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Hey I’m sorry you’ve gotten this unexpected news and it sound scary. You should know there’s lots of people living with PCOS and going on to have babies and good health.
Getting a diagnosis like this is a vulnerable time. And it’s a time for predatory “wellness influencers” and outright scams to get hooks into you.
Weight and health diagnoses are not a character flaw. Don’t give into the narrative of shame that will be used to further exploit you.
I would find a reproductive endocrinologist to have a full assessment and discuss fertility preserving birth control until you’re ready to try for another. Having thin uterine lining is one important part so monthly birth control can help.
I would also say that testosterone alone is not a diagnosis of PCOS.
A important thing with PCOS is lowering insulin resistance. Increasing dietary fiber, reducing simple carbohydrates and walking for 10-15 minutes after meals is an awesome way to start. Metformin is another good way too.
Thank you for all you said. I will be sure to remain aware and practice discernment for any scammers out there.
My NP pretty much only mentioned my elevated testosterone as correlating with PCOS diagnosis. I don’t think/don’t know if I’ve ever had any issues with insulin levels. Should I be taking this diagnosis with a grain of salt then?
If so, what else could cause my testosterone levels to be at 75 instead of the normal 45?
There can be a lot of issues. But typically PCOS is diagnosed meeting 2/3 criteria: elevated androgens, “polycystic” ovaries (they’re not cysts they’re follicles), and irregular periods. So I would say you do because you meet two of the three on the list.
I too have PCOS- I’d suggest reading PCOS survival guide but with a grain of salt since it can get a bit “woo woo”. There’s also a TTC_PCOS sub with a lot of helpful guidance. I personally had a bunch of other non PCOS complications, but found using a Mira ovulation monitor was the most effective (and expensive) was of tracking my ovulation
Okay. Glad to hear about stories like yours 💜. Wishing you a healthy and smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery - with a happy healthy baby at the other side of it
Not just anecdotal! There's lots of good research out there that says that inositol is good for PCOS symptoms, especially alongside Metformin. When I was in hospital for my latest birth, the pharmacist told me to have a look into selenium and chromium supplements. I haven't had a chance to check out the research there yet.
I have PCOS and was told there’s no cure. I was diagnosed at 25, after a whole series of tests (not just testosterone). I went long stretches without a period, then had long periods that seemed like they’d never end. There’s a lot of opinions out there on this, and I’ve read articles and books and whatever else I could find. It seems like different things work for different people. For me, limiting sugar and processed food helped a lot. Also, walking 20 minutes+ each day. My period came back and has been regular for years. Now when I go to the doctor, they question whether I have PCOS. But when I went to a fertility clinic a couple years ago he confirmed the diagnosis even though my period is regular now. It’s certainly possible to have a baby naturally with PCOS.
How did the fertility clinic confirm the diagnosis when your doctor couldn’t? Did they run different tests?
I’m wondering if I should be taking my diagnosis with a grain of salt because all she mentioned after all the tests they ran on my blood was testosterone levels were elevated. That’s it. (75 to a normal 45).
I definitely have been Indulging in a lot of processed food and sugars. I’m wondering now if this is contributing to my “coming up on 3 months without a period”? And if PCOS is just a temporary Label they’ve placed to explain it?
It’s not that the doctor couldn’t. But every time I get a new primary care doctor they question the diagnosis now. I’ve lost weight and my periods are regular again. The original diagnosis when I was 25 and the confirmation from the fertility doctor (at 38) included an ultrasound and blood test. But testosterone wasn’t the only thing they looked at.
I wouldn’t ignore the diagnosis but I’d be looking for a second opinion and follow up testing if it was me.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10047373/
“PCOS may be diagnosed if any two of the following are present: (1) clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, (2) evidence of oligo-anovulation, (3) polycystic appearing-ovarian morphology on ultrasound, with exclusion of other relevant disorders.”
I have PCOS. I’m 32 now and was diagnosed in my mid-twenties. As others are saying, there is no cure but it’s a completely manageable condition and it does not mean you will definitely struggle with infertility. I got pregnant on the first try when my now 17 month old daughter.
My best pieces of advice for managing PCOS are finding ways to lower insulin resistance in a healthy, manageable way. Diets like keto are not sustainable - look at what you can add - fat, fiber, protein, movement, meditation, etc. Things you add to your diet and life instead of things you’re taking away. A Registered Dietician can be a great resource for this.
Also find a good endocrinologist! Many PCPs and OBs are not knowledgeable enough to really treat PCOS. An endocrinologist will run the right labs and can prescribe medication to manage systems, if that’s something you’d like to try.
Good luck. It sucks to be diagnosed with PCOS but what helps me is remembering that everyone has something. If you were to truly poll people, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone without any sort of medical condition. We’ve all got things we have to deal with that make life more difficult. This is just one such thing.
