Ask Dr. Heather about Infertility or Weight Loss
 |
Dr. DeLuca received her Naturopathic Degree and B.S. in Nutrition from Bastyr University in Washington state. Her particular interests include research in the fields of nutrition, diet and nutrient therapies. She coaches Insulite Laboratories’ customers on their insulin-related conditions through the company’s comprehensive outreach program. At her practice in Kingston, Pennsylvania, Dr. DeLuca specializes in counseling as well as nutritional, botanical, orthomolecular and physical medicines. “One of the goals of Naturopathic Medicine is to find the cause of illness. With the rise of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, along with their many complications, research is revealing one of the main causes to be Insulin Resistance. Although important, it is not enough to just treat the symptoms. You have to treat the cause, too. A balanced, nutritious diet plan and a program of regular exercise are proving to be crucial to help reverse these diseases and allow people to regain control of their health. “I am very excited to be a part of a team that is making a difference in people’s lives by taking a lead role in preventing and reversing Insulin Resistance.” Please leave “comments” below with your questions or feedback…. |
I’ve read on your website the testimonials and stories about women that have been able to get pregnant after doing the Insulite PCOS system. Can you explain how your system helped these women, especially when doctors told them they wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally and they did.
I was diagnosed with PCOS 1 year ago. I was placed on Metformin. Using your system, would you recommend I continue to take Metformin in addition to your system?
I am 24 years old. I have just been diagnosed with PCOS a week ago. I was on birth control over ten years up until a year ago. I came off birth control with a desire to get pregnant. I have been trying to get pregant and no results after a year which prompted me to see a doctor. It was then that he diagnosed PCOS after testing. I expressed to him my desire to have a child and he prescribed Loestrin and Metformin. I need to understand what these two medications will do if taken together? Can I take them together? I asked the doctor’s office if I should be taking them with one another and they advised yes, but I still want to hear other opinions first. Please keep in mind I desire to have a child at this time. Thank you for your response.
Hello Cyn,
Thank you for writing in to our Blog!
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. We understand how difficult it is as PCOS affects each woman in a different way. If you have not done so already, visit this link for additional information and support:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
In regard to metformin, you can continue to use it along with the Insulite PCOS System. However, because the PCOS System can also lower glucose levels we recommend that you check your glucose to be sure that your glucose levels do not drop too low. If you do not have a glucometer, watch for the following symptoms: low energy, fatigue, headaches, irritability, and unusual hunger – these are all clues to not having balanced blood sugars. If you do experience any of these symptoms of hypoglycemia, you could speak to your doctor about lowering the dose of or discontinuing the Metformin.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS. Our goal is to treat the cause so that medication will not be necessary.
If you do choose to use the PCOS System along with Metformin, please let us know when you are ready to start so that we can provide you with instructions on how to take it when using metformin.
I hope you consider the Insulite PCOS System. Please continue to visit our site and submit your questions/thoughts/experiences to the blog. Each person that contributes is helping many other women who have the same question. If I can help further, please let me know.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Maya,
Thank you for contributing to the PCOS Support Blog.
We understand how difficult your recent diagnosis can be and hope to support you in your journey.
PCOS is pretty complicated and I think that there is still a lot that we do not know about it. I would like to first pass along a link where you can find some good resources for yourself as you start to learn more about PCOS: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
I would encourage you to take some time to go through these when you can.
Now on to your questions. The medications that your doctor prescribed are not uncommon in the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS. The metformin is a anti-hyperglycemic, meaning it helps to lower glucose levels and in turn can help to lower insulin levels.
Insulin levels are important to have within a healthy range because increased amounts can lead to insulin resistance, where your body does not respond as it should. Insulin resistance is the underlying cause of PCOS and this is the reason why it is prescribed. In addition, lowering insulin levels can help restore a woman’s cycle.
There are women who do well with metformin but I can say that I have been in contact with many women who have not had the results they expected (weight loss, resumption of menses). The results are mixed. You can certainly read up on it and discuss your concerns with your doctor regarding its use.
Birth control is another treatment option that is primarily used to regulate your cycles and may lower androgen levels. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Eventually, the birth control will be withdrawn in hopes that you will have more normal cycles. As you know, by function of the piil, you will not ovulate while taking it. As you may have realized, many women with PCOS do not ovulate because of the hormonal imbalance of PCOS.
During the last year, did you have a period each month?
Because you were on the pill for so long, it will take time for your body to readjust after coming off of it.
In addition, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance. We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
You can take these together, barring any contraindications. If you are concerned about using them, call and make an appointment with your doctor so you can sit down with her/him and have your questions and concerns answered.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will heal PCOS. Medications are aimed at suppressing the symptoms of PCOS without addressing the underlying cause of PCOS, in most cases.
If you are interested in a more natural approach aimed at addressing the cause, please check out our website: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
There are many important components to take into account when trying to minimize symptoms and become healthy. These include nutrition and exercise changes which are crucial. We have developed a comprehensive System that consider all aspects.
There are supplements to address elevated insulin and glucose levels, the hormonal imbalance and weight gain.
Maya, take your time and read about PCOS and how it affects women. I do want to let you know that there are women with PCOS that have children, so do not give up hope.
Remember there are a lot of other women out there that would be willing to share information that may be helpful to you. Please let me know if there is any other information I can help with. DrHDeLuca@InsuliteLabs.com
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
dear dr,
I have been dealing with pcos for over many yrs. I am 39 and was diagnosed when I was 17. I have been on birth control for years and have been over weight all of my life, as well as acne and excess hair. I was told I would have problems conceiving but I got pregnant while in college and since I knew my history I chose to keep my baby. I married and had baby #2 unexpected again. To make a long story short I had the wrong man and divorced 0ver 7 yrs ago. I met my soulmate and now 6 yrs together and married 3 yrs we wanted out own children. I finally conceived our daughter after a miscarriage and clomid. I tried metformin but felt very sick on it. I finally thought I had found the answer with Insulite. I have been on it for about 1 month now, and at first I felt great!!! had lots of energy and no cravings or mood swings. I was eating well but not following the insulite diet, it seemed too strict. But for the past 2 weeks I am back to feeling terrible, I have no energy I stopped working out everyday and my breast feel achy and I just don’t feel right!!! I have been eating really bad !!! fast food pizza, sweets, cake, etc. I thought It was because I was ovulating and we are trying for baby #2 so I let my self eat what I craved. I could swear I was pregnant but the test is negative. Could the supplements have trhown off my body, and since I had my baby march 6, 2007 I have never missed a period. Now I am late, Do you think I just did not ovulate this month and the PMS is dragging!! This used to happen yrs ago when I wasn’t ovulating, I would be hungry PMS symptoms for weeks at a time. I contacted my doctor obgyn but he’s away until April 16th. Should I take clomid to make me ovulate. What will correct this vicious cycle??? please help me I am almost giving up taking the Insulite
I RECENTLY STOP TAKING BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND MY LAST PERIOD WAS ON MARCH 20, 2008. MY AND MY FIANCE HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE ARE TRYING TO CONCEIVE. WHAT ARE OUR CHANCES?
Dear Jean,
Thank you for writing in with your great question. I think this is one of those questions that most women will read and say “Yes, how does it help?”.
As you may know, one of the symptoms of PCOS is a hormonal imbalance. Some of the hormonal changes seen in women with PCOS can include increased estrogen levels, decreased progesterone levels, and changes in the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (lutenizing hormone) levels. Any or all of these have the potential to impact ovulation, ability to conceive and maintaining a pregnancy in a women with PCOS.
Research does support the idea that the cause of PCOS in many women is insulin resistance. This will lead to an increase in insulin levels and what is thought to initiate the hormonal changes. As insulin levels increase, androgen levels increase. While all women have androgens such as testosterone, in PCOS there can be an increase beyond what is considered normal. The androgen production increases in the ovaries as insulin resistance develops. This also leads to less estrogen being produced in the ovary. This overall increase in ovarian androgens inhibits normal development of the follicle so that it does not mature and results in a cyst.
Without follicle development ovulation does not occur. Without ovulation, progesterone levels stay low as the corpus luteum would be the structure responsible for producing progesterone. (The corpus luteum is what is left behind after the egg is released from the follicle.) In a “normal” functioning ovary, the increase in progesterone after ovulation would influence another chemical in the brain to inhibit the rise in estrogen. This low level of progesterone not only encourages the estrogen levels but also leads to an increase in LH and in return FSH stays lower. The LH triggers ovarian androgen production. LH levels are also kept high by estrogen being produced in fatty tissue. In an ideal situation the levels LH are lower than FSH, in PCOS we see the reverse. So without ovulation, estrogen levels stay elevated, progesterone is lower, and more androgens are produced.
I know this is a lot to digest. The above information is meant to help you understand how the problems develop.
Now I will explain how the Insulite PCOS System in designed to help you conceive.
With all that being said, we do know that many women with PCOS have a difficult time conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy. In addition, many medical doctors are not trained in the use of nutrients and herbs to address diseases. Nutrition, botanical medicine, diet, and exercise modifications are not standard courses in most medical schools. This may be why some doctors say that conceiving naturally is not an option for some women with PCOS.
However, as a naturopathic physician, I know that diet, exercise, herbs and supplements can strongly impact disease and provide beneficial changes.
There are four different supplements in addition to the nutrition and exercise changes we recommend. The PCOS+ supplement contains herbs that research shows reduce androgen levels (such as testosterone) by inhibiting the conversion of androgens to the more active forms (such as dihydrotestosterone or DHT) and decreasing the ability of these androgens to act on different tissues, support the metabolism of estrogen so that levels are efficiently broken down and support the progesterone phase of the cycle.
The InsulX supplement is designed to address insulin resistance along with nutrients from the RejuvenX (antioxidant supplement) and GlucX (fiber supplement). It addresses the problem at the root cause and helps the cells react more appropriately to insulin and glucose.
The antioxidant supplement- RejuvenX- has multiple functions including decreasing the damage that results from having increased insulin and glucose levels.
The GlucX fiber supplement helps to lower glucose thereby decreasing insulin levels, reducing bad cholesterol and providing you with more balanced blood sugar levels throughout the day.
The last couple of aspects that are very important to the System are the nutrition and exercise recommendations. We provide you with guidelines to help you make the necessary changes for long-term health and well-being long after discontinuing the System. Insulite’s ongoing Support Network ensures that we are with you every step of the way.
To read more specific information about the supplements in the PCOS System, go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php.
I think that does it, Jean. If I can help further or answer any questions or concerns, please contact me.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
still i was not diagonised for pcos.But my doc told me the symptoms which you are having will move forward to pcos.so she is giving treatment for pcos symptoms.I’m taking ginette-35 for 6 cycles and for past 9 months i’m taking metformin.I’m having cysts in ovaries and irregular periods.My LH-12,FSH-4 other things are normal.metformin will help me to regulate my periods and restore my ovulation.I can able to get pregnant soon.My age is 28 and my wt is 58kg.This weight is normal?please give your kind advice.
I trying to get pregant for a year, don’t have period. What can I do
Hello,
A little over a year ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and bipolar disorder. And just last month I was diagnosed with PCOS. The OBGYN that I went to was really great! We dicussed the option of a hystarectomy. I had a tubal in 1999 so the thought of losing something that I don’t use doesn’t really bother me but because I am uninsured she said that we should try other options. She put me birth control pills and I am having my first period in almost 2 years. It is the most painfully period I have ever had. I started menastrating when I was 9 and I am now 31. Recently I woke in the middle of the night with left sided lower back pain and went into the bathroom, I thought that I was getting a kidney infection. But when I sat on the toilet I felt great relief and dismay at the same time. I guess just the motion of bending pushed out a clot the size of my fist. With its passing the pain went away, however, now I am continually passing this size clot at a rate of about 1 per hour. I am so scared, but because I am uninsured I cannot afford to go to the doctor. It took me weeks to save for the visit I had. Should I be concerned? Is this normal because my body is “playing catch up”? Please help me understand what is going on with my body.
Thank You so much
Dear Latrice,
We appreciate you writing into the Blog.
This is a big concern for many women with PCOS. Unfortunately, it is difficult to say what your chances are for successful conception. As you may know PCOS is a complicated condition that affects not only insulin levels that can affect weight, but a women’s hormone levels that affect their cycles and ovulation.
With discontinuing the birth control pill, you may have some irregularity in your cycle until your body re-establishes itself without the hormones. If
you continue to have regular cycles, this is a good sign and does increase your chances for becoming pregnant. What will be important is to monitor
signs of ovulation. There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit).
You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant.
You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method:
http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp. This site has charts so you can keep track of your cycles and other signs of ovulation.
What can help regulate your cycles is maintaining a healthy weight with a body mass index of less than 24.9. You can figure out what this is for you
by using this chart at http://weight.insulitelabs.com/Diagnosed.php. You will need to know you height and weight to figure out what this is for you.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
You can also discuss with your doctor and test hormone levels that are supporting the ability to become pregnant. These can include testosterone,
estrogen, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and lutenizing hormone, etc.
One other test that will be very important is your fasting insulin levels. Because we know that the underlying cause of PCOS is insulin resistance,
having a fasting insulin level well within the normal range, affects all the other hormones that are affected in many women with PCOS and increases your changes for conceiving.
Latrice, if you are still having symptoms of related to PCOS, or start to have irregular cycles or to further enhance your ability to become pregnant,
I would have you consider the Insulite PCOS System. You can use the PCOS System while you are trying to conceive, but if you do become pregnant with the use of the System, we recommend that you stop. However, what you can continue throughout your pregnancy is the diet and exercise guidelines.
I hope this helps you. If you are interested or have additional concerns regarding the PCOS System, please contact me at DrHDeLuca@InsuliteLabs.com or through this PCOS Support blog.
I wish you and your fiancé the best. I hope you continue to be a part of our PCOS community.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Nikki,
You have been going through a lot these last couple of years. I can understand your distress with what is happening.
You mentioned that you have not had your period in 2 years and some of this may be a result of that. However, I do feel that you should contact your doctor. I understand that you can not afford a visit but it would unethical for me to give you any medical advice on what may be happening. It can also be dangerous to you.
You should call the doctor and let them know what you have experienced. Be sure to include that the doctor gave you birth control pills to start your period because you did not have it in 2 years. Also that you started your period and explain that you have been passing large clots (give reference to size such as you did here), and if you are having heavy bleeding, cramping, and length of time that you have been experiencing it. It may be that they can respond with a phone call or a nurse can call you back after discussing with the doctor.
I know you may not want to hear my recommendation but it is with your best interest in mind that I make it.
Also, ask if they have a sliding scale for fees or a payment plan if there is a charge.
Please let me know how you are doing and if you would like to consider additional options for addressing PCOS and Diabetes. Contact: Ask Dr. Heather on this PCOS Support Blog or DrHDeLuca@InsuliteLabs.com
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Sasi,
I am glad that you have written in. This is interesting because if you do have the cysts that are common in PCOS (resembling a string of pearls in that there are small multiple cysts present on one or both ovaries), in addition to the irregular periods, and the lab results, the diagnosis is often made.
However, PCOS is not an easy diagnosis to make, so we rely on lab tests to help in addition to symptoms. The labs that you included such as LH elevated in comparison to FSH is also characteristic in PCOS.
You mentioned that the other tests were normal, did these include testosterone, fasting glucose and fasting insulin? Some doctors may hesitate to order the fasting insulin test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate Insulin Resistance.
And you do not have to be overweight or obese to have PCOS. In fact, research shows that about 50% of women with PCOS are thin.
The symptoms of PCOS can vary widely from woman to woman. Not all women have all the symptoms, which range from irregular or completely absent periods to hirsuitism (excessive facial or body hair), ovarian cysts and Alopecia (male pattern hair loss). Other symptoms can include obesity, acne and skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness and decreased sex drive.
Regardless of the diagnosis not being made at this point you are being treated as such. So actually, it is great that your doctor is aware and is not dismissing the symptoms and your concerns.
The medications you are taking are helping you to have regular cycles (Ginette-35) by reducing androgen levels and providing hormones to stimulate your period and the metformin is reducing glucose levels and in turn lowering insulin levels. With having a regular cycle and reducing androgen levels such as testosterone, you can increase your chances of conceiving. Unfortunately, I will not be able to tell you when you might be able to conceive. There are many factors to consider.
Keep in mind that these medications only address the problem while you are taking them and that you may want to consider addressing the cause permanently so that medications may not be necessary. Also by addressing underlying problem now you also reduce your risks for complications related to PCOS. If you would like to know more about our approach to addressing PCOS and the underlying cause, insulin resistance, please go to http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I hope I have answered your questions. Please feel free to write in again and share what’s on your mind.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Kai,
Thanks for writing in. I am sorry you are having a difficult time conceiving. I assume that you do have PCOS. I don’t know what your symptoms are but if related to PCOS, it is not uncommon for some couples to struggle with conception.
Women with PCOS, in general have hormonal imbalances, which can manifest as a lack of menstrual cycles or longer menstrual cycles.
Even if you have PCOS and it is likely that this is why it is difficult (however, I do not know your history so can’t be sure), it is also important
to consider having your partner evaluated for reproductive abnormalities.
For women with PCOS who are not having a regular period and are not ovulating, there are medications that are used to stimulate both of these.
However, these options would best be discussed with your doctor.
We specialize in a more natural approach to addressing PCOS and the underlying cause, insulin resistance. I recommend that you visit our website
at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
We know that although not all women with PCOS are overweight, if they are they may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and improving
the Insulin Resistance that underlies PCOS.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
Our system is designed to balance the testosterone, insulin and other reproductive hormones that impact ovulation.
While we cannot promise that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving.
Diet and exercise are also crucial in controlling and reversing insulin resistance. If you are exercising, keep it up. If not you can start with 3 days a week for about 20 minutes, barring any contraindications.
Kai, check out our website and see what you think of the Insulite PCOS System. I do feel that the System can help you. Please let us know if you have any more questions and please continue to be a part of our PCOS community.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Paula,
I am really glad that we had a chance to talk by phone and hope that you found our consultation helpful.
Please keep me informed as to how everything is going with the changes made. I look forward to hearing from you.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any support or guidance.
All the best,
Heather
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
HI,
I am suffering from Hypothyroid, gained lot of weight in last 3 months, have irregular Periods since age 14 years and had been treated dor PCOD in past with the help of Contraceptive pills. I am trying to loose weight and trying to concieve but unable to do so. Can anyone suggest me the way out as I really feel depressed due to this as I want to become a mother
Dear Sanya,
Thank you for writing in to our Blog. I am sorry to hear that you have beenstruggling to conceive.
The increase in weight that you have experienced over the last three months is most likely due both the PCOS and hypothyroid conditions.
I assume that you are being treated for the hypothyroidism. This can certainly help with some of the weight gain and other symptoms. However, it will not really affect the PCOS.
The thyroid gland and ovaries are both part of the endocrine system. If one part of the endocrine system is not functioning right that has an effect on the rest of the endocrine system. I found one study on rats that showed the thyroid gland has a direct effect on the hormone receptors on the ovaries.
As a naturopathic doctor I believe in looking at the body as a whole in trying to understand the cause of disease.
Both Insulin Resistance and hypothyroidism are extremely prevalent in society today. They might be related in that they seem to be related to living in an industrialized society, so that lifestyle (stress, diet, exercise) and toxic exposure could be one underlying factor for both diseases. Aside from that, we have not found a study demonstrating a causative link between hypothyroidism and Insulin Resistance. The endocrine system can be a very complex thing.
