 35-390 during the luteal phase. The rest of my labwork seems to reflect the follicular phase, although I know I wasn’t in follicular phase since I take birth control. But I can’t find sources on reference ranges in this context, I take a progestin-only birth control.

I’m planning to increase my spironolactone dose, but need to know if the 17-hydroxyprogesterone is normal before I do that, since spiro can alter test results for that & other labwork I may need done.

I feel like I’m at my limit with PCOS. I’m just so tired of this life I have right now.

I haven’t had a period in over 210 days.

It’s been years of me trying to get any type of acknowledgement that there’s something seriously wrong with my body from my doctor.

I just found out my best friend is pregnant and I can’t even have a period. I feel so tired of being somehow less of a woman in every way.

I’m tired of having facial hair. I’m tired of being fat. I’m tired clumps of my hair fall out. I’m tired of waking up exhausted.

Just needed to vent.

If you got a hysterectomy, did you continue taking inositol products?

I’m feeling pretty frustrated because Inositol does nothing for me, I feel no positive effects. Instead, I am severely bloated, gassy every day that i take it, and after taking it consistently for about 2 days, I get very constipated.

I haven’t had a period in months and I seem to keep gaining weight. Feeling helpless, does anyone have any suggestions or info on things they did when nothing was working for them?

Thanks in advance!

has anyone never missed a period? I was on bc from 13-15 years old. But since then I have never missed a period, I had like 25- 29 day cycles, heavy ish periods, 4 days in length, zero cramps, but never missed a period without fail. No oily skin/ major acne. Slight facial hair growth increase, but all my body hair is black so I thought it was still in normal range, only thing on bloodwork is high Dhea, A1C is very slightly near pre diabetes. Hormones are in range, progesterone on low side, testosterone on high end. Biggest symptom is weight gain/unable to lose and anxiety but I have hashimoto's that was subclinical so untreated until a few months ago, I'm just a bit confused because I don't align with so many pcos stories, I was told through allara I have pcos, and next step is metformin. I'm just confused on next steps because I thought my hormones being not ideal, would adjust once I had thyroid medicine. Did anyone else not have any real pcos symptoms and what did you do? They said birth control would be an option or metformin, but that was it

My doctor diagnosed me with pcos but didn’t fully go over my trans vaginal ultrasound. I was wondering if anyone is going through the same thing. My left ovary volume is 10.5 ml while my right is 2.4. It seems like a huge difference ? Is this normal? Both sides have cysts, I’m worried that one ovary (or both) is too small and may affect fertility.

Hello. I was hoping to find some advice on go to skin care products and possibly preferred ways to manage facial hair?

For skin care I try to keep my routine pretty minimal because l’m bad at consistency with routines, and because I notice I have super sensitive skin so I have been trying to keep it minimal + fragrant free. I notice I have some scarring from acne, so anything to help alleviate the acne would be awesome! Unfortunately I’m not really in a financial spot to get into supplements/prescription grade stuff or anything super expensive to help with this :/ I currently use cerave’s foaming cleanser and neutrogena’s hydro blast moisturizer (fragrance free)

As for facial hair, I do a blend of plucking and face shaving, does anyone have any affordable alternatives? Plucking takes ages when I have a lot of hair, and shaving leaves me with lots of ingrown hairs (which also causes the scarring I previously mentioned because I pick at them)

Thank you all for the help!

Hi, 24F. I've been having continuous spotting for like almost a month now. I just started on BCP after I was diagnosed with PCOS.

For context, I was advised to take Provera for 10 days to induce my period. 3 days after being off the Provera pill, i got my period. My period started January 8th then took BCP first day of my period until now.

Im taking the 21-pill birth control with 7-day break after starting a new pack but it's my 16th day taking the BCP but my spotting didn't stop.

Is this because my body is still adjusting to the hormones? Should I go back to my OB? I asked her a week ago and she said it's possible but I haven't got any response from her since i followed up two days ago.

Please help me clear my anxiety 😭

Hello! Curious if anyone has had luck with acupuncture for fertility. I have a local acupuncturist that is advertising fertility treatments and I’m super skeptical, but I also know many people swear by acupuncture. Would love to hear any success stories, or if anyone tried it and did not find it work the $. Thanks in advance!

Greetings everyone,

We are conducting a small research survey on PCOS, and your input would mean a lot! 🌸

Your response is incredibly valuable and will help us better understand this condition. It’ll only take a few minutes to fill out.

📌 If you are 18–25 years old and have been diagnosed with PCOS. This survey is specifically for women with PCOS. Your responses will remain strictly confidential and will contribute significantly to our research.