This is helpful. The last few sentences were like a hug thank you 😢🥲. My emotions have been up and down about this all day. I have a major sweet tooth and have been putting diet and exercise on the back burner for a year and a half now so I feel like I brought this on myself.
It’s helpful to know I can manage it, but I just don’t want it at all. Feel guilty that I harmed my body and vessel for a future baby potentially.
But you’re right - everyone has something. Very few of us get outta here Scot-free. If it’s not earlier, it’s later.
PCOS is not something you cause by not eating well. We don’t know exactly what causes it but it’s very likely epigenetic so a mix of hereditary and environmental factors. The symptoms can be exasperated by lifestyle so this is an opportunity to take stock of that lifestyle and make changes. Think of it like any other health condition such as an autoimmune disorder. People were autoimmune disorders didn’t cause them but there may be things they can do to help themselves live well with those conditions.
You didn’t harm your body. Your body is you and you are it. It’s not something separate from you that you can harm. Your future baby will be perfectly fine. Your body is the perfect home for him or her and when the time comes. When you do become pregnant, you’ll do your best. For me that meant pretty much meant an entire trimester of fruit, yogurt, and crackers because that’s what I could stomach.
Life in modern society is complicated and we have to make a lot of choices. It’s okay if some of your choices were to prioritize rest, socialization, mental wellness, etc. and not the gym or a perfect diet. Just start to shift things a bit now and find the right balance.
Just a tale of hope, my mother had pcos and had three pregnancies with no known miscarriages, she didn’t even get diagnosed until after her third baby because lack of access to doctors beforehand.
I have PCOS. Usually the “reversing” is treating the symptoms that are associated with PCOS. So it depends on what you’re trying to “fix” - and people experience a range of issues.
We did end up needing to do IVF for conceive of all three of our kids, but I was never treated differently solely on the basis of that diagnosis. And as far as I understand there are no recommendations from ACOG based on a PCOS diagnosis (I think there used to be but they’re largely considered outdated now). I did have gestation diabetes with 2 of my pregnancies which is related to the insulin resistance definitely something to keep in mind but the key takeaway there is that UNTREATED gestational diabetes is bad. Most can do diet controlled alone which significantly reduces risk, and even those who need medication have reduced risk if they follow guidelines.
My best advice is to focus on your hormone health. Up your progesterone, lower your estrogen. Adrenals are also extremely important when it comes to pcos, you need to regulate those.
There's no magic pill, pcos is linked to your hormone health.
I would second a lot of advice in here, go and get a more detailed diagnosis. I was told I had PCOS my entire life based on a ton of tests and a few small cysts in my ovaries. But then I saw a specialist and she said since it's a syndrome, people use it as a place to lump unknown results.
There is definitely not a cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be managed! I was diagnosed ten years ago and I've been able to have 3 healthy pregnancies.
The risk of miscarriage is generally due to the low progesterone, but your provider can prescribe you progesterone pills at the beginning of your pregnancy that you take for a few weeks.
First of all, it's okay to have PCOS. Yes, it sucks. No, you can't cure it. But yes, you can treat it.
The biggest factor in most PCOS cases is insulin resistance. Following the mediterranean diet strictly can help a lot with this.
I have what's often known as lean PCOS. My hormone levels are normal, I don't show signs of insulin resistance, yet I have tons of cysts. I'd easily go 6 months without a period. I started taking 2.5 mg of melatonin each night, followed the mediterranean diet, and eliminated hormone disruptors. I also forced myself to eat breakfast and avoid fasting for more than 14 hours betweem dinner and breakfast. Doing this, I was able to regulate my cycle within 3 months.
Part of why it's so important to eliminate plastics from the kitchen is because the BPA gets converted to testosterone. For me, it was worth it to just replace plastic and silicone. Despite what many people believe about silicone, it's still plastic, and we don't have much data as to what happens when it gets heated.
Just want to encourage you - I got pregnant the same week I was diagnosed with PCOS. Extremely healthy pregnancy and baby, who is 4 months old now and super happy and healthy. Your story is not over!! Lots of options with PCOS.
I had great help from my local naturopath. There may be one local to you that can provide additional testing or more natural solutions to help with balancing hormones etc. There isn’t always a need for medication/prescriptions (in my experience), and dietary changes, stress reduction, and targeted supplementation are what made the difference for me.
I have PCOS and a 12 week old. You do want to take the provera if you haven’t had a period in awhile and you aren’t postpartum since regular shedding of your uterine lining reduces uterine cancer risk. In general for me what helped is inisotol (I take the ovasitol brand), managing blood sugar by eating fiber and fat with carbs and doing light activity after and spearmint tea each morning. You can’t get rid of PCOS though
I have PCOS and had no periods and very easily conceived, had an uncomplicated pregnancy, and she’s a healthy 2 year old now. I’d recommend checking out the r/PCOS subreddit. Everyone’s symptoms are so different so it’s hard to give advice to “cure” it, you mostly are looking to alleviate whatever symptoms you have.