Regarding birth control and PCOS, this is from another posting as we often have concerns or questions relating to the use of birth control pills. Birth control pills (BCP) are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain symptoms of PCOS. It is also a common combination in women with PCOS and not all women are trying to conceive.
However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (by raising glucose levels). We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
As far as the way out you are looking for, please keep at controlling your weight; research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS. Women with PCOS often do well with a low carbohydrate diet.
Diet is one part, exercise also decreases insulin resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS. If you are not exercising, starting a program will benefit not only the insulin resistance but also increase metabolism and build muscle to contribute to weight loss. If you have not exercised in some time, just be sure to check with your doctor for any reasons why you might not be able to participate.
Another part that we as naturopaths consider important is a program that addresses the cause, symptoms and long term consequences of PCOS. With your diagnosis of PCOS and past treatment, I would recommend that you consider a more natural approach to the condition since you have not had the desired results thus far. Insulite Labs has designed a comprehensive approach to dealing with PCOS and its complications. To read more about it please visit:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this gives you some helpful information and that you consider using the PCOS System by Insulite Laboratories. Please contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.
Thank you again for contributing to our community; please visit often.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi
thanks for a very informative website.
i was diagnosed with insulin resistance.the doc gave me metformin.i havnt had a period since leaving my pill which was 5 months ago….im getting very anxious now. when will my periods return?
thanks once again
Dear Salma,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS support blog.
I understand your concern with not yet having your period since beginning the metformin. However, because you were on the pill prior to this and then stopped it can take your body some time to readjust.
It is not uncommon for women who stop using birth control to not have a period for months after. In short, I can’t really say when you might have your period again. Hopefully, the metformin will help.
But please know that with insulin resistance there is more of a risk for developing hormone imbalances that can also affect your cycles. Metformin is often given to women with PCOS and/or insulin resistance to reduce glucose levels and in turn to reduce insulin levels.
You did not mention if you also have PCOS in addition to the diagnosis of insulin resistance. I assume that you do based on what you have written but if you have not been diagnosed, there are a few test you can have to determine if this what is going on. They include testosterone levels (often high in women with PCOS), DHEA-s (hormone often increased in women with PCOS) LH:FSH ratio (hormones that affect ovulation, LH tends to be higher than FSH with PCOS), fasting insulin and glucose (you will not need this based on the diagnosis of insulin resistance).
If you have been diagnosed, sorry to go on with the above. What is most important is to understand that although medications can be useful, it is necessary to make diet and exercise changes to reduce your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease that increase with insulin resistance. The medication will only work as you take it and may not reduce the risks that go along with insulin resistance.
You can also contact your doctor if you do not have your period in the next couple of months.
In addition, you can also approach this with a more natural approach to the insulin resistance hormone imbalance. For more information, go to http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. The Insulite PCOS System can help to regulate your cycles, treat the insulin resistance and reduce risk for future complications.
I know this does not answer your question, but I hope that it does help. Please let use know if we can provide further assistance for you, Salma.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am currently on the PCOS system. Should I still be taking my DuetDHA Prenatal vitamins. I noticed that a lot of the same ingredients are in the PCOS system herbs that I am taking. Also, can I take just an iron supplement along with the PCOS system? I do not see where the PCOS system contains iron.
Thank you,
Angie Kolb
Ohio
Dear Angela,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Support blog.
This is a great question and one that we get asked frequently by people we work with. You obviously already know about the Insulite PCOS System since you have chosen to use it.
It is correct that there is no iron in our product. The PCOS System is not meant to replace a multi-vitamin/mineral or a prenatal vitamin. You can go ahead and take the Duet DHA prenatal along with the PCOS System because there will be some nutrients that your body needs that you will not see in the PCOS System. The PCOS System is designed to address insulin resistance and PCOS and we have chosen herbs and nutrients based on what research supports to help with these conditions.
You will notice some redundancy as far as the ingredients of the Insulite System and your own supplements but I don’t anticipate that it will be too much of one ingredient. Lastly, if you do become pregnant while using the PCOS System, we do ask that you discontinue the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
If you are concerned with the amounts of any nutrient, please email me at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com. Otherwise, please keep contributing to the blog as it is here for the community of women with PCOS who may be asking the same thing you just did.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi, I’ve been on the web latley trying to find information on PCOS.
First off I would like to thank you for having this website.
I was just diagnosed with PCOS, and I’m only 17. I’ve experienced the weight gain, the unwanted facial hair, and even worse the main pattern baldness with the thinning of my hair. Its always a struggle to take a shower and to wash my hair, its falling out in clumps, and what scares me the most is that I’m so young that I’m afraid by the time I’m 18 i’m gonna be bald. I understand what PCOS is now, my obgyn put me on Loestrin 24.One of my biggest concerns out of all this hormonal mess is, will my hair stop falling out?
Its heart breaking for me to be going through this because I am a teenager, and I’m so afraid of getting bald spots, to make matters worse, it just won’t stop falling out. I’m hoping once I’m on Loestrin it will stop.
But I’m also taking Bioten for my hair everyday, and this doesn’t seem to help. I just don’t know what to do. I need help from someone who understands this syndrome. PLEASE!
thanks
Dear Stephanie,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. I do hope that you are finding some useful information and support here.
I imagine it feels like you have no control over what is happening and we understand how confusing and scary it is to feel this way. But please know that you are not alone and there is a large community of women with a lot of information to share. Here is a link to some informative and support sites: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php. One site you will see the link for is soulcysters.com this is a community of women with PCOS who discuss almost every imaginable topic of related to PCOS and it can be helpful throughout your journey.
As you are probably finding in your research, the symptoms you are experiencing (weight gain, excess/unwanted facial hair and alopecia), are common symptoms. Others can include, ovarian cysts, irregular/absent cycles, acne, skin tags and dark skin patches and others. Women can have only a few or more. However, I understand how difficult it is to deal with the symptoms you are.
PCOS is certainly a cause for hair loss but however, there are other issues such as hypothyroidism, anemia, extreme stress, vitamin and mineral deficiencies to name a few that can also contribute. If it is indeed PCOS causing the issues, there are ways to help rebalance the hormones and help to remove excess testosterone that is often responsible for symptoms such as excess facial/body hair, hair loss and acne.
Biotin will help the strength of your hair but not the number of hair follicles on top of your head.
Have you had your thyroid tested? The test is a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and this number should ideally be at 1.0 (or very close by). The range for this test is very broad (0.45- 4.5 or in some labs 5.4). Most women say, “My TSH was normal” because they fall in the range however if you are above 2.5 this confirms that your thyroid is sluggish (a common cause of hair falling out in addition to many other PCOS symptoms).
Your research may have also led you to the believed cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
Birth control pills (BCP) are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain symptoms of PCOS. However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (by raising glucose levels). We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
There are more natural ways to control PCOS. First and second are nutrition and exercise, and the fact that you have been diagnosed at such a young age gives you the opportunity to really take control and make some changes where necessary to reduce the symptoms and long term consequences of PCOS. If you are interested in reading more on this, please visit: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. I would also recommend that you go through it with a parent or guardian as it is a comprehensive approach that we have designed to address PCOS. The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity and promote healthy weight loss with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
Stephanie, I hope this gives you some hope that you can see positive change. Please feel free to write in with any concerns or questions, we will do our best to help and support you through this.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Dr.,
I have been diagnosed with PCOS and hypothyroidism and the doctors in the diagnosis center gave me femilon in minute doses. When I browsed the internet I found out that birth control pills only result in withdrawal bleeding and continuous use of them will lead to ova not being released at all. I was scared and did not take the pill at all. I am dying to find out a solution by solving the root cause instead of remedies and found your website greatly relieving.
My symptoms are irregular periods and severe hair loss. I also suffer from depression and lack of confidence. I would like to get clarified on one question. Does the insulite problem induce withdrawal bleeding or lead to normal bleeding with release of Ova? Your response would be a great moral help to me.
Sincerely,
Vaishnavi
Dear Vaishnavi,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear how you are feeling and really appreciate you sharing this information. First, please keep reminding yourself that this is not your fault and although there may be other reasons for lack of confidence and depression, I want you to know that there are many women with PCOS who share these feelings. You are not alone, Vaishnavi.
I think it is great that you are gathering as much information as you can in order to find out what might be best for you. I am happy that our website has provided you some comfort on another option.
The Insulite PCOS System does not work the same as birth control pills. It does not produce withdrawal bleeding. The PCOS System uses herbs and nutrients to help regulate your cycle naturally by helping to balance out your hormones and reduce those such as testosterone and insulin that can contribute to your irregular cycles and thinning hair. It does not contain any hormones or stimulants, either. This is just one example.
We do get a lot of questions and requests for information on birth control pills, so I am borrowing some of this information from another one of my responses. Regarding the Femilon birth control pill, I am sure that you are finding out that birth control pills (BCP) are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain symptoms of PCOS. However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (by raising glucose levels). We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/category/birth-control/. We have had many women have their periods restored with using the System.
There are more natural ways to control PCOS, as you have found. First and second are nutrition and exercise, The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity and promote healthy weight loss with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
Not sure if you came across this in your research but we have found that it is not uncommon for women with PCOS to also have be diagnosed with hypothyroidism. We believe PCOS and thyroid conditions can be related. The thyroid gland and ovaries are both part of the endocrine system. If one part of the endocrine system is not functioning right that has an effect on the rest of the endocrine system. There is a study on rats that showed the thyroid gland has a direct effect on the hormone receptors on the ovaries. As naturopathic doctors we believe in looking at the body as a whole in trying to understand the cause of disease.
PCOS is certainly a cause for hair loss but however, there are other issues such as hypothyroidism (which you are also dealing with), anemia, extreme stress, vitamin and mineral deficiencies to name a few that can also contribute. If it is indeed PCOS causing the issues, the PCOS System can help with this. Hopefully, if the hypothyroidism is being addressed, it may help some.
Lastly, depression is commonly experienced by women with PCOS-as I mentioned above. The reasons why this is so are not very clear, though. The hormonal imbalance of PCOS (elevated testosterone and DHEA-S) could be implicated, as well as the insulin resistance, which underlies PCOS. Also, simply the stress of living with a condition like PCOS, which affects appearance (hair growth, weight, acne, etc.) is of course associated with emotional health.
I have been truly impressed by the women in the PCOS community and their willingness to help. I would encourage you to continue to reach out for information and help. Here is a link that can provide more links to information and support groups.
I hope this helps and you consider the PCOS System. Let us know if we can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Madam, I have PCOS, 28yrs old. Taking metformin for past 6 months. My weight is 58kg. My LH is 48 and FSH normal. I have hirsutism , hair growth in face.
I took krimson 35 to reduce testoterone harmone, should I continue metformin throughout my life? Will I get pregnant? Guide me in this regard. What type of foods I should take?
Dear Sumithra,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS support blog. You ask some very important questions, Sumithra and I will do my best.
Unfortunately, regarding a couple questions, the answers are not so easy.
Many women are prescribed metformin to help decrease glucose levels and therefore insulin levels. It can also help restore your period. However, we hear from many women that this has not helped them. Keep in mind that each person is different and it is difficult to say how it will affect you. This also means that I am not sure if you will conceive with this medication. I hope that you have been feeling well since beginning. In addition, I can’t tell you to continue or not to continue the route to help how you are managing PCOS. It would be unethical and possibly dangerous. This is a conversation that you should have with your doctor. Also if you are considering another treatment then I would recommend that you share that information with them as well.
However I can provide more information on foods. Two of the most important areas that you can change are diet and exercise. These are extremely important to address even if you are not overweight. Research shows that women lean and overweight often have some form of insulin resistance (the underlying cause of PCOS), and exercise and other dietary changes can help. The addition of certain herbs an nutrients supported by research can also help. If you are interested in this approach, please go to http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
As part of our nutrition plan and the Insulite PCOS System, I can tell you very generally that we advocate a “whole foods” diet that is low in carbohydrates. We encourage our clients to reduce the number of carbs gradually. We encourage people to avoid refined carbohydrates like bread, sugar, pasta, tortillas, pastries, cookies, etc. A whole foods diet is one that stresses fresh, unprocessed, and unrefined foods. All of our customers receive the Insulite Guide that outlines and guides you through proper dietary choices, menu and recipe suggestions.
I do want to mention that we advocate a multi-dimensional approach to healing PCOS and its underlying cause, Insulin Resistance. The Insulite PCOS System has been designed to safely and effectively change your body chemistry. Insulite Laboratories has developed this system to revitalize the natural functions of insulin and glucose while increasing the number of insulin receptors on your cells.
If you continue to use metformin, I would also recommend making nutrition and exercise changes as appropriate. I know I was not able to answer some of your questions but I do hope that this is helpful for you. Please continue to contribute to the PCOS blog and thanks again for writing in.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am 23 years old and facing PCOS for last 5/6 years. I started having my periods when I was 12 yrs old. but it was never regular. My doctor said it takes some time to be regular. At that time i used to go to karate classes. So my body was quite used to some rigorous exrecise and my weight was also normal. But then my periods became quite irregular and i stopped exercising for some reason and started putting lot of weight. Then i went for sonography. from the test result it was clear that i was facing PCOS. The report said i have enlarged ovaries and multiple cysts in my ovaries.So for last 5 yeras i am on medication. I used medicines like Femilon, Ginnette 32 and Mepret. These are kind of birth control pills that my doctor prescribed me. When i am using these pills i get my periods monthly but for dat i hve to take the pills each month or my periods are irregular. Now for last 6 months i have been exercising sincerely. I have reduced in inches but my weight is almost the same. My upper body is perfect but lower body is kinda out of proporton(hips, thighs, abs). I am also facing problems like hair growth on my face and on some other body parts, hair loss, fatigue, mood swings and acne. I am kind of getting depressed as i am not ables to reduce my weight and bcoz of my facial hair growth.
Can u plz tell me if it is really advisable to go ahead with birth control pills??? i am really worried abt my condition now.
Dear Manasee,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear how PCOS is affecting you and understand your concerns. We certainly hope that the Insulite website (www.insulitelabs.com) and blog can provide some useful information. The symptoms you are experiencing are not uncommon for women with PCOS. We do get a lot of questions and requests for information on birth control pills, so I am borrowing some of this information from another one of my responses. Regarding the birth control pill, I am sure that you are finding out that birth control pills (BCP) are often used by the medical community to regulate cycles and help with certain symptoms of PCOS. However, there is research showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (by raising glucose levels), which is often the underlying cause of PCOS. We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
Our take on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will heal PCOS. Medications are aimed at suppressing the symptoms of PCOS without addressing the underlying cause of PCOS, in most cases.
With that being said, Manasee, I can’t make any recommendations regarding using birth control pills and if they are appropriate for you. I do want to let you know that whatever you choose to do, you can also consider the Insulite PCOS System.
The Insulite PCOS System does not work the same as birth control pills. The PCOS System uses herbs and nutrients to help regulate your cycle naturally by helping to balance out your hormones and reduce those such as testosterone and insulin that can contribute to your irregular cycles, acne, excess facial and body hair. It does not contain any hormones or stimulants, either. This is just one example.
You already know how important exercise is and I would recommend that you keep it up. Remember although the numbers may not change on the scale, lowing inches is a good sign. You are also building muscle and this weights more that fat tissue.
In the last six months, have you also made changes to your diet? This goes hand and hand with exercise as far as importance and controlling insulin levels and how your body responds to the foods you do eat.
Manasee, I would recommend that you check out the PCOS System as I think it can help you. Please feel free to write in at any time. We are here to help.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello Dr Deluca,
I do hope you can help me. I was finally diagnosed with PCOS today after years of trying to get to the bottom of my symptoms and I am feeling really rather scared and uninformed. My Dr rushed me through everything and I am not sure where to turn for good, specialist advice.
Apparently (according to my Dr and which seems to be substantiated by the articles I am reading online) symptoms can vary from woman to woman. For instance, I have had no periods this year so far and if I am lucky I will average about 2-3 annually. This has significantly decreased since my adolescent years. Can you tell me if PCOS can get worse as you get older? For instance could I get other symptoms, which I presently do not suffer with as time goes on? I am now 29 years of age.
I also suffer with depression, lethargy (which I put down as a lingering factor from Glandular Fever, which I had a few years ago), though apparently my testosterone levels are normal. I have a little excess hair, do not suffer with acne or hair thinning thankfully. Does this mean that my PCOS is different from others? My results were based on blood tests and my GP said that there was enough evidence (given my complete lack of periods and slight problems with weight) that PCOS was the cause. Should I insist on an ultrasound?
My main worry above everything is my fertility. I know drugs like clomid are given to stimulate egg release but does this work in all instances? Could I actually be infertile and no treatments will help? I adore children and do really want to have my own in the future.
I would be so grateful if you could advise and tell me what I should do at this stage. Although I have only just been diagnosed, I feel I have had this disorder since my mid-late teens.
Dear Charlotte,
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us. I am glad that you have chosen to write in.
You are not alone in feeling scared when hearing this diagnosis. This may ease the minds of many women who have had the same experience with the feeling that something was not right and the time it can take for someone who either hears you or is experienced enough to recognize this condition.
However, I am sure that the ease is quickly replaced with, what does this
mean and what do I do?
There are some really good online sources of information and as I frequently mention on this blog, a community of women who are here to offer advice and support. Here is a link to get you started:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
You may also find some other resources from women who are willing to share what helped them understand and gain perspective after being diagnosed.
Please reach out to this community. I think as women, we feel we need to have a handle and deal with it and we can - but reaching out to others also allows us to accept help, realize that we don’t have to do it all alone. The understanding from another person often ends up helping both parties.
Your doctor is correct in that symptoms vary from woman to woman. This is seen not only with symptoms but also with lab testing. This is one of the reasons it is difficult to diagnose and treat successfully. However, most often the cause is insulin resistance. Even though each woman with PCOS can look very different in how they are affected, treating the underlying cause can help with all the symptoms.
Because of the variability, the ultrasound may not be necessary. Not all women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries.
Fatigue and depression are also commonly seen in women with PCOS. Not everyone, but from my experience enough to say that they are associated with PCOS. It may be a result of the hormonal imbalance that we often see.
Fertility is a concern for many women with PCOS. It is a major cause of infertility. But do not lose hope, there are many women with PCOS that have been able to conceive successfully. What you need to keep in mind is that there are things you can do increase your chances, including good nutrition and exercise.
Here is a link related to PCOS and infertility:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in
turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin also contributes to weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
Unfortunately, Clomid is not successful for every women. There can be many reasons why. The best thing to do at this point Charlotte is to start
reading so that you understand the process that is going on in your body. Often times, women with PCOS have a lot to teach the physicians because it is your experience and PCOS does not affect just one thing, it affects many.
Also, I would recommend checking out the Insulite PCOS System. This is a protocol that we have developed for women with PCOS. It addresses the underlying cause as well as the symptoms. You can read more at http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com.
Charlotte, I hope this is enough to get you started. Please let us know if we can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi,
I have recenlty been diagnosed with PCOS. My partner and I have decided that we will start trying to conceive and just “see what happens” at this stage. Besides the normal pregnancy vitamins is there anything I should be taking to help me conceive and, if I do fall pregnant, reduce my risk of miscarriage?
Thanks in advance for your help
Rebecca
Dear Rebecca,
Thank you for writing in to our PCOS blog. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis with PCOS. I hope you are finding this blog helpful.