Thank you so much for your time and support! 💛

Regards, Fizza Khan and Siddhi Solanki

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13hHuqobIIGpvFj52k7Zno5QH6xvfw9daJBGUqLX7ogE/viewform

I found out I’m pregnant today after thinking I wasn’t going to be able to have babies and accepting that I won’t and I was fine with that. I feel kind of sad and bad that I don’t feel ready to be a mom. I’m having so many mixed emotions because eventually I do want children and now that I know it’s possible, I’m sad that it’s not planned and I’m not ready. I feel guilty and feel terrible. I haven’t made a decision if I want to keep the baby or not but I feel so awful even thinking of a possible termination.

I have PCOS, and I know movement is key. I have a standing desk and I am standing all day while working. My schedule is extremely hectic, and hence can squeeze only 30 mins max for walking, Is it enough ? I feel like its not, considering my weight.
Anyone who feels the same??

since i started taking metformin 3 days ago, my throat has felt a little sore. it's like background noise, it just doesn't go away. i keep clearing my throat but obviously that doesn't do anything, and i'm starting to do it completely unconsciously, it feels almost compulsive. i've also been feeling really jittery this evening for some reason. my body just doesn't want to be still. is this normal? if you've had these side effects, do they go away after a period of time? what can i do to minimise this?

I've been told that I have pcos & possibly also endometrioses. I just did an ultrasound & this is my result for ovarian volume where it says right is 1.8 ml & left is 1.4 ml. Does this mean I'm infertile. Can I change this through diet & exercise.

26F—I’ve never had this issue before, but after three years of not being sexually active, I recently got a boyfriend and started experiencing bleeding during sex. At first, I assumed it was just because I hadn’t had sex in a while, but it’s only gotten worse.

We’ve had sex about 20 times now, and the bleeding keeps increasing. The last time, I lost at least 1/4 cup of blood within minutes, which was really alarming, so we obviously had to stop.

My gynecologist diagnosed me with cervical ectropion and PCOS, and my hormone levels (LH: 8, FSH: 5.5) might be contributing to the issue. He suggested that all of these factors could be causing the bleeding. However, he doesn’t want to freeze the ectropion since I haven’t had kids yet, and I don’t want to go on birth control.

Instead, he advised me to try lose 5 pounds before my next appointment in six weeks to see if that helps. This confuses me because I currently weigh 126 lbs, work out 5–6 times a week, eat intuitively, and drink at least a liter of water daily. He also mentioned that this might just be my new normal.

This has been really upsetting because I used to enjoy sex, but now it just feels impossible. My boyfriend is incredibly understanding, but we don’t know what to do—every time we try, we end up stopping and cleaning up within minutes because of the blood, and neither of us finishes. It’s frustrating and miserable.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any advice or insight would be so appreciated.

Very nervous to start a semiglutide injection but it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been on metformin for almost 7 years now and have stayed at the same weight. Any advice before going into it? Trying to figure out which supplements to take so I can minimize hair loss, constipation, etc. Any advice is welcomed!

Hi guys, I know I have PCOS bcs my period is insanely irregular. A year will go by that I will only have one period. I am 25 now and I gained weight, from 50 to 70 realquick.

I am guilty of satistfying my cravings and late night food trips, but I am cutting back sugar and carbs now. I already went to a Dr, which didnt go well bcs that fvcker is an hr late and didnt even let me finish with my symptoms. I just said irregular period and thats it, its pcos. No referral for ultrasound etc, its just irregular period then pcos. The fvker is also dismissive of my other statements, si thats PH doctor for you.

So im here to ask you sisters whats the most effective way I can do to lose weight. Also, I am so scared thinking I may not be able to bear a child 😭 Its has been my lifelong dream to have a child and I already picked a name for my future children. I really need halp! Please 😭

I had to get my paraguard removed because it wasn't sitting properly and was causing bleeding and pain, ive tried nexplanon and norethindrone and neither were good for me. My gyno put me on the Loryna pill which is the same as Yaz I believe. I tend to get very anxious about side effects and things like that and I've heard that it can increase the risk of blood clots and may have some adverse side effects, I just wanted to know some of your experiences, good or bad and whether or not I should be concerned about the side effects.

I’ve been talking myo inositol powder since December 20th and just realized I was supposed to add it to 250ml (about 1 cup or 8oz) and I’ve been adding 1 scoop which has 4g to 24oz of water (2x a day). Hopefully it doesn’t make that much of a difference but oops. I have noticed improvement but maybe now that by taking it properly I’ll see more of an improvement.

Do you think by changing the water amount will make more of a difference?

Hi I’ve read that a lot of people have stomach issues from metformin and I just started taking it again and am really not loving the way it’s making me feel. Any tips to improve symptoms ?

Hi 👋🏻 I wanted to ask if you have experienced such redness and my face feels warm when it’s red. I am not sure what is the cause of that if that’s related to PCOS? Or if it’s situational like when I’m anxious or tired?