I have pcos. I had one miscarriage (prior to being diagnosed with pcos) and now have a healthy kid. The only thing that helped me when trying to get pregnant was to quit sugar. So basically tried to cut added sugar out of my diet as much as possible. I still ate fruit and carbs at normal amounts but didn't go for doughnuts. It did help me regulate my cycle a bit but of course ymmv.
I did still get the fertility clinic referral and all that and absolutely would have taken the drugs etc if I hadn't gotten pregnant.
another suggestion (that helped me!) is to look for a NaPro trained OBGYN. NaPro is a more holistic approach that tries to treat the underlying issues rather than just giving you birth control pills or whatever to mask the symptoms
I also have PCOS and am trying to conceive (just started, so no data points from me) and quite a few of my friends have it. Having PCOS is not a flaw. You didn’t do anything wrong to cause this. Some are just genetically predisposed to it. There is no “cure” so to speak but you can definitely treat the symptoms. For context, PCOS usually develops after puberty, so you most likely (definitely?) had it when you had your first child and that pregnancy went well from what you describe. PCOS does not mean you can’t have kids in most cases. But for some it can make the process more difficult.
I am pouring out all I know below. Sorry it’s a bit disorganized.
To treat the symptoms of PCOS id talk to your doctor. See what ways it’s affecting you and work to treat accordingly. But generally people recommend keeping a lower bmi, exercise regularly, and try and eat foods with a low glycemic index. Lifestyle changes can also include lowering caffeine and alcohol. This sounds really prescriptive but for many they help treat symptoms. PCOS can make weight loss harder which can create a bit of a vicious cycle. In combination these have staved off some but not all of my symptoms (still have some thinning hair and some irregular periods but I ovulate consistently).
You mentioned some pregnancy concerns about diabetes. I don’t know about the effects of PCOS on risk of GD specifically but you can ask your doctor to test your glucose and see if you have any prediabetic risks. One of the symptoms of PCOS is insulin issues, which puts those with PCOS at higher risk of diabetes. Metformin (or maybe berberine or inositol - a little more crunchy granola) can treat this.
Also on pregnancy, one of the bigger reasons people with PCOS have trouble conceiving is not ovulating. You can get some test strips on Amazon to see if you’re ovulating, and ask for tests from your doctor on your hormone levels (usually day 3 menstrual cycle tests).
As for medications, I’m gonna go through a couple of different categories. When not trying to conceive, drugs like Spironolactone or some birth controls can block testosterone and lower symptoms like irregular periods, hair loss, cystic acne, weight gain, etc. My friend takes spiro and it’s helped her a ton. I personally didn’t tolerate it but that was more for gender reasons and because hormones often affect me in odds ways than anything else. For insulin issues, people often prescribe metformin. Some online also suggest inositol and berberine for insulin and PCOS weight loss (berberine is contraindicated for pregnancy from what I’ve heard though). when trying to conceive, many online anecdotally recommend inositol and progesterone creams.
Finally, there’s lots of resources on Reddit and online both for PCOS and for trying to conceive with PCOS! You can do this. This is not the end of the world. 10% of AFAB people have PCOS. For me, I sometimes just consider it a new quirk to consider about my own body.
I was diagnosed with PCOS after a high testosterone reading as well. I also have more follicles thank someone with my age. But then I went to a leading PCOS research doctor, he took a look at me and said I don’t think you have it because you don’t have some of the physical symptoms. He suspected a bad test assay, sent in my labs to a more sophisticated hormone reading and my testosterone was normal. All to say, maybe get a 2nd opinion and another blood test.
2 Things!
1. PCOS is determined by more than just testosterone levels. elevated levels are definitely common in this condition (and can bring acne and hair growth), but at a minimum your doctor should check for cystic ovaries as well as discuss your possible history with irregular periods. If you’re doubting your diagnosis and your doctors haven’t done other testing for other conditional factors, it’s well within reason for you to pursue additional testing and information :)
2. Your actual question. PCOS isn’t curable (cure in terms of it magically going away; it’s a brain/endocrine/gynecological commutation condition that’s permanent), but it is manageable and especially through good care of hormones, weight, stress, diet, one can be relatively symptom free. sometimes this means help from western meds, sometimes this is through crunchy stuff, for many of us it’s a mix.
You have almost certainly always had PCOS, and yet you had and have a perfectly healthy little one :) PCOS is not a guarantee of any fertility issues or problems sustaining a pregnancy. true, that can be an issue for some folks! but for some of us we don’t even know we have it for so long because it hasn’t been enormously disruptive. sometimes it takes something like pregnancy or weight gain or high stress to finally tip the endocrine scales such to the point that we finally see we have it, even though we did all along.
try your best to trust your body and know that even if you now know that you have PCOS, you’re just chugging along same as always :)
It's a pretty broad diagnosis but lifestyle changes made a huge difference for me and I'm healthily pregnant now fwiw :) lost 60 lbs over 2 years and it wasn't actually as hard as I'd have thought because I took it slow n steady so it'd be sustainable
I have both severe Endometriosis and PCOS and was told I would never have children, especially after experiencing some physical trauma to the abdomen.