If you are interested, here is a link to other sites that also provide support and community to women with PCOS:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
Onto your question: taking a good prenatal supplement is most important when preparing for and during your pregnancy and based on your diagnosis, I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System.
As you know, PCOS is a major cause of infertility. A symptom of the condition can be nine or fewer menstrual cycles per year. Because women with PCOS don’t have regular periods, many are unable to become pregnant. To read more about PCOS and infertility please visit the following link: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php
With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in
turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin also contributes to weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines.
The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS. While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving, barring any other factors contributing to the infertility.
It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
Risk of miscarriage can depend on multiple factors and I would recommend that you discuss your current hormone levels with your doctor to see if any additional support may be needed. Because PCOS tends to lead to an estrogen dominant state, progesterone levels may be relatively low.
Progesterone supplementation would depend on your levels of progesterone. Many women with PCOS do have lower levels of progesterone and supplementation would be helpful if that is the case. If you use it, I would recommend making sure it is a natural, bio-identical form of
progesterone that you receive from your doctor. Women respond much better to this than the synthetic forms of progesterone.
Progesterone is safe in the beginning of pregnancy and in fact is prescribed by many doctors for maintaining pregnancies. The placenta is not
functioning in the beginning and only fully functions at week 10 or so. At 3 months some people are on progesterone to compensate for lack of
placental progesterone but then can be weaned off safely.
Rebecca, I hope that you find this useful. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again and thanks again for your post.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello Dr. Heather,
I am 24 years old and got diagnosed with PCOS just a little over 3 years ago, although I always knew that there was something wrong with me since I was about 13. But of course, no doctor would believe, putting me on depression meds, one right after another and nothing help. At that time I started looking at alternative treatments and found this website, but didn’t have the money to buy the supplements.
I just started my third month, but I am getting discouraged because I haven’t lost any weight according to the scale. I am a boxer and the coach keeps telling me that I need to drop weight. I know I have lost inches because I have been fitting in to clothes that I haven’t worn in about 3 years.
I have changed my diet drastically. I do understand that muscle weights more than fat, so I guess my main question is what could I do or is there anything that I could do help bring the numbers on the scale down? On average how long will the numbers keep going up due to the muscle gain before they start to come down?
Just so you have an idea of a typical day, I eat either two boiled eggs, or 8 oz whey protein shake for breakfast, morning snack is some kind of fruit, (apple, orange, berries or grapefruit), lunch is usually a salad with lemon juice instead of dressing, and afternoon snack is once again some kind of fruit, and then dinner is either chicken, fish or protein shake. I go to the boxing gym for an hour and a half four times a week, and I try to run everyday at least a mile or two a day six times a week. I am getting very frustrated and any help or information you can send my way would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for you help and time
AnnaLouise
Dear Anna Louise,
Hello, thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
Your story sounds familiar. I am not sure if you saw it but Charlotte has had a similar experience with the time it had taken her to get the diagnosis after knowing something was not right. I wish this did not happen and I am sorry that this becomes a woman’s experience.
However, with that experience you have gained more information and knowledge by taking charge of your health. I was glad to read that you have started the Insulite PCOS System. Don’t get discouraged. I want to assure you that you are making important changes for your body now and also for long term health.
I understand that you are frustrated and want to see the numbers decrease on the scale but keep in mind that you have lost inches and you are fitting into clothes that you could not in a while. Also, as you build muscle you are losing fat.
Now, based on an average day you sent, your calorie intake seems a quite low, especially with the level of activity you engage in. From what you sent I estimate between 600-800 calories. This can be dangerous long term. This may be a reason that you are not seeing as much of a change in numbers. When you do this, your body feels like it is being starved and may hold onto every calorie, not let go of weight, and can actually SLOW your metabolism. The low carb diet is necessary, but that doesn’t negate your need for other nutrients and fiber. Also, have you worked on getting enough healthy fats into your diet? Such as avocados, nuts, flax seeds and oil, fish oils?
However, with that being said, it may just take you longer to see the results. This is not uncommon, women with PCOS often have to work much harder at diet and exercise with slower results.
In addition, how slowly or quickly your body responds also depends on your past dieting history. For people with a history of dieting and lots of weight loss and rebound weight gain, it is more difficult for their bodies to adjust their metabolic set point. In other words, perhaps your body is so accustomed to being at a certain weight, that your metabolism is readjusting itself to maintain it.
I would encourage to you to stick with it and be sure that you are getting enough calories. Please keep in contact with me at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com so that we can be sure that you are moving in the right direction and we can evaluate if other changes are needed to help you reach your goals. I look forward to hearing from you.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
dr heather i really need some advice. i am twenty years old and have been diagnosed with pcos since i was about sixteen. my drs since then have prescribed me to take birth control pills to keep my cycle normal. well i got married last july and decided to stop taking my bcp a few months after. since then i haven’t had any menstrul bleeding. not one period. its kinda worrying me as i want to start a family somethind in the near future. and can all that lining in the uterus build up since i’m not having periods? what makes things worse is we don’t have insurance. also i gain weight so easily. i am at my heaviest now at 225. any advice on what to do to loose it? food to eat exercise to do etc thanks so much. vanessa
Dear Vanessa,
Thank you for writing in. I certainly can understand your concerns and I will try to help as much as I can.As you may know birth control is often prescribed to help regulate a woman’s cycle and to help reduce other symptoms that are associated with PCOS.
Ideally, we would hope that after discontinuing birth control, your cycles would become more regular. But as we often see in women with PCOS, menstruation for most becomes less as it was prior to the birth control. And if you are trying to conceive, birth control makes this difficult.
More recently, research is showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (the underlying cause of PCOS) by raising glucose levels. We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
Also, there is concern with not having a period for extended lengths of time. The lining of the uterus is not able to shed as it is meant to each
month. One of those that has been studied is an increase cancer risk. The strongest link between cancer and PCOS is endometrial cancer. A few
studies have suggested a correlation between PCOS and breast cancer, while some have not. Breast cancer and endometrial cancer are described as “estrogen-sensitive” cancers, meaning that the presence of estrogen may cause these cancer cells to multiply.
Because PCOS causes disruptions to the normal menstrual cycle – irregular menstrual periods and the absence of ovulation cause women to produce estrogen, but not progesterone. Without progesterone, which causes the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to shed each month as a menstrual period, the endometrium may grow too much and undergo atypical cell changes. This is a pre-cancerous condition called endometrial hyperplasia. If the thickened endometrium is not treated over a long period of time it can develop into endometrial cancer.
This is one reason; another is due to elevations in insulin. Here is a link to a study commenting on this:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18181084?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2
.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSumIt has not yet been determined if and how the other hormone changes play a part or increase risk but I think we will see more research into this in the future.Some studies have detected a correlation between having had PCOS and LATER having ovarian cancer, but this is far from definitive. The general consensus in the medical community is that there is not a relationship between PCOS and ovarian cancer.
However, there are ways to work toward having a more regular cycle. You mentioned that you tend to gain weight easily and this is not uncommon. Have you made changes toward a healthier lower carbohydrate diet and including exercise most days of the week? If so, I would encourage you to keep at it. We know that a 5-10% reduction of weight can help to restore cycles. I won’t pretend that it will be easy.
You might also want to include the Insulite PCOS System to help with the hormone imbalance, which can help with your cycles and insulin resistance. If right now you are not able to take this route, I would recommend that you contact us regarding the diet and exercise plan and how to optimize what you are doing, if it is not in line with our advice. You can contact me regarding this at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com.
Vanessa, you are still very young and the fact that you are seeking information on this condition and the risks associated with it, is great and
hopefully we can get you moving in the direction that takes you toward your goals.
Please continue to check in and contribute to the PCOS blog. We all appreciate your contribution.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Dear Dr.,
I have been diagnosed with PCOS in the year 2000.I was put on Birth control pills and Aldactone (and eltroxin for my hypothyroid condition).I lost weight and came down from around 70kg to 58kg.The facial hair also reduced.I stopped the meds in the mid of 2001 and since then i had regular periods.I took meds again during 2006 to aid pregnancy and conceived withing two months of using them.
My periods started 21 days after my delivery and were coming around once a year.Now for about a year i have developed acne and gained weight althoug i am being cautious about my food intake(but our main food is rice so i guess it doesnt help!).My periods come 21-24 days apart but itslike i get them twice in the same month!.
My doc has told me to use birth control pills.A blood test revealed that my testosterone level was 80ng/dl and all the other hormone levels were normal including my TSH.
Will teh use of birth control help reduce this hirsutism (facial hair)?my doc dint ask for an abdominal ultrasound scan.Should i insist on one?
Thank you for your patince.
Srilakshmi.
Dear Srilakshmi,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
It sounds like you were doing well for some time. We do hear that some women start to have symptoms return after pregnancy or that they were doing better for a time and then symptoms started to return.
Why this is happening to you now, I am not sure. It can be many factors that are contributing. As you know, women with PCOS can experience cycles that are longer or shorter, as you are. With a period every three weeks you will be having months where you will see it twice a month. Not much of a break. You may want to check with your doctor and have some blood work to check for anemia if you’re bleeding more often. They may recommend an iron supplement. I would have this evaluated, especially if your periods are heavy.
Regarding the weight gain, this is another common symptom at about 50% of the women with PCOS. What is important is to be sure that your diet is mostly vegetables, good sources of protein, healthy fats and some fruits. With rice being a staple, it can make reducing carbs more difficult. But you can decrease the amount you use and replace it with other foods mentioned. You can still eat carbs but we know that women with PCOS really respond better to lower carb diets. It may be that you will start to see some improvement with more focus on your diet. What about exercise? This is something that needs to also be a part of the path towards improving insulin resistance.
The medications that you have used in the past are commonly used to help regulate your cycles and to help reduce androgen levels such as testosterone. Birth control can help with this as well.
Birth control with estrogen and progesterone can help however, use is recommended for 6-12 months for changes to be seen as far as hair growth. A couple of the reasons this helps is because it can counterbalance the increased testosterone levels by increasing the estrogen and progesterone and because estrogen can increase sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). This binds excess testosterone so that it decreases the effect it has on hair growth and other symptoms associated with increased androgen levels.
According to one study, “between 60% and 100% of women with hirsutism will notice improvement over a period of 6 to 12 months”, http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/93/4/0.
However, research is showing that birth control pills can worsen insulin resistance (the underlying cause of PCOS) by raising glucose levels. We have a posting on the blog regarding this issue:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?cat=3.
Your doctor may not have felt the ultrasound was necessary based on your history and diagnosis. Not every women with PCOS will have ovarian cysts, so many doctors may not perform the test.
How you treat PCOS is up to you and using these medications is a decision that is best made with your doctor and your goals in mind. If you are looking for a more natural approach to addressing this besides pharmaceuticals, I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System. This is a protocol that we have developed for women with PCOS. It addresses the underlying cause as well as the symptoms. You can read more at http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com.
Srilakshmi, I hope you consider the PCOS System as I think it would be helpful to you. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and continue to be a part of this community and other PCOS communities out there, we all learn from one another.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dr. DeLuca,
Hi. I am so very frustrated. I have been told I have pcos. I am trying to conceive, but I have been unsuccessful. I am trying to learn as much as possible about this condition and I most importantly I want to know how to keep it under control or get rid of it. I have read that there is no cure for this condition, but I would like to be as healthy as possible.
Right now my doctor has me on Clomid 75mg and I have not been able to conceive. I went for a vaginal sonogram and it showed that I have no developed eggs.
I want to know how good does Insulite work? Also, if its ok for me to take that while taking Clomid?
And any other advise or information that you could provide me. I just want to know that there is hope to have a family and for me to be able to be healthy!
Please help! Thank you!
Sincerely,
PCOS Frustation
Dear PCOS Frustration,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I think your name says it all. I can understand your frustration and you are not alone.
However, first it is great that you are taking this opportunity to learn as much as you can about PCOS. I encourage to visit other sites and gather as much as you can. As I have said before on this blog, the women who experience PCOS are often more educated about the condition than anyone else. Here is a link to other sites that may be useful to you:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
We cannot say for sure that PCOS is a curable disease. Conventional medicine asserts that PCOS is incurable. However, we can say that insulin resistance is a reversible condition, and insulin resistance is one of the underlying causes of PCOS. Therefore, by removing this underlying cause of PCOS we would expect your experience of the PCOS to greatly improve. The goal, as you said, is to be as healthy as possible. Even if it we can’t cure it, we know that there are ways to work towards a healthier life with PCOS.
As you know, due to genetic variations and the severity of insulin resistance, each person on the Insulite PCOS System achieves results in different time frames. Some individuals get an almost immediate response while, for others, results take longer. Therefore, it would be difficult to give you an exact time frame of when you would begin noticing changes. However, the majority of our customers do notice positive changes in the first month of being on the Insulite PCOS System.
What most people have reported is that their energy improves, they notice less cravings for carbs, and lose a little weight, if this is something they were struggling with before. Other customers also report in the first few months that their menstrual cycles have become more regular and their acne decreased.
One other factor that impacts how you will be affected is compliance not only with the supplements of the PCOS System but the crucial elements like diet and exercise.
You can continue Clomid while using the PCOS System. We just recommend that you take it away from the GlucX supplement. The reason for this is that GlucX is high in soluble fiber, which could theoretically interfere with the absorption of other medications taken simultaneously. Therefore we suggest taking the GlucX about 4 hours apart from other substances.
In addition, if you become pregnant while using the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
Remember that there is hope and although conceiving can be very difficult and for some women they will not conceive, this may not be your experience. There are many women that I have spoken to that have struggled and were able to conceive and have a successful pregnancy.
Having PCOS is not easy as it affects so much of a women’s body, not only physically but also emotionally. However, we know that you can become healthier; you often just have to work a bit harder at it. Keep gathering information, it is the best way to determine what may be the best plan of action for you.
I do hope that you consider the PCOS System. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am requesting any information that you may have involving the reconstruction of the Falopian Tubes. If there is any kind of testing or trials you may know of, I am willing to try anything, I mean ANYTHING. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Amy K. Berry
Contact Information:
Amy.rae@cox.net
(850)501-4902
(850)607-6638
Mailing Address:
3706 West Brainerd St. Apt. B
Pensacola, Florida 32505
Dr Heather,
Is there any reason I should not take fertility medicines (femara, tamoxifen, or gonal F) with the PCOS suppliments?
Kindest Regards,
Tami
Dear Tami,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I just responded to you directly but I think it yours is good question that other women would like to know about since there are many women who are struggling to conceive
and have chosen to use or are considering using a pharmaceutical approach.
The question about drug-nutrient-herb interactions is an excellent one. As you know, there is a paucity of research studies investigating the effects of herbs and nutrients on pharmaceutical drugs and vice versa.
When we work with individuals taking medications, we look at the mechanism of action of the particular medications they are using and assess the likelihood of interactions from that information.
I don’t anticipate any interactions with the use of femara/letrozole, gonal F, tamoxifen and the Insulite PCOS System.
Femara is used in infertility to decrease estrogen to increase FSH to cause the ovary to produce eggs. Risks of use include a 3-fold increase in birth defects when used as TMT for infertility.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Infertility/tb/2231
http://www.ca.novartis.com/downloads/en/letters/ femara_hcp_e_17_11_05.pdf
However, with that being said, if you experience any problems please discontinue using the System and contact your doctor and then let us know as well.
Please feel free to write in at any time, Tami.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am 29 yrs old and was diagnosed with PCO since I was 16 yrs old. I have started the Insulite program and I wanted to know if I can stop my birth control pills. I was taking them becuase I have heavy menses that last up to 2 weeks. Will the program help me regulate my menstrual cycle.
Dear Judy,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Support blog and for choosing to use the Insulite PCOS System. I hope you are already starting to feel better with the System.
Regarding your question about stopping the birth control pill, I can’t make any recommendations regarding your current medications since I am not your doctor, have never seen you as a patient and was not the one to prescribe the pill for you. You may wish to discuss the situation with your Doctor but it is ultimately your decision.
I can tell you that many women have chosen to discontinue using the birth control pill once they have started the PCOS System.
The PCOS System will help to regulate your cycle. But what is important to remember is that this can take some time and everyone is a bit different in how they respond. This variation has much to do with the reasons why the System is being used. In your case, I understand the reason to be to control prolonged/excessive bleeding.
Many other women use the Insulite System to ensure a cycle each month and many have had their cycles become regulated while using the System.
And since everyone responds differently, we cannot tell you how you will respond if you stop taking BCP. The outcome is not known unless you decide to stop and see.
However, with your history of excessive bleeding off the birth control pills, I recommend that you just be aware of this and know you may need to go back on them until your hormones are in balance.
I hope that this helps you. Please let us know how we can help and support you while you are going through this experience.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi, My name is Kristen and I am 20 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17. I felt like all I have done is gain weight. I got married a year ago and my husand and would like to have a child. I have been trying for about 6 or 7 months now and it feels like it will never happen. I have read lots of blogs of people, and it took them many years to get pregant. I have been on Metfomin for 3 years and I don’t feel like it is helping either. I don’t know what to do. I would like to loose weight, for my health and myself, but I have also heard that it helps you get pregant when you loose weight.
Do you have any tips or answers?
Thank you so much for you time.
Dear Kristen,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in! I am Dr. Andrea Lee, another one of the doctors on the Medical and Advisory Team at Insulite Labs. Dr. DeLuca is enjoying some well deserved vacation time this week so I am covering her blog while she is away.
As you may have read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time losing weight, as you have experienced. The difficulty becoming pregnant that many women with PCOS experience is due to a number of actors: the ovarian cysts, the hormonal imbalance, and the elevated insulin.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5-10% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating; therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing support at Insulite Labs for our customers; we are here to help you
through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help out and want to make sure that the Insulite System works for you.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the
advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other
nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition
Kristen
Hello, I was diagnosed with PCOS about 9 years ago. I struggle with quick weight gain and the inability to loose the weight. I doesn’t seem to matter what I eat I still gain weight. I found out about a side affect of PCOS was insulin resistance only about five months ago. I had the doctor test me and I guess I am one of the lucky ones in that I DO NOT have insulin resistance. If I don’t have it then why am I still gainning weight fast and trying everything without success in loosing it?
Dear Malia,
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in! I am Dr. Andrea Lee, another one of the doctors on the Medical and
Advisory Team at Insulite Labs. Dr. Heather DeLuca is enjoying some well deserved vacation time this week so I am covering her blog while she is away.
The mechanism of PCOS without insulin resistance is still not entirely understood in the medical community. As you may know, many women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. Some women with PCOS hypersecrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. Furthermore, in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
How did your doctors determine that you are not insulin resistant? I am wondering if you have ever had your fasting insulin checked. This is
different from a blood glucose test.
Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the fasting insulin leveland the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting
insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher
is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood
pressure, difficulty losing weight, and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
In insulin resistance, there can be an excess of insulin in the blood because the receptors on the cells (the doors) are not sensitive to the
insulin. The insulin cannot open the doors of the cells when there is insulin resistance. As a result, the body produces more and more insulin
and more receptors, and eventually some sugar gets pushed into the cell. It’s a long-term feed back loop that occurs from the cells in our body.
The cells are hungry for glucose so a signal is sent to tell the pancreas to produce more insulin and the cells more insulin receptors so the
glucose can get in the cell.