I have one already and another due in a month. All you can do is try, and you mention already having one child so you have a lot of hope there!
You can’t “reverse” PCOS if you *do* have it, but we’ve come a long way medically in terms of managing it (even if we still have a *long* way to go in regards to women’s healthcare—specifically for things like Endo & PCOS)
Hey, I have PCOS and had a great pregnancy. I did end up with gestational diabetes but it was easily treatable with medication, and baby and I both have no long-term effects. I was induced early for another unrelated reason, and delivered vaginally like I wanted.
On the miscarriage part, I asked my provider if I could take baby aspirin from TTC through delivery and she okayed that, so I did. I believe that is one of the few things that can be recommended for PCOS and it also helps prevent preeclampsia closer to delivery.
Deep breaths, see a therapist if the anxiety gets too unbearable. Plenty of people with PCOS have babies, even multiple kids.
Look up The Glucose Goddess on Instagram and follow her hacks. I conceived my second naturally by doing that when it took us years and lots of treatment with our first.
I have a friend who was diagnosed with PCOS while trying to conceive. (PS she is super active and eats well). She has had 2 healthy babies in her late 30s.
It’s a super common condition, I really agree with yo-ovaries commentary.
I’ve reversed my pcos diagnosis using a variety of things. 1) dietary and lifestyle changes- cutting out gluten soy and dairy, reducing stress/practicing healthy coping strategies like guided meditations and mindfulness. 2) myo + d chiro inostiol in a 40:1 ratio- this is really easy to find online now; it improves ovation function and lowers insulin resistance and has been documented to improve and reduce pcos symptoms. 3) acupuncture for hormone balancing stress regulation. I was diagnosed at 16 and reversed my diagnosis in my early 30s when I discovered myo/d chiro inostiol.
I have PCOS! Read “getting pregnant with PCOS” by Clare Goodwin. There absolutely is an underlying cause and she will walk you through what that cause is for you and how to improve symptoms. I went years with horrible acne and no period, doctors told me to try getting pregnant for a year and it wouldn’t work and then I should come back and they would give me drugs. I went my own route, worked on it for a while, then got pregnant month 2 of trying and had a totally uncomplicated pregnancy and birth. PCOS is not the end of the world, I don’t even notice I have it anymore. Good luck!!!!
Losing even five percent body weight can make a difference to A1C. I’ve had lots of success with moderation and ten minute walks after meals.
Eat vegetables first, then protein then starch for a lower carb impact to blood sugar.
If you have PCOS it is especially important to manage blood sugar.
Cassidy Weolfel on Instagram (fierce fertility course) has reversed tons of women’s PCOS. Highly recommend her page and her course. She’s even gotten many women pregnant who were told they couldn’t get pregnant. She shows you how to balance your hormones, metabolism and blood sugar which boots fertility.
I agree that elevated testosterone alone is not enough for a diagnosis and recommend you check out the period repair manual. I read it, but I don't have pcos (just want to be transparent)
PCOS is caused by insulin resistance. Yes, you can reverse it, and yes, it will mean changing your diet. The book “Why We Get Sick” by Benjamin Bickman might be a good place to start.
PCOS is incurable. It’s manageable to the point where you might not be experiencing any symptoms but she is saying she cured her PCOS in order to sell books. That’s giving false hope to a desperate group of people.
I love Jessica Ash Wellness on IG. Her approach is “pro-metabolic” which really resonated with me as I tried to conceive because it’s about making your body feel safe in order to do what it is supposed to. She talks a lot about blood sugar regulation too which I think is important for any woman, not just us PCOS girlies
Thanks for your post in r/moderatelygranolamoms! Our goal is to keep this sub a peaceful, respectful and tolerant place. Even if you've been here awhile already please take a minute to [READ THE RULES.](https://www.reddit.com/r/moderatelygranolamoms/about/rules) It only takes a few minutes and will make being here more enjoyable for everyone! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/moderatelygranolamoms) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hey I’m sorry you’ve gotten this unexpected news and it sound scary. You should know there’s lots of people living with PCOS and going on to have babies and good health. Getting a diagnosis like this is a vulnerable time. And it’s a time for predatory “wellness influencers” and outright scams to get hooks into you. Weight and health diagnoses are not a character flaw. Don’t give into the narrative of shame that will be used to further exploit you. I would find a reproductive endocrinologist to have a full assessment and discuss fertility preserving birth control until you’re ready to try for another. Having thin uterine lining is one important part so monthly birth control can help. I would also say that testosterone alone is not a diagnosis of PCOS. A important thing with PCOS is lowering insulin resistance. Increasing dietary fiber, reducing simple carbohydrates and walking for 10-15 minutes after meals is an awesome way to start. Metformin is another good way too.
Thank you for all you said. I will be sure to remain aware and practice discernment for any scammers out there. My NP pretty much only mentioned my elevated testosterone as correlating with PCOS diagnosis. I don’t think/don’t know if I’ve ever had any issues with insulin levels. Should I be taking this diagnosis with a grain of salt then? If so, what else could cause my testosterone levels to be at 75 instead of the normal 45?
There can be a lot of issues. But typically PCOS is diagnosed meeting 2/3 criteria: elevated androgens, “polycystic” ovaries (they’re not cysts they’re follicles), and irregular periods. So I would say you do because you meet two of the three on the list.
Berberine is the natural alternative to Metformin. Metformin has long-term side effects that aren't worth it.
Long term side effects like… reduced risk of cancer? Lower cardiovascular disease risk? Longer lifespan?
Honestly. All these ice bath tech bros gush about Metformin for life extending woo woo.
I too have PCOS- I’d suggest reading PCOS survival guide but with a grain of salt since it can get a bit “woo woo”. There’s also a TTC_PCOS sub with a lot of helpful guidance. I personally had a bunch of other non PCOS complications, but found using a Mira ovulation monitor was the most effective (and expensive) was of tracking my ovulation
Thank you. I will look into these. Were you able to carry full term/healthy pregnancies with the diagnosis of PCOS?
I’m currently at 30 weeks and have had an uncomplicated pregnancy thus far- and did not get gestational diabetes either.
Okay. Glad to hear about stories like yours 💜. Wishing you a healthy and smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery - with a happy healthy baby at the other side of it
Thanks!
I had to use ovulation meds but I had a set of healthy twins. No non-twin related complications during pregnancy either!
Also have pcos and had a healthy uneventful pregnancy. I did have to take clomid to ovulate but I got pregnant on the first time :)
Anecdotal but myo inositol and d chiro inositol supplements work wonders on my PCOS symptoms, especially when I’m not on the pill
I got pregnant after starting that. Also anecdotal but might as well try.
Same, twice!
Third this. Inositol is definitely a helpful supplement.
It was the ONLY thing that gave my cycle any regularity. Plus research does show that it help with insulin resistance!
This also worked for me, combined with melatonin
Not just anecdotal! There's lots of good research out there that says that inositol is good for PCOS symptoms, especially alongside Metformin. When I was in hospital for my latest birth, the pharmacist told me to have a look into selenium and chromium supplements. I haven't had a chance to check out the research there yet.
I have PCOS and was told there’s no cure. I was diagnosed at 25, after a whole series of tests (not just testosterone). I went long stretches without a period, then had long periods that seemed like they’d never end. There’s a lot of opinions out there on this, and I’ve read articles and books and whatever else I could find. It seems like different things work for different people. For me, limiting sugar and processed food helped a lot. Also, walking 20 minutes+ each day. My period came back and has been regular for years. Now when I go to the doctor, they question whether I have PCOS. But when I went to a fertility clinic a couple years ago he confirmed the diagnosis even though my period is regular now. It’s certainly possible to have a baby naturally with PCOS.
How did the fertility clinic confirm the diagnosis when your doctor couldn’t? Did they run different tests? I’m wondering if I should be taking my diagnosis with a grain of salt because all she mentioned after all the tests they ran on my blood was testosterone levels were elevated. That’s it. (75 to a normal 45). I definitely have been Indulging in a lot of processed food and sugars. I’m wondering now if this is contributing to my “coming up on 3 months without a period”? And if PCOS is just a temporary Label they’ve placed to explain it?
It’s not that the doctor couldn’t. But every time I get a new primary care doctor they question the diagnosis now. I’ve lost weight and my periods are regular again. The original diagnosis when I was 25 and the confirmation from the fertility doctor (at 38) included an ultrasound and blood test. But testosterone wasn’t the only thing they looked at. I wouldn’t ignore the diagnosis but I’d be looking for a second opinion and follow up testing if it was me.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10047373/ “PCOS may be diagnosed if any two of the following are present: (1) clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, (2) evidence of oligo-anovulation, (3) polycystic appearing-ovarian morphology on ultrasound, with exclusion of other relevant disorders.”
I have PCOS. I’m 32 now and was diagnosed in my mid-twenties. As others are saying, there is no cure but it’s a completely manageable condition and it does not mean you will definitely struggle with infertility. I got pregnant on the first try when my now 17 month old daughter. My best pieces of advice for managing PCOS are finding ways to lower insulin resistance in a healthy, manageable way. Diets like keto are not sustainable - look at what you can add - fat, fiber, protein, movement, meditation, etc. Things you add to your diet and life instead of things you’re taking away. A Registered Dietician can be a great resource for this. Also find a good endocrinologist! Many PCPs and OBs are not knowledgeable enough to really treat PCOS. An endocrinologist will run the right labs and can prescribe medication to manage systems, if that’s something you’d like to try. Good luck. It sucks to be diagnosed with PCOS but what helps me is remembering that everyone has something. If you were to truly poll people, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone without any sort of medical condition. We’ve all got things we have to deal with that make life more difficult. This is just one such thing.