Sometimes insulin resistance results in high blood sugar, sometimes in low blood sugar, and sometimes there is no change whatsoever in blood sugar levels. I think this probably depends on how long the person has been Insulin resistant, among other things. Like many things, developing
insulin resistance was probably a combination of environmental and genetic factors. This is why although you have been tested for diabetes (i.e.,
your blood sugar is being monitored), you could have normal blood sugars and yet still have high insulin or insulin resistance.
Elevated insulin and insulin resistance also contribute to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also
because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity,
and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
I am beginning to think that there is a lot we don’t know about diagnosing insulin resistance that our detection methods are not sophisticated enough to catch all of the cases of insulin resistance.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the
advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other
nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition
i have been put on metformin to try and counteract my symptoms of pcos. i have been on the pill since april and not seen any change. i was wonering how long before i can see or feel a change. also with being on the medication can i still become pregnant. i have been trying since june and want to know if i should begin to see a specialist for help.
Dear Jennifer
I am delighted that you found our blog and decided to write in! I am Dr. Andrea Lee, another one of the doctors on the Medical and Advisory Team at Insulite Labs. Dr. DeLuca is enjoying some well deserved vacation time this week so I am covering her blog while she is away.
The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it
produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other
androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to
the influence of insulin.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice
versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult
time losing weight, as you have experienced.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to
reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin, which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for
causing PCOS. With those on Metformin, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms
related to PCOS.
That said, Metformin isn’t a drug for PCOS. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with
type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose (not insulin which is believed to be the
underlying cause of PCOS). Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents.
Metformin decreases glucose production in the liver, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing
peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged and fasting plasma insulin levels and day-long
plasma insulin response may or may not decrease. In short, Metformin treats only the symptom of hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the
bloodstream), not the cause (insulin resistance).
As for how long Metformin therapy will take to evidence changes, every person is different, and it would be difficult to give you a time frame as
to when you could expect to see results. It can take many months, even for women who don’t have PCOS to become pregnant. The window for
conception is very narrow- only about 24 hours or so. Fertility specialists typically require that you have been actively trying to conceive for at least 6 months, but I am sure that varies from doctor to doctor.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing support at Insulite Labs for our customers; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, NMD
Insulite Laboratories Medical and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the
advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other
nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition
I am 24yrs. old and was diagnosed with PCOS about 4yrs. ago. I am taking the pcos insulite treatment and have seen some energy increase but the symptom from the pcos that I would like to better is my hair loss; I haven’t seen much improvement since I started using the pcos insulite treatment, about 3 wks. ago, and my hair is still falling out…please help this is taking me to depression symptoms.
I would also like to know if it is okay to take a diet supplement with the pcos insulite treatment because i haven’t lost any weight, I am very desperate. Help me please!!!!!!
Dear Miriam,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am glad to hear that you have chosen to use the Insulite PCOS System.
The increased energy is one of the benefits we often see early on with use of the PCOS System. Three weeks is still pretty early to see changes in the symptoms that are more related to the hormone imbalance. However, we do see these early in some women, it really depends on many factors, including, severity, current hormone status in addition to compliance and amount of dietary and exercise changes.
Have other reasons for hair loss been investigated? Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and PCOS is certainly one of them. There are other issues such as hypothyroidism, anemia, extreme stress, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and medications to name a few. If it is indeed PCOS causing the issues, the Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle in the PCOS+ supplement will be very helpful because they aid in rebalancing hormones by helping to remove excess testosterone. Also, we also have another supplement that can help in correcting any essential fatty acid deficiency. It is called Meta-OmegaX.
Biotin will help the strength of your hair but not the number of hair follicles on top of your head. I have not heard from many patients that there is good result with increasing hair follicles with supplements other than those that balance hormones, which you are already doing.
Have you had your thyroid tested? The test is a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and this number should ideally be at 1.0 (or very close by). The range for this test is very broad (0.45- 4.5 or in some labs 5.4). Most women say, “My TSH was normal” because they fall in the range however if you are above 2.5 this confirms that your thyroid is sluggish (a common cause of hair falling out in addition to many other PCOS symptoms).
Many women who have thyroid dysfunction are on Synthroid. This drug causes hair loss so I would suggest trying another hormone replacement such as Armour Thyroid. Depending on where you live this may be difficult to get a practitioner to prescribe this for you as it is considered “natural” and therefore “un-standardized”. Many of my patients do better on Armour than Synthroid so it is worth considering this.
Starting and stopping the birth control pill can cause hair loss as well.
I wish I could tell you that this symptom will change faster for you but I can’t. It can take a few months to see new hair growth in the form of baby hairs on top of your head or around the margin of your hairline.
In regard to using a diet pill. We don’t recommend using diet pills for a few reasons. First, many of them contain stimulants such as caffeine or other herbal stimulants that will artificially increase your metabolism and once you stop these your metabolism will decrease and the weight will most likely come back and become harder to control with diet and exercise alone. In addition, these can increase your heart rate and blood pressure.
Another reason we don’t recommend diet pills is that some will prevent the absorption of certain macronutrients. Macronutrients include fat, protein and carbohydrates. Most often you would find a pill that blocks the absorption of fat or carbs. This can be a problem, for example, if it blocks fat it blocks all fat including fat soluble vitamins (A, D E and K). Also, these can have side effects of gas, bloating and fatty stools.
Although we recommend decreasing the total carbohydrate intake we don’t have you remove all carbs. We have you choose the best sources that provide you with benefits that are useful for women with PCOS.
How are you doing at reducing your intake of carbs/ increasing more whole food choices and exercise?
You have recently started the System and the changes in diet and exercise, so be patient, and I encourage you to keep doing what you are doing. I am confident that you will see changes. Please let me know how you are doing and how I can help.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi, i’m 23 yrs and 7 months olds. i’m 5’2 and i weigh 40 kgs. i have been diagonsed with polycystic ovarian disease. i’m really scared. i’m unmarried . can i become infertile?
during my last menstruation i i got black blood that also was not much few drops which lasted for 4 -5 days and it was jst a few drops evryday. my doctor said that iam underwieght for any pills..so she said i have to increase my wieght before they start medications:( i dunno what to do…how can i cure this? please help me
Dear Tanya,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS support blog. Getting the diagnosis of PCOS can be very scary to hear. However, I am glad to see you reaching out for help. It is really important for women to do
this. Often there is so much information that is missing or that you are not told. I encourage you, as I do all women, to learn as much as you can about
the condition and what that means for you.The women you will meet within the PCOS community are really amazing and willing to help. If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved in a support group, please go to:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
As you also may be finding out, the women who have PCOS are every woman. Some are thin, some are overweight, some have a lot of symptoms and others will have only one. Also, some women will have a harder time becoming pregnant. There are women with PCOS who have children. How this will affect you, I can’t tell you but you can take steps toward increasing the chances when you are ready to conceive.To read more about PCOS and infertility please visit the following link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php
The cause of PCOS is often related to insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which
leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens
(masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin can contribute to weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal
imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.Many thin women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not insulin resistant.
Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly
sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.This study was done with lean and obese women with PCOS and it found that lean PCOS women had an increased secretion of insulin compared to those who were obese. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/89/6/2942
This study also done comparing the two groups of PCOS women found that lean PCOS women had higher insulin levels than lean women without PCOS. So still an indication of either increased secretion or resistance.
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/14/12/2951
At this time because your doctor does not want to use medications, you can certainly try a more natural approach. If you are interested in this
approach to helping address PCOS and the symptoms or to learn more about PCOS, please visit our website at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
The cause of PCOS is often related to insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which
leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens
(masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin can contribute to weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal
imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
As you may know irregular cycles are often seen in women with PCOS and if awoman is not having a regular period the lining of the uterus can continue to thicken. A reason that the blood may have been so dark is if it has been a while since you had a period. The blood can darken over time. Being underweight can also cause you stop having a period. You did not mention much about your cycle but this can contribute in addition to PCOS.
There are ways to help promote weight gain and I would recommend discussing this with a nutritionist that focuses on whole foods.What will be important since you do have PCOS is to increase foods that have healthy sources of fat and protein. Increasing calories with nuts, seeds, avocadoes, olive oil, in addition to plenty of vegetables and protein and some whole grains and fruits can all be used to help you gain some weight.
Tanya, I hope that this is helpful. Please let us know if there is any other information that we can help provide. –
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory teamDISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello Doc,
I was diagonosed with hypothyroid at the age 16 and I have been gaining weight ever since. In 2006, I was diagnosed with PCOS also, so now I have to diseases that causes me to gain weight and have trouble having a baby. I use to weigh about 150 lbs, and now I am 209. The biggest part of my body is my mid-section and I hate it. I have tried a lot of diets, and still have no luck in loosing weight. I stopped taking my synthyroid back on Feb 2008 along with the Metaformin that the doctor prescribed. It just wasn’t working, so I stopped taking the pills. I really really want to loose weight and try to have a baby. What can I do that will help me achiev my 165 lbs goal. Please help.
Thank you in advance.
Dear Gina,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
I am sorry to hear how you are struggling right now. We understand how difficult it can be to have PCOS then add on something else. Actually, we often see hypothyroidism in women with PCOS. You are right it is like a double shot to the metabolism. The thyroid gland and ovaries are both part of the endocrine system. If one part of the endocrine system is not functioning right that has an effect on the rest of the endocrine system. As a naturopathic doctor I believe in looking at the body as a whole in trying to understand the cause of disease.
It will be important to address the insulin resistance that underlies PCOS as well as supporting the thyroid gland. Hopefully in time you may be able to discontinue the thyroid medication after a period of time and you are feeling better but it can help. I would consider talking to your doctor and discussing what your concerns are regarding the medication being used.
Often diets are focused on low calories and lower fat and for some people this will work. For most, dieting just doesn’t work. When we address PCOS, of course we don’t want people to overeat but we focus on the underlying cause, insulin resistance. This requires a lower carbohydrate diet and we recommend that people remove or limit the amount of carbohydrates and focus on whole foods with realistic guidelines and goals.
You mentioned diets, what about exercise? This needs to be a part of your life, so if you are not exercising now, plan a day to start as long as you don’t have any contraindications. You can start with walking for 1-15 minutes a few days a week.
Gina, I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System for you. It is a protocol designed to address the cause of insulin resistance and the symptoms associated. We know that by addressing the cause we can significantly impact how this condition affects you. Keep in mind that it is not designed to treat an under-active thyroid. To read more about it, go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I hope you consider it. Pease let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi
I’m 23, almost 24, and I was diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago. Since being diagnosed, my weight has increased, and has been fluctuating ever since. Also, I have had irregular periods, sometimes going as long as 18mths between them.
I have just recently gotten married, and we want to start a family. I’m just wondering what I should do in this case, and also if you can help me?
Not sure about that last question as I live in Australia.
Thank you.
Dear Sharyn,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
Having your weight continue to increase with PCOS is not uncommon but even
more so it is frustrating. I often hear from women who have “tried it all”
without any success. I hope that this information provides you with
something that gives you hope that you can reduce our weight and increase
your fertility.
As you already may be familiar, medications are commonly used to
address PCOS and the symptoms. At Insulite Labs, we have developed a more
natural approach to dealing with PCOS. We have used current research to
formulate different supplements in addition to a nutrition and exercise
plans to address not only the cause, insulin resistance but also the hormone
imbalance and irregular cycles.
By making changes that help to reverse insulin
resistance, weight can be reduced. We have also considered that since
cardiovascular disease and diabetes are higher in this population, the
System is also targeting long term consequences.
The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it
produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in
turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other
androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as
hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries
in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are
highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the
ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to
insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and
vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose
weight.
Women with PCOS may also find it more difficult to achieve pregnancy because
of the hormonal changes (elevated testosterone and DHEA-S) and ovarian cysts
that are characteristic of PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its
combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines.
The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know
that theoretically, reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your
chances of conceiving, barring any other factors contributing to the
infertility.
It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the
System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using
the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy
and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that
while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in
general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials
specifically on pregnant women or infants.
You know it may be difficult to conceive, but that depends on each person.
There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is
the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in
the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also
called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit). You can read more about how to
monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your
Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth
Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I
highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better
understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant.
You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility
Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
We do ship the Insulite Systems all over the world and we have many customers in
Australia. Also, in Sydney, Dr Angela Hywood has a clinic. She focuses on
women’s health and infertility. She is a naturopathic physician and this may
also provide another option for you.
Sharyn, I hope that this helps. Please continue to contribute to the support
blog.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dr. Heather,
I am a 22 year old college student who has the disease along with some other healthy issues such as bulemia and was wondering if this could have stimulated from the disease? And if so if I were to go on the regime would it help alleviate the symptoms of the disorder?
Dear Akira,
On the other hand there is research that supports binge eating may lead to the hormone imbalances. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2004 Nov;24(8):907-10.
So, as you can see there is more research being done to investigate if there is a link and what that link means to women with these conditions.
The most common cause of PCOS is insulin resistance. I don’t know the order of how these took place for you but binge eating could lead to insulin resistance. Again, I don’t know much about you other than what you wrote so how you are being affected and what may be impacting you, I can’t say. If they are a result of the other, then I would think that the Insulite PCOS System might be able to help. It is designed to reduce the amount of androgens and promote a more normal hormone balance.
If you are not already, I would encourage you to address the bulimia if you are still struggling with this. If it is contributing to the insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms then this would be a good step in a healthy direction. You can use this website as a starting point. http://www.something-fishy.org/online/options.php Even if you choose to use the PCOS System, other professional help should be incorporated to approach other possible contributing factors for bulimia.
Akira, I hope that this helps. Please let us know how you are doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
yes I was put on metformin extended release 500mg 2 times a day for PCOS. My testosterone levels are about 115 or so and I got on it to regulate me. i also suffer from depression on top of that and am on zoloft for that, but for the week ive been on it i have become more
Dear Jessi,
Thank you for contacting Insulite Labs. We appreciate you writing in and sharing with the PCOS community.
I understand that you have been diagnosed and are currently being treated with metformin. As you may be finding out, metformin is a pretty standard treatment for PCOS as it is used to reduce glucose levels thereby reducing insulin levels. It is generally accepted that most cases of PCOS are caused by insulin resistance leading to increased insulin levels.
Metformin can also indirectly affect the increased testosterone levels. Again by decreasing insulin, testosterone levels may decrease. For some this works well and others it does not.
Jessi, depression is also a symptom we often hear about from women with PCOS. However, I can’t say if yours are related but I would think that one is certainly affected by the other. You said you were taking Zoloft for the depression and I want to be sure that I understand the rest of what you said.
Are you feeling worse since starting the Zoloft one week ago? If yes, I am going to strongly encourage you to contact your doctor about how you are feeling. The reason is, depending on age and person, some can experience an increase in depression. It is very important that you discuss this with someone as soon as possible. Your doctor should be able to let you know what to expect while using this prescription as the/she is most familiar with your history and will be able to determine if this is the best course for you or if another medication is more suitable.
It would be hard to tell you what you might expect since each person is different and it would depend on many factors.
At Insulite labs, we have formulated a System to address PCOS and the symptoms often associated with PCOS. As I wrote above, many women experience depression and we have had women report that this has decreased with the use of the Insulite PCOS System. It may be due to addressing the hormone imbalance and helping to decrease testosterone and DHEA-s levels or reducing other PCOS symptoms. However, please keep in mind that we have not developed the PCOS System to specifically address depression. If you are interested in reading more. http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
Jessi, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I look forward to hearing from you again.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
depressed and lethargic,…like i just dont care about anything and it’s making me upset. what am i to expect being on this medication?
I ORDERED THE PCOS SYSTEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD ASK THE DOCTORS QUESTIONS. I TAKE CELEXA 20 MG EVERY DAY . IS IT OKAY IF I COULD CONTINUE TAKING MY MEDICATION AND BE TAKING THE PCOS SYSTEM. ALSO I HAD STARTED THE HERBALIFE WEIGHT LOSS PROGRM I DRINK A MEAL SHAKE , HERBAL TEA, AND ALOE CONCENTRATE TWICE DAILY IN STEAD OF TWO MEALS. I DO EAT A MEAL DURING THE DAY FOR LUNCH LIKE A CHICKEN SALAD OR SUBWAY MEAL. I DO TRY TO HAVE FRUIT FOR A SNACK INBETWEEN SINCE IM USE TO EATING ALOT. I WEIGH 270 LBS. I JUST STARTED THE HERBALIFE 3 DAYS AGO . IS IT OKAY TO CONTINUE WITH THE PCOS SYSTEM TO TRY AND HELP MY WEIGHT LOSS?
Dear Amy,
T
hanks for writing into the PCOS blog and choosing to use the Insulite PCOS System. You should have already received my response to your questions via your email. I received that first and wanted to address the question you had about using Celexa with the PCOS System. However, I also thought it might help to include it here in case other women are wondering the same thing. Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. Which means it allows serotonin, a chemical in your brain, to be available at higher levels. One effect of serotonin is to elevate mood, leading to its use as an antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and others. As I told you, you can use Celexa along with the nutrients of the PCOS System. There are no adverse reactions reported in the literature or from our clients about interactions between SSRI’s.
Now a quick word about diets and diet products. It is the goal of Insulite to help you make realistic changes that are aimed at addressing the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. Often diets don’t work because people feel deprived due to very low calories or meal replacements. They just become too difficult to stick with. Also, as I mentioned, not addressing the insulin resistance can be another reason why many are not successful. I have heard from many women that have tried every diet and exercise everyday but have not seen results they expected with the diets they were on. Of course, there are more reasons why this may be.
We provide tools to help understand why your body responds a certain way to certain foods and then we show you how to make slow changes so that they are long lasting. The Insulite System is not a diet program but a lifestyle that you can continue to benefit from as long as you choose to continue.
I do look forward to hearing how you are doing. Please continue to support the blog.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have pcos .ihad first miscarriage then i deleivered a healthy baby girl and my third pregnancy is again missc. i just wan to know that still i have pcos problen or it may cure
Dear Balwinder,
Thank you for sharing your information with all of us. I am very sorry to hear about the losses you have experienced. I was glad to read that you have a healthy, no doubt, beautiful little girl.
In regard to the miscarriages you had, it is difficult to determine the cause miscarriage much of the time. The causes of recurrent pregnancy loss are: genetic, endocrine, anatomic, inherited, infectious, immunologic and unexplained.
It was previously thought that 50% of recurrent pregnancy losses were unexplained. We now know that many of these cases are due to sub-clinical hormone abnormalities. Sub-clinical means that it may not show up on routine hormone testing and therefore goes untreated.
PCOS is a syndrome of hormonal imbalances and the miscarriage rate is indeed higher in women with PCOS. There is a connection between Insulin Resistance and miscarriage, at least in women with PCOS. In fact, women with recurrent pregnancy loss much more often have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. While it seems obvious to some that cysts on ovaries will prevent a normal
pregnancy, there are many theories about this.
One theory is that the relationship between PCOS and miscarriage is due to the hormonal imbalance of PCOS. Elevated insulin levels and Insulin Resistance contribute to the hormone imbalances associated PCOS. Insulite Laboratories recommends that you work with a reproductive endocrinologist who can help you determine what impact your hormones are having on your miscarriage rate.
The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association (www.pcosupport.org) provides emotional support for women with PCOS who have had miscarriages. Please see the following link to their bulletin which discusses this if you would like support: http://www.pcosupport.org/news/PCOSBulletin-June2005.pdf
You can also have some tests done to see what your hormone levels are (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, FSH, LH). Also, to determine insulin resistance, fasting insulin and fasting glucose.
Keep in mind that PCOS affects each woman differently but most are helped by addressing the insulin resistance that underlies PCOS. If you are interested in reading more, please visit http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I do hope this information is helpful. We hope that you write in again.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello please help I strted taking the PCOS Cleanse support . I cannot drink it as much as i try . wanted to know if you knew some alternatives to make the shake a little more drinkable. please help
Dear Sandra,
Thank you for contributing to our PCOS blog. However, I am not familiar with the shake you are currently using and trying to get down.
I tried to look it up online and many products came up and I was not sure which one it might be.
So, I am not sure that I can help here without knowing the ingredients but what may help is to mix the ingredients with some plain yogurt and fruit (berries) or a low carb naturally flavored (not artificially sweetened) whey protein. Without knowing more, it would be hard to offer more information.
If you would like to provide me with more information, I would be happy to try to help you. I hope that you are finding the blog useful and continue to contribute.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi. I was diagnosed with PCOS in July of this year. I have since been on Metformin and I also have been on Clomiphene. I was reading about Insulite and I was wondering if I could still continue to take Metformin while doing the Insulite program? I would very much like to get pregnant, but at the same time I would very much like to lose weight. I currently weigh 297lbs maybe 300lbs now. It’s been very hard for me to lose weight and it’s getting to the point where I am considering getting the lapband or gastric bypass surgery. My OBGYN said that I need to lose weight in order to get pregnant. Please help!
Dear Kealani,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS blog. I am sorry to hear about your
recent diagnosis. We know the struggles that this may bring to some women
and their families.
I would agree with your doctor, weight loss is going to be very important,
especially for increasing your ability to become pregnant. However as I am
sure you know, losing weight with PCOS is just not as easy as we would like
it to be.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin
resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice
versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time
losing weight, as you have experienced. The difficulty becoming pregnant
that many women with PCOS experience is due to a number of factors: the
ovarian cysts, the hormonal imbalance, and the elevated insulin.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least
5%-10% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular
menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating,
therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for
these women with PCOS.
To directly answer your question, yes, you can take metformin along with the
Insulite PCOS System.
If you will be taking metformin along with the Insulite PCOS System, just be
sure to monitor your blood sugar levels initially. The reason being,
metformin taken along with the System can lower your blood sugar levels more
than you would expect. This is great news however, because you can speak
with your doctor about reducing the dose or discontinuing the metformin.
Also, just be sure to take all your medications away from the GlucX. The
GlucX contains a high amount of fiber that could theoretically decrease the
absorption of any substance taken at the same time. We generally recommend
taking the GlucX about 4 hours apart from other medications.
One last thing I would like to address… Lap band or gastric bypass surgery.
Neither of these address the underlying cause and can have significant risks
so please consider if this is the best option for you or you can exhaust
other ways first before considering this option.
I hope that this helps you Kealani. If I can offer any other guidance or
support please don’t hesitate to write in again.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
i have psos and i am under weight what opitions due i have when trying to get pregent
Dear Brandy,
Thank you for writing into our PCOS blog.
Many women are not aware of the “lean PCOS” population and the difficulties that you face. Most women think that women with PCOS are all overweight or obese and that is just not the case. As many as 50% of women with PCOS are of normal weight and underweight, which poses its own set of problems.
Brandy, in your case it seems that not only is it possible that PCOS is affecting your ability to conceive but also the fact that you are underweight. What I would first suggest is to determine your body mass index (BMI). You can use this site: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. You will need to know your current height and weight. As you will see anything under 18.5 (according to this site) is considered underweight, I would even say that under 19 would be considered underweight.
If you do fall into this category, ovulation can be affected just as it can with women who are overweight. Keep in mind that PCOS interferes with ovulation as well. Low weight can also as impact the uterine lining, leading to the inability of the embryo to implant.
So, in planning to become pregnant, gaining weight is one of the goals so that your body has the nutrients and support to support pregnancy.
I would recommend that you do a diet diary or record of all food/fluid intake for at least 3 days. Then you will have to determine how many calories you are averaging each day. This will help you determine how many calories and nutrients you can increase. To determine the calories, there are online sites that are free and really helpful. Here are a couple you can look into: http://www.fitday.com/ or http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/srch/search.htm
To gain one pound you will need an excess of 3500 calories. So increasing your daily intake of calories by a few hundred calories a day. Healthy weight gain would be about 1-1.5 pounds a week. What will be important is to be sure that you are eating healthy foods and not using high sugar or high carb options to increase calories. You can use olive oil, nuts, avocadoes and full fat dairy products (choose organic when you can).
You can also contact a nutritionist to help you develop a healthy diet to promote some weight gain. But be sure they understand that even normal weight and lean PCOS women benefit from a lower carbohydrate diet, based on research. I would encourage you to continue or start an exercise plan as well as long as there are no contraindications.
This can be a good place to start and then also addressing the PCOS. If you are interested in using a more natural comprehensive approach to help with the hormonal imbalance, enhancing your ability to conceive, etc., please visit: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I hope that this helps to get you started. Please let me know if I can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have PCOS after years of trying got pregnant but resulted in a mis. presently am in a gym trying to get my weight down recently i’ve ordered your product i’ve used ovulex before my system is
somewhat more balance now so would your product help me get pregnant.
Dear Allison,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Blog. I am sorry for your loss.
PCOS is one of many reasons underlying miscarriage. It is difficult to determine the cause of miscarriage much of the time. The causes of recurrent pregnancy loss are: genetic, endocrine, anatomic, inherited, infectious, immunologic and unexplained.
It was previously thought that 50% of recurrent pregnancy losses were unexplained. We now know that many of these cases are due to sub-clinical hormone abnormalities. Sub-clinical means that it may not show up on routine hormone testing and therefore goes untreated.
PCOS is a syndrome of hormonal imbalances and the miscarriage rate is indeed higher in women with PCOS. There is a connection between Insulin Resistance and miscarriage, at least in women with PCOS. In fact, women with recurrent pregnancy loss much more often have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. While it seems obvious to some that cysts on ovaries will prevent a normal pregnancy, there are many theories about this.
One theory is that the relationship between PCOS and miscarriage is due to the hormonal imbalance of PCOS. Elevated insulin levels and Insulin Resistance contribute to the hormone imbalances associated PCOS. Insulite Laboratories recommends that you work with a reproductive endocrinologist who can help you determine what impact your hormones are having on your miscarriage rate.
The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association (www.pcosupport.org) provides emotional support for women with PCOS who have had miscarriages. Please see the following link to their bulletin which discusses this:
http://www.pcosupport.org/news/PCOSBulletin-June2005.pdf
I have had other women ask how the Insulite PCOS System compares to Ovulex, which is no longer available and it is difficult to say since Ovulex was not designed to treat PCOS. It did contain a couple of herbs that we use but the PCOS System addresses insulin resistance in addition to helping balance hormone levels and promote regular cycles and ovulation.
Our PCOS System is a combination of supplements as well as nutrition and exercise guidelines, food addiction awareness and support to help you address PCOS now as well as for the long term. It is a much more comprehensive approach designed for women with PCOS.
As I posted to Marisa today as well, it is difficult to say how it will work for you or if it will result in pregnancy for you. I can say that we have had women become pregnant using our PCOS System when they were told they would not.
I tell women that if they are following our guidelines regarding diet and exercise in addition to being consistent with the supplements, I would expect them to see and feel changes. As you may know, due to genetic variations and the severity of insulin resistance, each person on the Insulite System achieves results in different time frames.
Focusing on reducing weight is very helpful and certainly you are taking steps to address this. Keep it up!
Allison, if you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact me. Thanks again for contributing. I will be looking forward to hearing how you are doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the
advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider
before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other
nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition.
Hi Heather,
I have been diagnosed with PCOS and i am 30 years old.I dont have periods my own and used to take provera or birth control pills. Currently am trying to get pregnant and took clomid 50, 100 and 150 mg to induce ovulation and didnt work out. Dr told me to take hormone injections. But am not much interested in that. Then i came to know about this site. I would like to know more about this product. I have high testosterone levels 82 and i dont think am over weight. BMI is 23.6. I would like to know how insulite PCOS system woks out.Should i consult a Dr before taking the medicine?? How long should i take this system??
Thanks
Shincy
Dear Shincy,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Blog. I am happy to hear you are interested in using the Insulite PCOS System.
I understand from what you wrote, that you are interested in conceiving so I will respond with that in mind.
First, you are correct- you are not overweight; you fall within the normal range for body mass index (BMI). The range that is considered healthy weight is about 18.5 or 19 to 24.9.
Some research says that about 50% of women with PCOS are thin/normal weight. The medical community is divided on whether lean women with PCOS have the same degree of insulin resistance as overweight women with PCOS. However, regardless of their weight, most women with PCOS do seem to have some sort of insulin-glucose dysregulation.
Studies show that thin women with PCOS secrete more insulin than thin women without PCOS. Furthermore, the ovaries in women with PCOS seem to be much more sensitive to insulin’s effects than women without PCOS, regardless of weight. This is probably why even lean women seem to benefit from using the Insulite PCOS System.
The Insulite PCOS System, which you read about on our website http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com is designed to help heal PCOS by addressing its underlying cause, which in most cases is insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones). Elevated insulin also contributes to
weight gain, as well as the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving, barring any other factors contributing to the infertility.
That is the general idea. Our website has much more information.
I do recommend that people discuss different treatment options with their doctors. However, keep in mind that they may not be familiar with the Insulite PCOS System and a non-pharmacological approach. Most Medical Doctors are not trained in the use of nutrients and herbs to address
diseases. Nutrition, botanical medicine, diet, and exercise modifications are not standard courses in most medical schools. You will have to provide her/him with some information. I would recommend that you print off the information from our website and give him this link with it
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Research.php where he can read the
research.
I also tell women to print off the first few pages of the website as well so that they have some general information about the approach.
Lastly, how long you stay on the Insulite System depends on your progress, on how much weight you need to lose (if that is a goal for you), on your symptoms, etc. We certainly don’t want our customers to have to take the supplements for the rest of their lives! We do however hope that you would continue the healthy lifestyle of the Insulite System with respect to the diet and exercise guidelines.
Scientific research overwhelmingly confirms the fact that a truly effective change in the body at a cellular level needs to be gradual. Therefore, it is not realistic or safe to attempt or expect a complete reversal in a few days. We recommend that you follow the guidelines of the Insulite System for at least six months. Then, we would like to evaluate your progress with you
and make recommendations for a course of action based on that evaluation.
Shincy, I hope that this answers your questions. If there is any other information I can provide, please feel free to let me know.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have been diagnosed with PCOS after secondary infertility. I am 28. My question is my RE has put me on birth control pills for one month before starting femera/letrozole treatment along with taking metformin (which I currently take), is this course of treatment one that would be recommended? I should also mention I took Clomid and it only worked one month.
Thank you
Dear Amanda,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS support blog.
To be honest, the course of treatment based on your history can vary from doctor to doctor. My specialty is in using non-pharmaceutical approaches to addressing health conditions.
However, with a diagnosis of PCOS, often anti-hyperglycemics (medications to lower glucose and therefore insulin levels) such as metformin (glucophage) are used alone or with birth control pills to regulate the cycle and decrease insulin levels. Depending on your symptoms, anti-androgens can also be incorporated. These lower androgens like testosterone that can contribute to some symptoms (excess facial/body hair, acne, lack of cycles). Then often the next course for those trying to conceive is Clomid, as you have tried. Femara is further down the line.
Femara is a drug that is primarily used for post-menopausal breast cancer. It reduces estrogen levels by inhibiting the body from making more estrogen. There is some concern about this drug and with any drug, there are risks and benefits. It is something I would recommend that you read about and discuss the risks and benefits as they pertain to you, with your doctor. As you can see, this seems to be a similar approach that your doctor has followed.
Femara is used in infertility (as an off label use) to decrease estrogen to increase follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to cause the ovary to produce eggs. Women with PCOS tend to have lower FSH levels and higher luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. There was some controversy a few years ago regarding using this for infertility. The study results showed increased risks of use that included a 3-fold increase in birth defects when used as treatment for infertility: http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Infertility/tb/2231. However a follow-up study done was not able to confirm this risk: http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Infertility/3144
I wanted you to have both sides but I would encourage you to read more about it and to see what women are saying on the blogs about their experiences.
I know including this information does not make it easy but it can help you with what if any questions you may have for your doctor.
Here is one more link that describes the process for using Femara. You may be familiar with some as it overlaps with Clomid. http://www.ivf.com/clom.html.
I guess my question for you Amanda is this, what else have you done besides using a pharmaceutical approach to addressing the infertility? Have you made changes to your nutrition plan and exercise? These are very important when addressing PCOS.
If you are interested in a non-pharmaceutical approach that addresses the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance, visit our website at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. You can use the Insulite PCOS System along with your current treatment. As a naturopathic physician, I tend to lean more toward non-pharmaceutical approaches before drug therapy but feel that regardless of what you decide, it is best to have options for treatment and access to information about the options.
Amanda, I hope that this helps. If I can help further, please let me know. I wish you the best of luck and health.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Coaching & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hey, I use to message you about a few months ago asking a lot of questions about biotin, insulite, and hair growth.
Well now I’m on Metformin ER 500 mgs twice a day and I take Life Force Vitamin, 5000mcg biotin, 1000 mcg b12, and my metformin.
I sitll haven’t even gotten a period and I’m noticing the hair on my face is gradually growing. The hair on my head continues to fall out only because I stopped using my supplements for about a week and went back on it not too shortly.
My main concern about this is, yes I will be going to my GYN very soon so she can help me with the hormonal side of my PCOS. I’m actually starting to feel a little bit of discomfort down there..I guess where my ovaries are.
When I turn 18 (december 23)I’ll lose my S.S. benfits as in the money I was recieving monthly, and health benefits which means I won’t be going to the Dr. anymore to control my PCOS. It’s a bit disheartning for me since I’ve been trying to get it under control for a very long time.
I bought and Elliptical and I still haven’t gotten the courage to even try it, I don’t know why. I think it might be because in the back of my mind I think I won’t even shed a pound since I’ve been trying to lose weight since I could remember. And I am actually like 30 lbs. overweight.
I’m really not sure what to do on the medications, because not only that but I’m moving to NJ in Feburary on my own with my friend and her Family. (I am very close to them) I’m thinking that when I possibly finish all my meds…like they run out I’ll start the Insulite System. I really have no hope after I lose my benefits.
I’m not sure what I’m trying to ask at all, but I remember talking to you a few months ago when I was really down about having PCOS. I’ve learned to live with it, but sometimes I actually really do wish I got my period just to know that everything is fine. I haven’t had it for 5 months now AGAIN.
I think I lost you’re e-mail…I’d really like to have it again.
Thanks for the help you gave me a few months ago.
Hi Stephanie,
It is nice to hear from you. You don’t have to ask any questions or have a specific reason to write in. We are here to offer support for you.
Losing the benefits will make it difficult to continue care for PCOS. I understand your concern about this. I would try to find a doctor that may charge a reduced rate for those without health insurance. Often if a person pays out of pocket, costs may be reduced.
However there are still some ways that you can help yourself.
You already mentioned that you took the first step in starting and exercise program… You bought the elliptical machine. This is a great first step. I would recommend that you get on it. Keep in mind that exercise has many purposes. It can help with weight loss or help you prevent further weight gain (you won’t know unless you try), it can make you feel better, it can further help you reduce the risks of long term health problems (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure). Also, it reduces insulin resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS.
Also, nutrition is the other part that you can start to make supportive changes to. I think you have some information on this from our past correspondence. This along with the exercise can be great at helping to control the symptoms.
I know it is a struggle and that you are trying to get a handle on how it is affecting you. I know we discussed using the System and that you were considering it, and it sounds like you still are. I do think that it can help you.
Be sure that you mention to the doctor that you are feeling some sort of discomfort as well, so that they can be sure to evaluate your symptoms and determine if more work-up is needed.
I hope that you are excited about the upcoming move. Stephanie, please let me know how I can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi
For years I’ve had a feeling that something was not right with me. I found the Doctors that I went to very unhelpful and dismissive. A few weeks ago I decided to pay to have a pelvic ultrasound scan which showed that I had PCOS. I didn’t really know much about it so started to read and it explains so many things and symptoms that I have. I went to my Doctor and told him about the scan, he really wasn’t interested and told me to go for some blood tests on day 21 of my cycle. He said to wait for the results and he might refer me to the hospital for other tests. The blood tests came back normal. I haven’t been to see him since and he’s made no effort to refer me. I am the type of person who always tries the natural way before medication and have ordered the PCOS system from Insulite. My Mom suffers from type 2 diabetes and I have seen how different diabetic medications have affected her over the years. I am overweight and have tried the low GI diet but seem to have put more weight on since doing it. I am now trying a low calorie, low carb diet from a company called Dietchef. I am 38 and have never been successful in conceiving, I would like to lose weight and I am worried about developing diabetes like my Mom. Should I try the medical route and go on something like Metformin and Clomid or am I ok to take it into my own hands and try to combat it with diet and natural supplements. I live in the UK and there is nothing like this website for information or similar products over here.
Thank you.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
I am sorry to hear that you are not getting the support that you need to address PCOS. Additional testing can help to determine your risk of other complications of PCOS such as diabetes, especially with your family history. I have also seen that even if the tests come back normal when testing for PCOS we can still see the effects of PCOS. Often the cysts alone can be enough to diagnose PCOS, if they are the cysts that are typically found in women with PCOS and it sounds like based on what you wrote, your doctor felt that they were.
Unfortunately, I often hear from women that their concerns are not being addressed and I am not sure why. PCOS can be very complicated and it really does require a comprehensive approach.
The fact that you are already doing work to educate yourself and working on your diet is great and I encourage you to continue. I am surprised that on a low glycemic diet you gained weight. However, often the best approach is low carb intake. You can also use low glycemic foods, but you can eat low GI and still end up eating a lot of carbs overall. It sounds like you are tying this currently and I do think that it will be helpful.
Have you incorporated exercise into your regimen? This is another important part of controlling the likely cause which is insulin resistance.
As far as metformin, that is really up to you. I do feel that there is a time and a place for medications but I specialize in using non-pharmaceutical approaches with my patients when appropriate. You may find that this is the best approach for you but I cannot guide you on this and if you are asking if there is another effective choice, I would say yes.
As you read, the Insulite PCOS System is a comprehensive approach in addressing the cause of PCOS, symptoms and long term risks associated with PCOS. I do want to let you know that we do ship to your country if you were interested in the PCOS System.
You are on the right track and your concerns are valid so even if we are not part of your solution, keep working on the things that you know impact your health.
I hope that this helps and you do consider the PCOS System. Karen, please feel free to write in again and let us know how you are doing. Thanks again for writing in.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi heather ii was wondering if u can help me i am from australia i am 25 nearly 26 yrs old i have been trying 2 get prenant for a yr& a half now i went 2 see an obgyn & she diagnosed me with pcos & i also have fibroids i have had blood test done they all came back normal i am of healthy weight 57kgs i am 5’2 in height my obgyn recommended that i have a laproscopy done but i would like 2 try something else first b4 i have 2 do that. i feel like time is running out for me 2 get pregnant please help
Dear Kylie,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I hope that you are finding the community here helpful.