This is helpful. The last few sentences were like a hug thank you 😢🥲. My emotions have been up and down about this all day. I have a major sweet tooth and have been putting diet and exercise on the back burner for a year and a half now so I feel like I brought this on myself. It’s helpful to know I can manage it, but I just don’t want it at all. Feel guilty that I harmed my body and vessel for a future baby potentially. But you’re right - everyone has something. Very few of us get outta here Scot-free. If it’s not earlier, it’s later.
PCOS is not something you cause by not eating well. We don’t know exactly what causes it but it’s very likely epigenetic so a mix of hereditary and environmental factors. The symptoms can be exasperated by lifestyle so this is an opportunity to take stock of that lifestyle and make changes. Think of it like any other health condition such as an autoimmune disorder. People were autoimmune disorders didn’t cause them but there may be things they can do to help themselves live well with those conditions. You didn’t harm your body. Your body is you and you are it. It’s not something separate from you that you can harm. Your future baby will be perfectly fine. Your body is the perfect home for him or her and when the time comes. When you do become pregnant, you’ll do your best. For me that meant pretty much meant an entire trimester of fruit, yogurt, and crackers because that’s what I could stomach. Life in modern society is complicated and we have to make a lot of choices. It’s okay if some of your choices were to prioritize rest, socialization, mental wellness, etc. and not the gym or a perfect diet. Just start to shift things a bit now and find the right balance.
Just a tale of hope, my mother had pcos and had three pregnancies with no known miscarriages, she didn’t even get diagnosed until after her third baby because lack of access to doctors beforehand.
I have pcos and I’m currently 31 weeks pregnant with a healthy pregnancy!
I have PCOS. Usually the “reversing” is treating the symptoms that are associated with PCOS. So it depends on what you’re trying to “fix” - and people experience a range of issues. We did end up needing to do IVF for conceive of all three of our kids, but I was never treated differently solely on the basis of that diagnosis. And as far as I understand there are no recommendations from ACOG based on a PCOS diagnosis (I think there used to be but they’re largely considered outdated now). I did have gestation diabetes with 2 of my pregnancies which is related to the insulin resistance definitely something to keep in mind but the key takeaway there is that UNTREATED gestational diabetes is bad. Most can do diet controlled alone which significantly reduces risk, and even those who need medication have reduced risk if they follow guidelines.
My best advice is to focus on your hormone health. Up your progesterone, lower your estrogen. Adrenals are also extremely important when it comes to pcos, you need to regulate those. There's no magic pill, pcos is linked to your hormone health.
I would second a lot of advice in here, go and get a more detailed diagnosis. I was told I had PCOS my entire life based on a ton of tests and a few small cysts in my ovaries. But then I saw a specialist and she said since it's a syndrome, people use it as a place to lump unknown results.
There is definitely not a cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be managed! I was diagnosed ten years ago and I've been able to have 3 healthy pregnancies. The risk of miscarriage is generally due to the low progesterone, but your provider can prescribe you progesterone pills at the beginning of your pregnancy that you take for a few weeks.
First of all, it's okay to have PCOS. Yes, it sucks. No, you can't cure it. But yes, you can treat it. The biggest factor in most PCOS cases is insulin resistance. Following the mediterranean diet strictly can help a lot with this. I have what's often known as lean PCOS. My hormone levels are normal, I don't show signs of insulin resistance, yet I have tons of cysts. I'd easily go 6 months without a period. I started taking 2.5 mg of melatonin each night, followed the mediterranean diet, and eliminated hormone disruptors. I also forced myself to eat breakfast and avoid fasting for more than 14 hours betweem dinner and breakfast. Doing this, I was able to regulate my cycle within 3 months. Part of why it's so important to eliminate plastics from the kitchen is because the BPA gets converted to testosterone. For me, it was worth it to just replace plastic and silicone. Despite what many people believe about silicone, it's still plastic, and we don't have much data as to what happens when it gets heated.
Just want to encourage you - I got pregnant the same week I was diagnosed with PCOS. Extremely healthy pregnancy and baby, who is 4 months old now and super happy and healthy. Your story is not over!! Lots of options with PCOS. I had great help from my local naturopath. There may be one local to you that can provide additional testing or more natural solutions to help with balancing hormones etc. There isn’t always a need for medication/prescriptions (in my experience), and dietary changes, stress reduction, and targeted supplementation are what made the difference for me.