I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. I understand that your goal is to become pregnant. There are other methods that you can try if you are not comfortable with the current treatment option that was offered.
Laparoscopic ovarian drilling may make it easier to become pregnant as it can trigger ovulation in some women with PCOS, however you should know that drilling does NOT cure PCOS. The cysts can return once drilling is complete because ovarian drilling does not address the underlying cause of PCOS, it merely removes one of the symptoms of PCOS (the ovarian cysts) temporarily. Of course the decision is yours but you did express that you were not ready for that step.
In that case, I would recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System. We have had many women regulate their cycles and start to ovulate on the program. Of course, there are no guarantees but the PCOS System is a unique approach to PCOS that addresses the cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. It also helps to support a more normal hormone balance that often interferes with ovulation and a normal menstrual cycle.
Also, I know you feel as time is running out but you are still well within the age range to have a healthy pregnancy. Of course, I understand that you have your own timeline for what you want for your life.
If you do want to look for other options, especially non-pharmaceutical/non-surgical ones, I recommend that if you have not done so already, that you go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin.
Kylie, I hope that this provides you with some helpful information and helps you decide what may be best for you at this time. If I can help further, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello,
I was diagnosed with PCOS about a year ago. My symptoms are acne, hypoglycemia, and cysts on my ovaries. I am not overweight, I ovulate every month, and I have a period every month between 29-34 days. I also am slightly hypothyroid. My endocrinologist just prescribed 500 mg. of metformin one time/day as well as 25 mcg of Synthroid as my husband and I have been trying to conceive for about 7 months with no success (I have now taken the prescriptions for 6 weeks.) From everything I have read most women with PCOS do not see much success until they are on a higher dose of metformin. Is 500 mg. sufficient given my symptoms or should I be asking my doctor for a higher dose? thanks! Nicole
Dear Nicole,
Thanks for writing into the PCOS support blog.
The dose that will be adequate for you, will depend. If you are ovulating and having a regular cycle then a lower dose may be appropriate. Your doctor may increase the dose but starting low is fine. Also, starting low and working toward a higher dose can help minimize certain side effects associated with the medication. Keep in mind that many of the women using metformin are overweight and/or have elevated glucose/insulin, and/or have irregular cycles.
Metformin is used to help regulate cycles, induce ovulation, and can help lower testosterone levels. It does this by lowering insulin and glucose levels. So the success may depend on the where the problem is.
With hypoglycemia, as you know, it is a sign of blood sugar imbalance, which is common in women with PCOS (although many women have problems on the opposite end of having increased blood sugar levels). It is important to eat regularly. Especially with using a medication that can lower your glucose levels. Eating 5-6 small meals per day that are protein-based and watch consumption of carbohydrates. Making sure to eat protein with every meal can really help to prevent those symptoms.
Also, since you are addressing an under active thyroid, this can help as well.
I know you are anxious to conceive and I hope that it happens for you soon.
If you have not done so, I would consider checking out the Insulite PCOS System: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope that this is helpful. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Dr Heather.
I am currently 114kg and am working on changing our eating habits and loose the weight in a health way. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in my teens and then went onto Dianne 35, Metformin, Andro-cure and a host of other meds which I stopped after almost a decade due to pure frustration with the side effects. I just leaned to live with all the side Effects of PCOS.
Recently my periods have become very irregular and went back to the Gynae after loads of tests the doctor wanted me to go back onto Dianne35 however I refused as I know what bad side effects it had on me before. Instead I am on a 12 day dose of 10mg Provera every month and 250mg Metformin twice a day.
The tests revealed I have no cysts but the doc has said that I am borderline diabetic my fasting blood sugar level test was 6.2 however my cholesterol is 3 the doc still cannot believe it and my blood pressure is always low. I have 3 months before I see him again and would like to decrease my weight by at least 2kg.
I have an apple shape body and I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I have gone done to 78kg once after some extreme dieting and exercising and abusive relationship (which has now ended) however it all came back with a vengeance and I am not keen on loosing weight in that way again.
I have now been on a low carb diet & exercising for almost 3 weeks and it looks like I am loosing cm & some weight. my sugar levels are between 3.1 and 7.6 …… it seems to stay under 5.5
At the moment the only side effects I am experiencing from the Metformin is that I feel abit hot and bothered all the time and I have HEARTBURN….
I have done my 12 days of Provera however it is now 11 days later and I still have not had my period or any sign of it except some bleeding in the past 2 days very little …. Last month my period was 3 days later …. As I said it is 11 days after the 12 day course. In the past 6 days I have really really sore and large nipples… they kind of feel swollen It has seemed to lessen in the past 2 days ….. they are just sore all day and for the first time in a long time I was Hungry all day and also tired …. Today I seem to have a sore lower back and upper thighs and it started after I had the spotting this morning. It almost feels like I am having a period.
I can only get an appointment with my Doc next week. Is there anyway you can advise me? Are these symptoms of the meds or is there a chance I could be pregnant?
Are these side effects from the Provera? When could I expect a period???
Len
Dear Len,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. Your experience will sound familiar to many women who read the blog.
First, I would like to say that you are doing great with the changes you are making. You are already seeing how diet and exercise can make a difference in your glucose levels and your weight.
The changes that you are making are going to offer benefits now and long term; they are some of the most important areas to modify with a condition such as PCOS. As you already know dieting can help but extreme diets often offer temporary changes that can make future attempts hard but not impossible. Slow weight loss helps to effect long term weight loss as your body has time to adjust to the changes. So, the fact that you have a goal of a couple kilos prior to your next visit is realistic and I think very achievable.
You are not alone in becoming completely frustrated with your choices for treating PCOS. I am sorry you have not found any relief with your past treatments.
According to your current fasting glucose levels, you seem to be in the pre-diabetic range. However, this can be reversed. But it is important to keep making the changes you have started.
With the changes you have made it seems to be more within range. After you eat, the maximum we would like to see 8.0 mmol/L in a person who is pre-diabetic.
Is the cholesterol total 3 mmol/L (including both HDL and LDL)? If so this is great but you also want to make sure that the HDL (good cholesterol) is 1.3 mmol/L or above to help reduce the risk of heart disease, ideally 1.6 mmol/L. Exercise and the dietary changes will further encourage healthy HDL levels.
Regarding Provera (progesterone), as you know this if often used to encourage a period. It sounds like you are about to have one or that you have at this point. If you did not menstruate, a pregnancy test would be an easy way to determine what may be causing the symptoms. On the other hand it could be that the Provera was not enough to stimulate a period.
To answer your question, it can be due to both, hard to determine if you are only a few days late with your period. I am sorry that I can not give you a better answer at this time.
With PCOS, we often see low progesterone levels. So, if you are very low, we would expect that with the Provera you would get a period in a month or two. However, how you respond will depend on your body, our hormone levels, etc. is not easy to predict.
Len, with the current approach you are taking (nutrition and exercise), I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System. I think it would be a great addition to your work. If you are interested in a non-pharmaceutical comprehensive approach to addressing PCOS, go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I do hope that I have answered your questions. If I missed something, please let me know. We look forward to hearing about your progress.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi, i was dx’d w/ PCOS 6 yrs ago without receiving any tx b/c my endocrinologist was more interested in reimbursement after my insurance stopped than my health. he told ‘all i have is lose wt and i’d be fine’ which of course you know is not that easy with PCOS. my question tho is i think i’m into menopause (hard to tell of course with PCOS but i haven’t had a period in 3 or 4 yrs) and i’m wondering if this program will make my periods start again. i just want to lose about 100#; don’t want to get pregnant or have periods. i turned 50 this yr and think i’ve had PCOS since i was a teenager when my dr removed an ovarian cyst but again no follow up from my dr. also i don’t seem to have any of the medical problems from IR–think i’m in reasonable health otherwise just fat and unhappy!!!!!!!!!!! will your program bring on a return of my period?
Dear Jill,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
I am sorry to hear about your experience and hope that this one is much better.
To answer your question, the Insulite PCOS System should not stimulate a period if you are in menopause. However, if you are not and you still have adequate estrogen levels you may get a period with the System. If your estrogen levels have decreased to menopausal levels, we would also expect to see an increase in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) as this increases in response to reduction in estrogen. Unfortunately the answer is, it depends.
The PCOS System can help promote weight loss and reduce the risks associated with PCOS. While we know that weight loss can help with some of the symptoms of PCOS, we also know weight loss can be difficult. This is often due to the body not responding properly to insulin.
However, Jill, if currently the only symptoms you have are the weight gain and difficulty losing weight, then you might consider another Insulite System that will address the insulin resistance that often prevents weight loss and see how you do. If you have any other symptoms such as excess facial or body hair, hair loss or acne, then I would be more inclined to recommend the PCOS System as it will help to restore more normal hormone levels.
Also, in using the Insulite System for weight loss, you may again see a return of your period. This would be due to weight loss and not because of adjustments of hormone levels due to the supplements. The Insulite System contains supplements to support weight loss and nothing to change reproductive hormones as the PCOS System can. Here is a link: http://weight.insulitelabs.com/
You can start with either System but the information above may help direct you toward a System that would be appropriate for your current symptoms. Then we can evaluate how you are doing and see if any changes are needed to best meet your needs. Let me know what you think and if I can help in any way.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
my daughter was 13 wks pregent and broke her water a week and a half agoand went to the dr and she still is carringing the baby is this right?
Dear Linda,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear about your daughter.
I would strongly recommend that you follow up with her doctor as to how this will affect her and the baby, if you have not do so already.
Treatment will depend on how far along your daughter is. Most importantly medical personnel will want to decrease risk of infection to your daughter and her baby and may use medications such as antibiotics.
I want to be clear that I do not specialize in obstetrics and high risk pregnancies and can therefore, not advise you. Fortunately there are experienced doctors that can help with your questions.
Again, I recommend that your daughter contact her doctor and make an appointment to discuss the situation, what she should expect, what risks are involved to her and baby, what can be done to prevent the risks as much as possible… It is important for your daughter to be counseled appropriately regarding her situation.
Linda, if at any time your daughter develops a fever, pain, bleeding, discharge that you contact your doctor immediately as these may be signs that an infection has developed.
I will keep your daughter and her baby in my thoughts. Please let me know if I can help with matters pertaining to PCOS or Insulin Resistance.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Dr Heather …. Thanks for answering my questions.
It is now a good couple of weeks later and my period finally arrived on the night of the 12th day so I guess it was just the effects of the Provera.
The first dose of Provera the Dr put me on was 10mg for 14 days and that worked like a bomb 3 to 4 days later I had my period. However this time the Dr reduced it to 10mg for 12 days and I was also given the generic to Provera = Hexal-MPA 5 and I take 2 once a day. Is the generic exactly the same as Provera???? Should I rather go back to taking the Provera original? Do you think I should request that I go on the does for 14 days and not 12 days????
I have started my 3rd dose on the 1st Dec however 7 days in I seem to be having a period again …. I called him this morning and he just said to stop taking it but it seems that is has stopped again this evening… I cannot deal with all the confusion!! But now it seems to have stopped again so I am just going to continue with it. It seems really pointless dealing with this doc cause he is not very attentive and does not volunteer info such as the cholesterol he did not say anything but my cholesterol is” very very good and 3″. we are planning to have another cholesterol test at the pharmacy soon so I will let you know.
He initially said he was not sure it was PCOS even though other doctors have said it was yet he has not diagnosed me differently. I feel like I go into the appointments and I tell him what I do not want to go on and he just agrees. He wanted to put me on blood pressure meds when I do not even suffer from High blood pressure it makes no sense to me and he would not explain. It is like pulling chickens teeth when chatting to him – I have even gone as far as to say to him Hello are you listening?? Cause he just seems so uninterested.. My plan is that once I am on the meds for a while and all seems to have stabilized I am going to start looking for another Dr cause he does not even remember seeing me and what he prescribes…I cannot go through the whole rigmarole of blood test and scans and so on so I will wait a while.
Anyway on the upside the eating plan is going very well however we have been very busy and have not always had time to exercise but we are still quite active but I still seem to be loosing weight. This evening I put on cloth that I have not worn in years and my boyfriend has not even seen me in. IT FELT GOOOOOD!!!! I must say this is the easiest diet I have been on for 2 reasons 1 I am doing it for myself and not to please a man and 2 I am not alone my boyfriend has been amazing really amazing the only problem is that all is cloths are way tooo big for him.
Anyway we are happy and enjoying the challenge but I must say it has been hard cause we are use to eating on the go and having the odd ice cream or chocolate… but it will be worth it in the long run cause we are hoping to have a baby someday and it would be better if we were both much more healthier. We have opted not to weight ourselves until we go to the doc again on the 28Jan 2009 so we are not stress on the numbers.
My blood sugar after meals lately are between 4.1 and 4.9. just out of interest sake what should ones sugar levels be in the when you wake up?? One last question also just for interest sake what is the normal sugar levels for a man? My boyfriends ranges from 4.2 to 5.7 and this morning before breakfast it was 6.7 is that normal?
Anyway I look forward to reading your reply.
Len
Hi Len,
It is nice to hear from you again.
Yes, both Provera and hexal MPA are medroxyprogesterone acetate. Other brand names include Depo-Provera, Depo-Sub Q Provera 104. However, I can’t make any recommendations on what is the best choice for you regarding progesterone and dosing. That is something that you would have to discuss with your doctor. He should be the one most familiar with your history and information. I know that you are not too happy with him right now and I do hope that it gets better. I am sorry to hear that your experience is less than you had hoped for. But it would not be safe for me to be making recommendations regarding your medication.
Keep working on the dietary changes and don’t be too hard on yourself when you give in to temptation. Just get right back to it. However, you seem to be doing a great job. I also appreciate that you are doing this for yourself. Often, as women we tend to put the needs and wants of others in front of our own and I think that when we realize that we are important enough to put our health first the more effective we are at all the other aspects in our lives.
At this point there is no reason to weigh yourself. You are seeing changes in clothes and how you feel. Getting caught up in numbers can make it difficult for some. I hear from many people that usually do best when they do not use the scale. I know everyone is different but you are doing the work and you are seeing changes.
Regarding blood sugar levels, morning blood sugar levels if you have not eaten for the last 10-12 hours are considered fasting and a number between 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) is considered normal, from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered impaired (pre-diabetes) and 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) and above on more than one testing occasion is diagnostic for diabetes.
2 hours after eating, this measurement is called postprandial, normal would be 70-140 mg/dL (3.9 to 7.8 mmol/L) and should return to a your pre-meal measurement within 3 hours.
If you are taking it randomly (regardless of when you last ate), normal would be 70-125 mg/dL (less than 7.0 mmol/L).
These are the same for men and women.
I would have him see if his level continues to be elevated in the morning and if so, mention it to the doctor. You can also see if eating dinner a little earlier (if you eat late) and monitoring (reducing) the amount of carbohydrates in the meal makes any difference in what the levels are. If this was a one time occurrence, it could be that he was stressed, did not sleep well, etc. However, I think it deserves a bit of attention to see if there is a trend.
Len, thanks again for sharing and participating. Will be looking forward to hearing how you both are doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Dr. DeLuca,
I am not overweight but I have skin problems (such as acne, frackles,etc). I ovulate every month, and I have a period every month between 27-31 days.
I had a possibility of diagnosing PCOS – my previous ultrasound result show numerous follicles in both ovaries. My fertility doctor did not prove I have PCOS and I am not taking any medication.
My husband has sperm problems and we have just completed 1 IVF cycle (after trying to conceive over 2 years). We failed the cycle due to the results of:
1) My eggs quality was not good – I were hyperstimulated through drugs and had produced 25 eggs.
2) My husband sperms quality was not good (i.e. abnormal sperms).
I am concerned with PCOS and should I deal with it before I start a new cycle?
Thank you.
Dear Esther,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
I am sorry to hear that you and your husband are having a difficult time conceiving.
If you do indeed have PCOS, then yes, I would recommend addressing it. This can help your body and also help with fertility. Based on the ultrasound and that fact that you had follicles in each ovary, it may be indicative of PCOS. These typically resemble a string of pearls and are small multiple cysts. However, if you were using medication to stimulate the ovaries at this time, then the multiple follicles may have been a result of the medication.
PCOS can be difficult to diagnose and is often diagnosed based on symptoms if all the tests are within normal range. Has your doctor performed any other tests to rule out PCOS or consider other conditions?
I would see if your doctor has thoughts on the cause of what is going on on your end. This way it can provide you with the information you need to determine what your next steps may be.
Also, what makes this even more complicated is that your husband is also experiencing sperm abnormalities.
Have you thought about seeing, in addition to the fertility specialist, another practitioner that may be able to help you both use a natural approach to optimize sperm and egg quality? There is a lot of dietary support that can be really helpful for both partners in optimizing the body to help with conception. If this is already being addressed, great, if not, I would consider it another option. If you do, be sure that the person in knowledgeable on the topic of couples fertility.
There are programs that look at the health of both partners and optimize fertility and health of sperm and eggs with use of detoxification, dietary support (low glycemic, antioxidant rich food such as vegetables and fruit, removal of food sensitivities and allergies) and supplemental support.
Our program, as you may know focuses on PCOS and addressing the cause of the condition, insulin resistance. If you do choose to use the Insulite PCOS System, I would recommend that your husband follow the nutrition aspect of the program as well. We recommend the use of whole, unprocessed, high quality food sources and limiting highly processed foods such as breads, pastas, sweets that really do not provide the body with any benefits.
Esther, I hope that this helps. Please feel free to write in at any time. We wish you and your husband all the best in your attempts to conceive.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc… I hope you are well!! Thanks for answering my questions …. As usual I have a few more…
I was on the Provera generic (10mg 12 days) started on the 1st however half way through on the 6th I started bleeding abit and then got a full period on the 7th. As far as I can understand I was only due to have my period sometime after day 12. What do you think caused this?
We do not really give into temptations a lot so far in the past month and 2 weeks we have only had 3 ice creams and that is it… we use to have them at least 3 times a week… We are very proud that we have managed to resist those daily chocolates, cookies and then the Big thing Bread ……
Anyway I need to have a medical for insurance purposes and had to take my weight and I was very Shocked and very happy that I have lost 5kg…. I am now 111kg but I feel as if I have lost even more centimetres. Andy has lost 10kg and is now 84kg and loads of centimetres.
You are right in assuming that we eat dinner very late at night mostly between 9pm and 10pm … Work keeps us very busy and I do not always get time to make pre cook meals. I make everything usually from scratch. But then again we only go to bed at about 2am and start our day at 10am. We are trying to improve this but it is hard…
I have been monitoring my sugar very closely and these are my figures:
3.1
3.6
5.6
7.6
5.5
4.7
4.9
4.9
5.1
5.7
4.2
4.1
4.8
6.5
5.2
7.6 was 2 hours after dinner as we had potatoes with our meal, 6.5 we skipped 2 of the 6 meals that day. 5.5 was first thing in the morning… and the rest was 2 hours after a meal/ snack
Andy is not as good in testing but this is his reading
5.5
4.8
5.1
4.6
4.2
4.6
4.2
4.3
5.9
After reading your last reply I was we are doubting if I am diabetic or prediabetic… What do you think as most of my reading are way below 8 as in pre diabetic?
I am on 250g Metformin twice a day the only real side effect that I experience is heartburn … I tend to have it at all different times of the day… all I do is suck on small pieces of Gavascon pills. Could this affect my sugar reading??? Is there anything else I can do? I take one pill in the morning and the other at night with dinner… am I doing the right thing???
Thank you for always answering all my questions… you have been such a great help and the programme has been a brilliant guide!!
Anyway I look forward to hearing from you again
Len
Hello Len!
I am well, thanks. Always nice to hear from you.
The generic Provera is used to help bring on your period, it seems to be working. But why it started so quickly, I am really not sure. Unfortunately, when we are trying to manipulate hormones it is not always predictable. However, you are right, usually about 3-5 days after stopping the hormones, your period will start…more than not.
Although I can’t say for sure without the proper testing to determine if you and Andy do have pre-diabetes/diabetes, the readings you sent are within a healthy range for both of you.
You and Andy are really doing great with resisting temptations. And as you can see, your hard work is paying off. I am hoping that as others read the blog they will see how useful having a partner for support can help keep you on track, whether it is a partner or friend, supporting each other can really help.
Regarding the metformin, it will also help to keep the glucose levels within a normal range. Unfortunately, as you have experienced, there are side effects that happen for some people. Gaviscon as you know, is indicated for heartburn but using it is up to you. I can’t make any recommendations about medications and what might be best for you. Also, I could not find any information that it will negatively affect your glucose levels. Len, what is most important is to have the heartburn evaluated so that your doctor is aware of it and to determine if other tests are needed to determine extend of the problem. It can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. This is a more serious condition.
Hopefully in time, you can discuss reducing or even discontinuing the metformin and that should reduce the need for the gaviscon. To help heartburn there are a couple things you can do: do not lie down or go to sleep for 2-3 hours after eating, eat smaller meals, remove any foods that aggravate the heart burn (onions, garlic, citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, mint, fatty foods, etc). You can raise the head of your bed by about 6 inches to help prevent the stomach acids from entering the esophagus. There are also foam wedges that can be purchased so that the other person in the bed does not have to get used to sleeping a bit more elevated. Also, if you have time and it is not too late, taking a walk after meals can also be helpful.
I hope that this helps and provides a bit more insight. Keep up the great work and let me know how you are both doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello Doctor,
I have PCOS and also suffer from severe hirsutism (thick hair growth in the chin and neck). My doctor has put me on metformin and krimson35 medication. I am married for 4 years and am trying to get preg for the last 4 yrs. I have taken krimson for 2 months now and see no improvement in the hirsutism condition. Can you tell me how long i should be taking krimson35 to get rid of my facial hair?
Dear Ind,
Thanks for writing in with your questions.
The type of birth control that you are using, Krimson 35, also known as Diane 35 contains a progesterone derivative (cyproterone acetate) and a synthetic estrogen (ethinyl estradiol). Because of the combination, it is used as an anti-androgen, decreases male hormones that lead to acne and excess facial and body hair.
Some women notice a decrease in their symptoms in a few weeks and others it can take a few months to start to see the changes. What makes it frustrating is that there is no way to know how long it will take with each individual person.
In addition, I cannot make any recommendations on how long you should take the medication that has been prescribed to you. That is something you would need to discuss with your doctor.
If you are interested in using a non-pharmacological approach to addressing PCOS that includes other important components such as nutrition and exercise for long lasting control of PCOS, you can check out the website, http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. This is a System that uses supplements and as I mentioned, diet and exercise to form a comprehensive plan to address the cause of PCOS, insulin resistance, symptoms and risks that are associated with PCOS.
Ind, I hope that this helps. Please feel free to write in with any questions, thoughts and experience with how well your current plan is going.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Dk. DeLuca,
I am 29 years old and married last year April. For 10yeras I have been suffering from prollonged menses and strong pains on my lower back and upper thighs.
Last year I was adviced by my gynae that I had PCOS and we discussed on treatments and one was medications taken for 6 months while the other was ovarian drilling operation.
on 5th Dec 2009 I had Laparascopy done on me and for about a week now I have been on Metformin dose 1000g/day. I take 1tablet of 500g with meals 2x morning and evining.
Now I have following questions:-
1. I feel more extensive pains on my lower back, upper thighs, buttocks and sometimes inside stomach on operated places is it assosiated to operation or PCOS?
2. How long should we wait before we sex after Laparascopy/ovarian drilling operation?
3. I have been working on loosing weigh by abstaining lunch meals, reduced amount of breakfast and taking little cabohydrates in evining.
4. Do far in 3weeks of doing this I have lost 5kgs I was weighing 115kgs.
5. After the operation my period took 5 days then stopped. Is it possible that I can ovulate and get preginant? My husband was tested and He was found to have a healthy sperm count.
Thanks and I patiently wwait for reply,
luly.
Dear Luly,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I hope that you are starting to feel better.
Luly, I would feel much more comfortable with your discussing some of your questions with the doctor that did your surgery. They are most familiar with your history and current health and the best person to answer your questions regarding how long to wait before you can have sex and how you are feeling after having this procedure done. The answers can be very different for each individual.
As far as the others, I can do my best to answer them for you.
First, the laparoscopic ovarian drilling procedure is done to help restore ovulation. If you had a period it is possible that you are ovulating. If you are ovulating, then it is possible that you can become pregnant.
There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit).
To do this, take your temperature under your arms each morning BEFORE rising from bed with a basal body thermometer. Approximately midway through your cycle, depending on how long your cycle is, you should see a rise (around 1 degree F) for 3 days. If so, this is an indication that you have ovulated. This is great news, because ovulation means you are releasing an egg to be fertilized for conception!
You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant. You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
Now I understand that you only had cysts in one ovary. However, PCOS is a condition where the cysts are only one symptom and not all women have cysts. Some do and some don’t. I know that it does not explain why you felt pain in the other ovary. It may be that you ovulated from that one. Again, if you are having pains, it is important to bring this to your doctors attention.
Great job on the weight loss. You are off to a good start and I do feel that you can be successful in your attempts.
Reducing your calories and especially reducing your carbohydrate intake can produce great results. In addition to these changes, exercise can help to reduce insulin and glucose as well as increase your metabolism and build muscle.
With regard to skipping lunch, I would not recommend this. Weight loss attempts are more successful without skipping meals. The reason is, this is hard to maintain and when you go too long without providing nourishment to your body, your body gets confused and is not sure when it will get food and compensates by slowing the metabolism and promoting storage of fat.
What is best is to eat smaller meals throughout the day and reduce processed foods and carbs, rather than cutting out meals. Your diet should be varied and include lots of veggies and healthy fat and protein.
I would also like to direct you the Insulite PCOS System if you are considering a non-pharmacological approach to support your body while trying to conceive. It can help give you the tools to make healthy changes that are important in a condition like PCOS. You can read more about it at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Luly, I hope that I have helped answer some of your questions. Best of luck with conceiving. Please let us know how you are doing and let me know if I can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi DK.
I have PCOS and managing/controlling my wait is sooooo hard. I am apple shaped. How will I be able to achieve maximum results in weight loss.
After ovarian drilling last two weeks and being on metformin for a week, From yesterday I have been feeling sharp pain on the ovary which immediately shoots to my head/brain and immediately goes off leaving me with little nausea.
(different ovarioes between yestaredy and today) thoguh the Dk. said I had PCOS only on one ovary. What can this be?
Hi Doc!!
I hope you are enjoying the Festive season…
Thanks for answering my last few questions and as usual I have some more questions ….
We have been good over the festive season …. but have also not stuck 100 to the eating plan but also not going wild …. We have been keeping low on the carbs at least … I made a load of snacks such as pies, Samosas using whole-wheat flour and loads of seeds and free veggie & beans fill and substituted it for bread … and an ice cream or two…. we came up with for a low carb & fat Christmas dinner…. Nut Roast, Roast potatoes, salads, a small piece of baked grilled pork and some red wine
We were very happy with our sugar levels over this time which for me ranged between 4.2 to 6.9 and Andy’s was 3.7 to 4.9
But we have made sure to do some kind of activity… long walk on the beach, mini hikes in the bush and just getting out and about…. The weather has been great and we are hoping to go swimming once the crowds go back to work and home … that is definitely one of the downfalls in living in a holiday city….
We had to weigh ourselves twice for other reasons and wow what a surprise … …. But the best of all was that we had to weigh ourself again a few days after christmas and we have managed to maintain our weigh even lost 0.5kg each…… I lost 7.5kg and Andy lost 10kg wow I knew I had lost but never thought I had lost that much
Anyway you know I am on the Hexal MPA 10mg for 10 days and that I had to stop it on the 7th day this month due to a period starting (lasted for 4 days) well it is the 31 December and I have my period again. I am due to start the Hexal MPA 10mg tomorrow… I was not sure what to do as the doctor is on holiday so I have called the pharmacy and they suggested that I skip this month and let my period run its course and take it again on the 1 Feb. 2009. Am I doing the right thing? What do you think is going on?? First prolonged periods and now 2 in one month… Do you think my system is getting back on course or just going mad? One thing about this period is that I am having cramps and pains that I last had when I was in my teens.
Over the past month I have been feeling very flusted and hot…. Yes it is hot at the moment however not that hot for me to be sleeping with a fan on all night… it is very hard to explain except to say I am feeling hot ….lol Andy thinks it is soo funny
Last week I had some very strange stabbing pains in my pelvis that would only last for a few seconds about 5 times a day over 2 days then it was all over… What do you think this could be?
I recently did a family tree of all the women in my Family and I was so surprised to see that all of them has/ had symptoms of PCOS – all had the same body apple body shape, thinning of the hair, diabetes type 2, high blood pressure, male pattern hair growth, acne, deep voices just to name a few… I then looked at where they are now in their lives and for those that are alive they are not doing very well – my mum and sister have diabetes, my aunts have diabetes, male pattern baldness, deep voices and extremely high blood pressure… I am using this as a guide of what not to do to land up like them… it has been very interesting to see how for generations women have had all the same symptoms but no one ever knew or discussed it all…. Like with my male pattern hair growth it was just there and I had to accept it and deal with it causing me to live a very insecure, self conscious life for many years no sure why I had all this dreaded hair….
You are so right having someone who supports you is amazing … I have been on both sides where I was forced to diet by an abusive boyfriend which went on for 9 years…. Having someone who loves me regardless of my weight and only wants the best for me is totally amazing. I would urge anyone looking to loose weight to find a friend who understands and cares about you for who you are and not what weigh….
Doc I would like to thank you for all ways being so helpful and answering all my questions… May you and your team have a great new year!!
Kind regards
Len
Hi Len,
Happy new year to you and Andy!!
You both continue to do great with changes, support and success.
Len, it is difficult for me to comment on what is best for you and it is not safe for me to do. I understand that your doctor is out for the holiday, but they are most familiar with your health history.
This irregular bleeding can be a problem for women with PCOS. It is often due to low progesterone. Progesterone helps to start a period when a person has not had one in a while or it can help stop bleeding when it goes too long.
As you have experienced, PCOS can cause prolonged or more frequent periods. I do not know what you decided to do, but either way I think that no matter what you have decided, your body will continue to work through it with all the changes you are making.
I do think that the fact that you are seeing a change is a good sign and as you continue to lose weight and use the supplements we should start to see this balance out a bit more. However, supplemental progesterone may be needed for a while.
I am not sure why you have been feeling warmer than usual. It may be a symptom of the changing hormone levels. I will be interested to see if this changes as well or has changed once your period starts/started. Hormone levels can be a reason.
Regarding the pain you felt in your abdomen, since you do not have an cysts, it may be related to ovulation. Although if it was, I would have expected your period to follow about 10 days later. When you speak to your doctor, please mention this to him. It may not be of concern however he may have some questions to rule out any concern.
It sounds like you have been enlightened with looking at the history of the women in your family. And, your transformation and education may also help some women in your family. It is never too late and anyone can make positive changes.
You and Andy should both be proud of each other and I of course will be looking forward to updates.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I had a miscarriage 2 months ago at 19 weeks due to incompetent cervix. My Doctor wanted me to wait for 3 months before trying again. I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with PCO’s at 18 years of age. My periods were never regular and needed provera to induce one every time. I had got pregnant through Follistm followed by IUI. I’m planning to start my fertility treatments from Feb 2009. I’m currently on Metformin 500 for PCO’s.
Do you think Insulite PCOS would help me in anyway to manage my PCOS, weight and to get pregnant?
Dear Lavanya,
I am sorry to hear about your recent miscarriage. The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, http://www.pcosupport.org, provides emotional support for women with PCOS who have had miscarriages. If you wish, you can check the following link to their bulletin which discusses this: http://www.pcosupport.org/news/PCOSBulletin-June2005.pdf
Regarding your question, I do feel that the Insulite PCOS System can provide benefits to you until you become pregnant again. It addresses the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance and also teaches you to make changes with respect to your nutrition and exercise regimen that is supportive for women with PCOS.
Our goal is to not only benefit your short term health but to help you manage the symptoms you have and also reduce long term risks that are associated with PCOS. In my experience, women see reduction of their symptoms which have included restoration of menstruation, ovulation, less acne, decrease fatigue, weight loss, etc.
We cannot promise that the PCOS System will result in you conceiving although we do know it can address several of the causative factors behind this condition. As stated on our website, losing weight (if this is a problem for you) and getting your insulin regulated may reduce hormonal imbalances, thereby enhancing your ability to conceive. It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using the Insulite PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
Additionally, if you take Metformin while using the PCOS System, please make sure to take the Metformin separately from the GlucX product. GlucX contains fiber, which may interfere with the absorption of Metformin if they are taken simultaneously. We recommend taking the GlucX 4 hours apart from the Glucophage (Metformin.)
We recommend that you monitor your blood sugar carefully as the Insulite System nutrients and Metformin together may decrease your blood sugar beyond what you may expect. Some signs of low blood sugar include dizziness, faintness, irritability, jittery, headache and hunger.
Lavanya, I hope that this helps and that you consider the PCOS System. Thank you for writing in and I will be sending good thoughts your way of healing and health.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi there!
I have a few questions for you, if you wouldn’t mind answering them. Let me explain myself: I am 22 years old, 230 lbs, 5’6. I started my period when I was about 13 or 14 and for the first few years it was normal. However, getting into my later teens, I would maybe only recieve a period 4 times a year, maybe less.
Everytime I have been to the OBGYN the papsmear has come back good, a few extra white blood cells, but nothing “abnormal”. One doctor even put me on Provera to “jump start” everything. It worked, but only for the first 2 months.
My ex-booyfriend and I, at age 18/19 were trying to concieve, nothing worked.
Now I am married to the most amazing man. We have been talking about getting pregnant. We have done everything. Ovulation tests, Calenders, Temperatures, laying with my legs in the air, crazy position… you get my picture.
A girlfriend of mine told me about Clomid (or Chlomid?) and I wanted to know how effecient it was and how safe it is. We don’t have the money to get IVF and see fertility specialist.
My husband is deploying to Afganastan next year and all we want is a child.
So if you could, please help me out.
Thanks-
Lauren
Dear Lauren,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog with your questions.
It is great to hear that the pap test is coming back negative for changes.
Provera can be helpful in starting your cycles. However, if the underlying issues are not addressed it is not likely to the the solution.
One obstacle can be excess weight. Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5-10% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
Clomid is a medication that stimulates ovulation in women who are not ovulating. It is recommended for a maximum of 6 cycles, due to increased risks and decrease in success after this time period.
As far as the safety of Clomid, I would recommend that you discuss this with your doctor as there are potential side effects related to use. They may require some weight loss before starting this regimen. Also, risks will change with each person. For general information you can check out these sites (they will have similar information):
http://www.rxlist.com/clomid-drug.htm
http://www.drugs.com/pro/clomid.html
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-11204-Clomid.aspx?drugid=11204&drugname=Clomid
About 30% of women using Clomid become pregnant. However, the success rates will vary depending on other factors.
Lauren, I hope that this helps. I do want to mention that if you are looking for other options to address PCOS, please visit http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. The Insulite PCOS System is a non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing PCOS.
Please let us know how you are doing and best of luck. We also wish your husband a safe return.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am 37 yrs. old and was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. Since then the Dr. that diagnosed me left the practice and now I see a different doctor there. For the past two years I have complained to her about my symptoms: facial hair, hair on scalp not growing, weight gain. She seemed to not have a clue. I was tested for thyroid, diabetes, etc. Finally I went to see an endocronologist, and they confirmed it was PCOS and my free testosterone levels were high. Is this also a symptom of PCOS? I am now on Loestrin 24 fe and spironolactone 50 mg. I read somewhere that Loestrin contains high androgen levels. Is this what I should be taking? It seems to me I should be taking something that is the opposite of what my problem is.
Dear Vivian,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
Higher testosterone levels are often found in women with PCOS. This increased level is often what leads to the symptoms of PCOS such as acne, excess facial hair and hair loss.
There are a couple ways in which this can increase. Insulin resistance is often thought to be an underlying cause of PCOS. Insulin can also increase the production of androgens in the ovaries.
As insulin levels increase, androgen levels increase. While all women have androgens such as testosterone, in PCOS there can be an increase beyond what is considered normal. The androgen production increases in the ovaries as insulin resistance develops. This also leads to less estrogen being produced in the ovary. This overall increase in ovarian androgens inhibits normal development of the follicle so that it does not mature and results in a cyst.
Without follicle development ovulation does not occur. Without ovulation, progesterone levels stay low as the corpus luteum would be the structure responsible for producing progesterone. (The corpus luteum is what is left behind after the egg is released from the follicle.)
In a “normal” functioning ovary, the increase in progesterone after ovulation would influence another chemical in the brain to inhibit the rise in estrogen. This low level of progesterone not only encourages the estrogen levels but also leads to an increase in LH (lutenizing hormone) and in return FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) stays lower. The LH triggers ovarian androgen production. LH levels are also kept high by estrogen being produced in fatty tissue. In an ideal situation, the levels LH are lower than FSH, but in PCOS we see the reverse. So without ovulation, estrogen levels stay elevated, progesterone is lower, and more androgens are produced.
Also, increased insulin signals the liver to produce less sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) that would normally bind excess testosterone. This decrease in SHBG further increases the amount of free testosterone.
The birth control you are on is listed as a higher androgen index birth control. Here is a link that can explain more: http://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/oral_contraceptives.asp.
So, with a higher androgen index, women are more likely to have more acne, hair loss on scalp and excess hair growth.
From, http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm, such pills might include:
Loestrin® 1.5/30, Loestrin® 1/20 Fe, Estrostep® Fe, Levlen®, Alesse®, Ovral®, Norlestrin® 1/50. This last website also lists birth control by androgen potency as well.
According to WebMD.com, pills with the least androgenic activity include norgestimate (in Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen), norethindrone (in Ovcon 35), desogestrel (in Mircette), or ethynodiol diacetate (in Demulen, Zovia).
Bring up these concerns with your doctor. They will be the only ones to change the prescription if you choose to continue.
In the meantime, I would recommend that you check out the Insulite PCOS System. This is a comprehensive system that addresses the cause of PCOS, helps to reduce androgen levels, promotes normal periods and reduces the risk of long term complications that are associated with PCOS. You can read more at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Vivian, I hope that this helps. Please feel free to write in at any time.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc!!
I hope you are well!!
Things here are going well and the weather is great!!
I will mention the pains to the doc and let you know – I see him on the 28 Jan….I counted and from the time had those twinges was 8 days and then I got my period… would that be considered ok??? I wanted to asked you whether you knew of a good menstrual calendar that I could download.
As far as me being hot ….it went away for a few days but it is back and I am sitting in front of a fan at the moment drinking ice water all the time….not because I am thirsty but because I am hot….