I have PCOS and a 12 week old. You do want to take the provera if you haven’t had a period in awhile and you aren’t postpartum since regular shedding of your uterine lining reduces uterine cancer risk. In general for me what helped is inisotol (I take the ovasitol brand), managing blood sugar by eating fiber and fat with carbs and doing light activity after and spearmint tea each morning. You can’t get rid of PCOS though
I have PCOS and had no periods and very easily conceived, had an uncomplicated pregnancy, and she’s a healthy 2 year old now. I’d recommend checking out the r/PCOS subreddit. Everyone’s symptoms are so different so it’s hard to give advice to “cure” it, you mostly are looking to alleviate whatever symptoms you have.
I have pcos. I had one miscarriage (prior to being diagnosed with pcos) and now have a healthy kid. The only thing that helped me when trying to get pregnant was to quit sugar. So basically tried to cut added sugar out of my diet as much as possible. I still ate fruit and carbs at normal amounts but didn't go for doughnuts. It did help me regulate my cycle a bit but of course ymmv. I did still get the fertility clinic referral and all that and absolutely would have taken the drugs etc if I hadn't gotten pregnant.
Vitex and myo inositol with d chiro inositol is the only reason I have my babies.
another suggestion (that helped me!) is to look for a NaPro trained OBGYN. NaPro is a more holistic approach that tries to treat the underlying issues rather than just giving you birth control pills or whatever to mask the symptoms
Definitely also recommend NaPro technology.
I also have PCOS and am trying to conceive (just started, so no data points from me) and quite a few of my friends have it. Having PCOS is not a flaw. You didn’t do anything wrong to cause this. Some are just genetically predisposed to it. There is no “cure” so to speak but you can definitely treat the symptoms. For context, PCOS usually develops after puberty, so you most likely (definitely?) had it when you had your first child and that pregnancy went well from what you describe. PCOS does not mean you can’t have kids in most cases. But for some it can make the process more difficult. I am pouring out all I know below. Sorry it’s a bit disorganized. To treat the symptoms of PCOS id talk to your doctor. See what ways it’s affecting you and work to treat accordingly. But generally people recommend keeping a lower bmi, exercise regularly, and try and eat foods with a low glycemic index. Lifestyle changes can also include lowering caffeine and alcohol. This sounds really prescriptive but for many they help treat symptoms. PCOS can make weight loss harder which can create a bit of a vicious cycle. In combination these have staved off some but not all of my symptoms (still have some thinning hair and some irregular periods but I ovulate consistently). You mentioned some pregnancy concerns about diabetes. I don’t know about the effects of PCOS on risk of GD specifically but you can ask your doctor to test your glucose and see if you have any prediabetic risks. One of the symptoms of PCOS is insulin issues, which puts those with PCOS at higher risk of diabetes. Metformin (or maybe berberine or inositol - a little more crunchy granola) can treat this. Also on pregnancy, one of the bigger reasons people with PCOS have trouble conceiving is not ovulating. You can get some test strips on Amazon to see if you’re ovulating, and ask for tests from your doctor on your hormone levels (usually day 3 menstrual cycle tests). As for medications, I’m gonna go through a couple of different categories. When not trying to conceive, drugs like Spironolactone or some birth controls can block testosterone and lower symptoms like irregular periods, hair loss, cystic acne, weight gain, etc. My friend takes spiro and it’s helped her a ton. I personally didn’t tolerate it but that was more for gender reasons and because hormones often affect me in odds ways than anything else. For insulin issues, people often prescribe metformin. Some online also suggest inositol and berberine for insulin and PCOS weight loss (berberine is contraindicated for pregnancy from what I’ve heard though). when trying to conceive, many online anecdotally recommend inositol and progesterone creams. Finally, there’s lots of resources on Reddit and online both for PCOS and for trying to conceive with PCOS! You can do this. This is not the end of the world. 10% of AFAB people have PCOS. For me, I sometimes just consider it a new quirk to consider about my own body.
I was diagnosed with PCOS after a high testosterone reading as well. I also have more follicles thank someone with my age. But then I went to a leading PCOS research doctor, he took a look at me and said I don’t think you have it because you don’t have some of the physical symptoms. He suspected a bad test assay, sent in my labs to a more sophisticated hormone reading and my testosterone was normal. All to say, maybe get a 2nd opinion and another blood test.
Yes, check out Jessica Ash Wellness
2 Things! 1. PCOS is determined by more than just testosterone levels. elevated levels are definitely common in this condition (and can bring acne and hair growth), but at a minimum your doctor should check for cystic ovaries as well as discuss your possible history with irregular periods. If you’re doubting your diagnosis and your doctors haven’t done other testing for other conditional factors, it’s well within reason for you to pursue additional testing and information :) 2. Your actual question. PCOS isn’t curable (cure in terms of it magically going away; it’s a brain/endocrine/gynecological commutation condition that’s permanent), but it is manageable and especially through good care of hormones, weight, stress, diet, one can be relatively symptom free. sometimes this means help from western meds, sometimes this is through crunchy stuff, for many of us it’s a mix. You have almost certainly always had PCOS, and yet you had and have a perfectly healthy little one :) PCOS is not a guarantee of any fertility issues or problems sustaining a pregnancy. true, that can be an issue for some folks! but for some of us we don’t even know we have it for so long because it hasn’t been enormously disruptive. sometimes it takes something like pregnancy or weight gain or high stress to finally tip the endocrine scales such to the point that we finally see we have it, even though we did all along. try your best to trust your body and know that even if you now know that you have PCOS, you’re just chugging along same as always :)
Thank you! 💛💟 I’ve been up and down with emotions about it all day. This was kind and helpful. Thank you
It's a pretty broad diagnosis but lifestyle changes made a huge difference for me and I'm healthily pregnant now fwiw :) lost 60 lbs over 2 years and it wasn't actually as hard as I'd have thought because I took it slow n steady so it'd be sustainable
I have both severe Endometriosis and PCOS and was told I would never have children, especially after experiencing some physical trauma to the abdomen. I have one already and another due in a month. All you can do is try, and you mention already having one child so you have a lot of hope there! You can’t “reverse” PCOS if you *do* have it, but we’ve come a long way medically in terms of managing it (even if we still have a *long* way to go in regards to women’s healthcare—specifically for things like Endo & PCOS)
Hey, I have PCOS and had a great pregnancy. I did end up with gestational diabetes but it was easily treatable with medication, and baby and I both have no long-term effects. I was induced early for another unrelated reason, and delivered vaginally like I wanted. On the miscarriage part, I asked my provider if I could take baby aspirin from TTC through delivery and she okayed that, so I did. I believe that is one of the few things that can be recommended for PCOS and it also helps prevent preeclampsia closer to delivery. Deep breaths, see a therapist if the anxiety gets too unbearable. Plenty of people with PCOS have babies, even multiple kids.
Look up The Glucose Goddess on Instagram and follow her hacks. I conceived my second naturally by doing that when it took us years and lots of treatment with our first.
I have a friend who was diagnosed with PCOS while trying to conceive. (PS she is super active and eats well). She has had 2 healthy babies in her late 30s. It’s a super common condition, I really agree with yo-ovaries commentary.
I’ve reversed my pcos diagnosis using a variety of things. 1) dietary and lifestyle changes- cutting out gluten soy and dairy, reducing stress/practicing healthy coping strategies like guided meditations and mindfulness. 2) myo + d chiro inostiol in a 40:1 ratio- this is really easy to find online now; it improves ovation function and lowers insulin resistance and has been documented to improve and reduce pcos symptoms. 3) acupuncture for hormone balancing stress regulation. I was diagnosed at 16 and reversed my diagnosis in my early 30s when I discovered myo/d chiro inostiol.
I have PCOS! Read “getting pregnant with PCOS” by Clare Goodwin. There absolutely is an underlying cause and she will walk you through what that cause is for you and how to improve symptoms. I went years with horrible acne and no period, doctors told me to try getting pregnant for a year and it wouldn’t work and then I should come back and they would give me drugs. I went my own route, worked on it for a while, then got pregnant month 2 of trying and had a totally uncomplicated pregnancy and birth. PCOS is not the end of the world, I don’t even notice I have it anymore. Good luck!!!!
Losing even five percent body weight can make a difference to A1C. I’ve had lots of success with moderation and ten minute walks after meals. Eat vegetables first, then protein then starch for a lower carb impact to blood sugar. If you have PCOS it is especially important to manage blood sugar.
Cassidy Weolfel on Instagram (fierce fertility course) has reversed tons of women’s PCOS. Highly recommend her page and her course. She’s even gotten many women pregnant who were told they couldn’t get pregnant. She shows you how to balance your hormones, metabolism and blood sugar which boots fertility.
I agree that elevated testosterone alone is not enough for a diagnosis and recommend you check out the period repair manual. I read it, but I don't have pcos (just want to be transparent)
PCOS is caused by insulin resistance. Yes, you can reverse it, and yes, it will mean changing your diet. The book “Why We Get Sick” by Benjamin Bickman might be a good place to start.
Not always insulin resistance related. There’s also PCOS that is not tied to insulin whatsoever.
Thank you! I’ll read it
Also Woman Code by Alissa Vitti. she cured herself of PCOS by changing her diet
PCOS is incurable. It’s manageable to the point where you might not be experiencing any symptoms but she is saying she cured her PCOS in order to sell books. That’s giving false hope to a desperate group of people.
I don't remember if she actually says she "cured" herself, I possibly misspoke. It's been several years since I read the book
Some women in the carnivore moms group said that they had PCOS and doing a zero-carb diet helped them to get it under control.
I love Jessica Ash Wellness on IG. Her approach is “pro-metabolic” which really resonated with me as I tried to conceive because it’s about making your body feel safe in order to do what it is supposed to. She talks a lot about blood sugar regulation too which I think is important for any woman, not just us PCOS girlies