We have changed our plan abit and it seems to be paying off …. Every morning before breakfast we walk for 40 minutes and run for 10 minutes on the beach … it has taken some getting use to but after a week it has not been all that bad… and then sometimes in the evening we go out for a mini walk …. Lets just say when 11pm hit I am gone …. I usually have very vivid dreams and battle to fall asleep but now I sleep right through
One thing I have always noticed is that I do not really sweat like other people do at the end of it all I just look abit flustered…
We have still been eating a low carb diet and it has been going ok …. Yesterday I made a beetroot chocolate cake …. And it was nice substituted it for a slice of bread…. We seem to manage with substituting one thing for another …. How much fruit is tooo much? We have at a 4 fruit salad for breakfast and then a mango for tea and sometimes a fruit salad for desert after dinner …. We get all our fruit straight from the farm and it is all fresh and keeps us off the bread… our sugar levels seem to stay the same as before… my average is 5.08 and Andy is 4.79..
I am in the middle of what could be a cycle I am hoping it is …. And feeling good. The only thing I have noticed for the past 2 days is that I am feeling very puffy … I could even say I feel bloated and my breasts are starting to feel abit sore again.
What are some common signs of ovulations? Is there a way of knowing other than going for a test… Just curious ….
Anyway that is all for now I look forward to hearing from you again …. It is 11:01pm and I can hear my bed calling me.
Take care!!
Len
Hi Len,
I am well, thanks! Hope you are both doing well. It sure sounds like it.
The timing on the pains-it may be some PMS, a little cramping. It may also be related to ovarian cysts, if you have had them since there are hormonal changes throughout the month. These are possibilities. But I have not evaluated you or seen you as a patient so to comment on if it is normal, would not be appropriate.
I like that you are changing up the exercise regimen as well. This is great.
Regarding fruit intake, we recommend 1-2 servings of fruit a day. I know it is not much but fruit can add a lot of carbs. However, we would prefer that you choose fruit over cookies or cake. But I would start looking at how much you are eating and the types of fruit. Apples, pears, apricot, berries, citrus, kiwis are all good choices. Mangoes, grapes and papaya are ones we would prefer that you eat sparingly. These are high in carbs.
There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit). To do this, take your temperature under your arms each morning BEFORE rising from bed with a basal body thermometer. Approximately midway through your cycle, depending on how long your cycle is, you should see a rise (around 1 degree F) for 3 days. If so, this is an indication that you have ovulated. Which is great news, because ovulation means you are releasing an egg to be fertilized for conception!
You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant. You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
Lastly, here is a link to an ovulation calendar: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/ovulationcalendar.html.
I hope that this helps. Keep it up!
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc … I hope you are well!!
Things with us are going really good we have been walking and running and swimming and just having a good time in the sun…
For the first time in over a month I feel like I am at normal temperature…. I even got cold the other night ….I just do not feel that I am overheating or hot and flustered. Andy has also seen the difference he says my thermostat has been turned down….
The past week has been kind of weird I have not been feeling very well…. I have a constant mild feeling of nausea and have even through-up once all of a sudden…. My body feels kind of sorish especially around my stomach … it is hard to explain it is almost like my insides are sore, I am just tired have been sleeping like a log and am tired throughout the day. My sugar seems to be the same as usual yet I am running to the loo a lot…. Is this what PMS is suppose to be like …. Sorry if it sounds silly but I have never really had pms before …. My periods usually just happens when it wants to with abit of back ache and pain and that is it.
All the walking and running has been going well…. We often go for a swim after the exercise session and spend about 30 minutes in the water. This is major for me as until 2007 I had not been more than ankle deep in the water in over 21 years …. I could not swim …. Andy has been so amazing he has started teaching me how to swim and it has been loads of fun and also done a lot of good for my self esteem….
Here is my question for the week …. We usually walk in the morning before breakfast but now we are thinking of walking in the evening as it fits in more with our schedule however we are not sure if we need to do it before or after a meal. If you could answer us in this it would be great.
We will look at the fruit issue but like you say it is better than having bread or cookies…
Some more good news is that I have noticed a difference in the facial hair growth…. I usually shave once a day which I still do however I have noticed that there is what I would say 1/3 less …. It seems to be growing slower …. Do you think this is an effect of the exercise or the Metformin or the kilos I have lost?
Remember some time ago I mentioned I had constant heartburn well it seems to have settled down and hardly even think of taking my gaviscon along when we go out….
Even though I have no idea what is going on I am documenting the everything but from what you described and what I have been reading up about ovulation. I am very happy to report that I ovulated this month between the 9 and 11th Jan cause I have been getting loads of mucus and even had slight twinge but this time on my left side. I am sooo excited that things are changing …. I am due to have a period again either on the 24 or 25 Jan….I really hope things come together ….
Another question is how long after I start ovulating on a regular basis can we start talking about have having a baby?
The links you gave helped me a lot and I will see if one of my friends can buy and send the book to me as soon as I can …. It should be an interesting read….
Anyway …. I look forward to hearing from you again …
Len
Hi Len,
It is nice to hear from you. I am well, thanks and I hope this finds you both well.
First things first, I love that you are learning to swim. The water is one of my most favorite places. I am glad that you are enjoying the new adventure.
You and Andy can walk before or after a meal, but walking after a meal can help with glucose disposal. Whatever works best for you both.
Regarding the vomiting, there has been a nasty stomach virus going around in many areas. Has it cleared up since you wrote in? Is there a chance that you might be pregnant? You can take a home pregnancy test. Nausea, vomiting and fatigue are all commonly seen in pregnancy, this may also be why you were having some changes in temperature.
I think that all the work you are doing is contributing to the changes you are seeing. You have been committed to making positive changes.
I look forward to hearing back from you, Len.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I was diagnoed with PCOS and tried Clomid and glucaphage only to have horrible side effects from the clomid and glucaphage. I had a normal hystosalphinnogram. I have lost 40 pounds inthe last year and have had normal periods for the first time in my life. My husbands Sperm analysis showed slow motility he is on vitamins for this but he smokes we are considering IUI with gonal f stimulations any suggestions.
Dear Angela,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry to hear about your experience with the medications that you were given. These are commonly used in women with PCOS. As you know Clomid stimulates ovulation and the glucophage helps to lower insulin and glucose levels. Unfortunately, as you have experienced, the side effects may be too much to continue with the medication.
However, you have done a fantastic job at regulating your cycles with losing weight. Often if you are having regular cycles, you are probably ovulating. Have you been keeping track of changes that indicate that you are ovulating?
Here is some additional information that may be useful. You may have seen it posted in other responses but many women find it helpful. There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One, is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit).
To do this, take your temperature under your arms each morning BEFORE rising from bed with a basal body thermometer. Approximately midway through your cycle, depending on how long your cycle is, you should see a rise (around 1 degree F) for 3 days. If so, this is an indication that you have ovulated. This is great news, because ovulation means you are releasing an egg to be fertilized for conception!
You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant. You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
Regarding the results of the sperm analysis, I understand that your husband’s sperm motility indicates a decrease. Of course, this adds another complication, however, nutrients can help support better motility. Is he seeing a person that is helping put together a program to help address this?
You mentioned he was taking supplements to help. Often for motility antioxidants and B vitamins can be very supportive. Research shows that smoking decreases sperm motility and sperm antioxidant levels: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(08)00483-4/abstract.
Here is a link with some areas that can affect male fertility: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fertility/MC00023. Certainly a diet that is high in antioxidants (organic fruits/vegetables) is going to be supportive. Also, since your husband is taking supplements, I would also recommend that the supplements be high quality without additional fillers, colors or unnecessary ingredients.
Of course, quitting will be the best treatment. I know that it is just not that easy however, cutting down, using other helpful tools to help decrease cravings (gum, patch, medication, etc), can help decrease use of cigarettes. I do not know how your husband feels about this.
You do have options and medication is one of them. The medication still has risks and I would be sure that you are aware of the risks and benefits and discuss your concerns with your doctor. I would recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System, especially since you have been making such great progress with changing your lifestyle to lose weight. If you have not had a chance to look at it yet, you can read more at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. The PCOS System addresses the cause, the symptoms and the long term consequences of PCOS.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I wish you and your husband the best in conceiving. Keep up the good work that you are doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doctor Heather,
I am 22 and have been trying for a baby for over 3 years. My periods were very irregular and I thought it was due to the pill so i went to see my doctor. the referred me to a gynocholigist who took bloods and gave me an ultrasound scan. They advised all was normal and sent me to a specialist. I had an internal scan, the outcome was PCOS. I am heartbroken and now by boyfriend has to be check too. my BMI is 26. I know loosing a bit of weight might help but is there anything I can buy the would make me ovulate. each month I buy a test and disappoint myself. I keep having bad dreams also that i am having a baby then when its there I reject it. will this happen to me???
Dear Michelle,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I know it can be scary to hear and to learn how it can affect your health.
First, you have a place to start, you know the reason that you have been having irregular periods, and having a hard time conceiving. However, please do not give up on what you want for yourself. Also, having PCOS does not mean that there is no hope in having children. Yes, it can make it more difficult to conceive but there are many women with PCOS who have been able to have children.
What I would recommend is that your boyfriend has a fertility work up as well, as this will give you both the information needed to make changes to give you the best chances at conceiving. Please know also that regardless of the testing, there is no fault in either person.
There is a lot that you can do and I would recommend that you check out the Insulite PCOS System: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. This can help you with weight loss and to help regulate your periods. Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5-10% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
I also wanted to mention that sometimes the ovulation tests are not as accurate in women with PCOS. However, there are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be ovulating. One is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit). You can read more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your chances of becoming pregnant. You may also want to check out the following website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method: http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
Michelle, I am sure that you would never reject your baby. Much of that is probably anxiety about getting pregnant and your concerns.
If you would like to become involved in an online community of women that also have PCOS and could be a great source of support for you: http://www.soulcysters.com is a nice site in addition to ours. It can be helpful to discuss your experience with others that know what you are going through.
I hope that you consider the PCOS System, as I feel that it can be helpful. If I can help further, please contact me.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc!!
I hope you are well!!
We are doing good as usual I am just totally exhausted…. I could sleep for 2 days if had the time to spare….
Ok so yesterday was the big day and we had the doctors appointment.
He was happy and very very shocked at the progress we have made…. He has taken me off the Provera and advised me to only take it if my period is delayed cause it seems that my body is now producing its own progesterone…
I could very well have been pregnant and to be honest there is nothing more that we would ask for however 28 days later it looks like my period is here… I was calculating it being on 24 days as it had been for the past 2 months… I am still feeling very tired though…Since the last time I wrote I started retaining water and everything swelled my hands, ankles and even my belly … I really started thinking there was a good chance I was pregnant but I did not want to get my hopes up…
I got some stats from him on my cholesterol was now HDL 2.2 and LDL 1.1 and from the regular testing of my blood sugar levels average is 5.2
He thinks that my body/ hormones is starting to balance out and that could have caused the increased in temperature. He was shocked to see how much weight I have lost and also just how we have managed to lower my blood sugar average down from 6.7 to 5.2
We have been quite busy in the past week but have managed to keep walking and will go for a swim hopefully tomorrow… I will keep you posted on the progress we are making but if you do not hear from us do not worry cause we are currently planning an open ended road trip it could be 3 weeks to 3 months we just need some time out from the city and explore this amazing continent. There is nothing like being out in the bush or watching the big 5 in their natural habitat or following bugs and those never ending African Sunsets. If you are ever on this side of the world please let us know
Thank you so much to you and the team for being such a great source of information and support.
Len
Hello Len,
Well, it sounds like things are going very well. The test results are great!
Regarding the HDL and LDL, can you check but I think you may have them reversed but either way the levels of both are good and within a healthy range. LDL is often the higher of the two.
You have done a great job and continue to do a great job, of taking control of your health and I hope that others see that not only have you been able to see and feel changes but you have made it a journey of education and enjoyment.
I think you deserve a vacation and I will be looking forward to hearing from you. Safe travels to you both.
I have never been to Africa and can only imagine the beauty that exists, I am sure pictures can only show a fraction of the true magnificence. If I ever find that I am coming your way, I will certainly let you know.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
ive just about finished my first months supply of the program and things are going well although im a little bit concerned about the depression that i have been feeling is this normal its pretty bad and what can i do about it it is affecting my husband as well
Dear Ashlee,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am glad to hear that you have chosen the PCOS System but I am concerned about the depression you are experiencing.
Have you felt this before? Has it gotten worse since you started the PCOS System? Are you typically more emotionally down before your period or any other time during the month? Have you had your period this month, or have they been irregular? Can you tell me more about this? Are any other issues in your life contributing to your mood?
It is not something that we would expect as many women report that their moods have elevated. However, because the supplements are designed to have an effect on hormone levels, it is possible that they are readjusting. Although, I certainly do not want this to continue.
Is there any way you and I can have a brief consult over the phone? Could you please email me at DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com so we can arrange this? I look forward to hearing back.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Doctor Heather,
I am 25 years old i was diagnosed with pcos when i was 15, right now i am taking norethindrone and metformin, and taking a birth control pill to ive been on theses for about 3 weeks, if i decided to get off theses meds when the time is right, could i get pregent? I was told i couldnt by someone and i was just wondering cause i have a 4 year old daughter, and sometime in the future i would like to have another child!
Dear Merileigh,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS support blog.
Because you have been diagnosed with PCOS, conceiving may be more difficult
for you. However, there are many women with PCOS that have had successful
pregnancies. It really depends on the person, severity of PCOS, symptoms,
etc. But just because you have a diagnosis does not mean that you will never
conceive. But you know this, since you do have a 4 year old little girl.
The medications that you are using are commonly used for PCOS. However,
there are components that are missing and they do not treat the underlying
cause. The cause of PCOS is often insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance vastly reduces the insulin sensitivity of cells, which
impairs the processing of glucose through the cell wall for conversion to
energy. As a result, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated
levels of blood sugar, some of which is sent to the liver. Once there, the
sugar may be converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout
the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, key factors in
creating PCOS. The increase in insulin also contributes to the hormonal
imbalance.
The components that are crucial for addressing PCOS include nutrition and
exercise. These can help treat the cause of PCOS. If you are interested in
using these and a non-pharmaceutical approach you can visit:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
Here is some general information about the PCOS System. The Insulite PCOS
System consists of several elements, all designed to work together to
address PCOS and its underlying cause, insulin resistance.
The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, carb/sugar addiction awareness and customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate
lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult
to make without some help!
The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose
weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS,
and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin.
Merileigh, I hope that this helps and answers your question. Please let us
know if we can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I just purchased the started kit and I would like to know if the amount of pills I will be taken a day are correct, I have came to a total of 18! and I am really concerned with that number if you could please let me know if this is correct and safe I would greatly appreciate it thank you so much
PCOS+ 2 capsules twice a day = 4
INSULX 2 capsules twice a day =4
I would like to know the amount of capsules I should be taking each month, I just purchased the started kit and 18 a day is kind of scarey. If you could please let me know that would be great!
PCOS+ 2 capsules twice a day = 4
INSULX 2 capsules twice a day = 4
REJUVENX 2 capsules twice a day = 4
GLUX 3 capsules twice a day = 6
these total out to be 18 a day
Dear Rhonda,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am excited that you have chosen to use the PCOS System.
You are correct, 18 pills a day for the Insulite PCOS System. The total number of pills is greater than most programs because we at Insulite Laboratories know that there is no one pill that can affect the same type of changes as our System. In fact, you are changing numerous ways in which your body heals itself and these changes need to be supported with therapeutic doses of nutrients.
Some people do have problems taking so many pills per day, but many women get accustomed to it. Also, when they start feeling better, they don’t mind the pill amount so much!
PCOS requires a multi-faceted approach and that is why there are many different supplements to our system, in addition to diet and exercise. Does this answer your question?
Here’s a suggested dosing schedule which may make this more manageable for you:
- 1/2 hour before breakfast: PCOS + – 2 caps
- With breakfast: InsulX – 2 caps and RejuvenX – 2 caps
- Between breakfast and lunch: GlucX – 3 caps
- With Lunch: InsulX – 2 caps and RejuvenX – 2 caps
- Between lunch and dinner: PCOS + – 2 caps
- After dinner/before bed: GlucX – 3 caps
Rhonda, I hope that this helps. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you. Keep in touch, we want to hear from you.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc,
I was diagnosed with the PCOS then tried IVF many times wihtout positive results then my obgyn tried putting me on Glucophage 850 mg wt the same time I’m taking the PCOS supplements which help me so much. And the last Embryo defrozen work out. Yahooo!!! the PCOS system help me a lot I am now on my 22nd week of pregnancy. My question is what can i do with the acne at my back its so so full of acne that you cannot imagine is this normal and even in my face but the more severe were those at my back. What can i do about them because obviously i stop the PCOS system because of the baby. What can i take or do not to harm my baby at the same time cure these horrible acne. Thanks and best regards.
Dear Marwella,
Thanks for sharing the wonderful news with all of us. I am so happy for you.
However, I am sure that the acne is frustrating. As you may know, it is hormonal. Often we see progesterone to be the cause of acne during pregnancy. The good thing is that if you were not bothered by it prior as a symptom of PCOS, hopefully you will see it resolve.
Some tips that may help:
- wash the acne prone areas twice a day. Use a mild cleanser that is oil free.
be careful not to over clean as this can lead to your body producing more oil and increase dryness.
be sure that you rinse with plenty of water to remove all residue of the cleansers
pat dry your back and face, do not rub.
- wash your pillow case frequently, as well as sleep clothes and sheets (use products for sensitive skin as they will have less harsh cleaners and fragrances that may aggravate your skin)
- exercise can help with circulation and getting rid of skin impurities
- be sure that you are eating plenty of fresh vegetables and some fruits, the cleaner the diet the better
- be sure that you are drinking an appropriate amount of water
- foods such as artichokes, greens (especially spinach, kale and collards,) beets, mushrooms, carrots, walnuts, brazil nuts, garlic, onions, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli all support detoxification pathways of the liver. The liver also metabolizes hormones, so if you are optimizing your liver’s detoxification pathway, you will support reduction of acne.
I know some of these may not be desirable depending on your food preferences right now, but if you like them, eat them.
- eat plenty of high fiber foods… If you are eating plenty of veggies you should be doing well with fiber.
- reduce intake of fried foods, over processed foods
Regarding topical treatments, I would discuss these options with your doctor. Benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid may be safe options but before you use topical or oral treatments, be sure that it is safe for you and baby.
Often acne lessens as you progress through your pregnancy. But since we really can’t change your hormones right now, eating clean and supporting your body’s ability to detoxify can help some.
Marwella, I hope this provides some relief. Please keep us posted on how everything is going and if we can help. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
My question is this.. I have been on bc for about 2 years and i have not had a period for 2 mnths, I missed a couple of pills but I am not really worried about being pregnant as I have been diagnosed with PCOS and my husband and I have been trying with no luck. I have also been having pain in my ovaries for about 4 weeks now and have been to the e.r. once about 3 weeks ago and they said nothing was wrong. I was just wondering if you think it is time that I should go to the doctor?
Hi,
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17, and was put on Diane 35. I am now 24 and have since switched BCPs many times. I have tried Tricyclen, marvalon, yasmin, cyclen, and I’m about to start Yaz. When I started on the Diane 35, I ate a low carb diet and lost about 30 pds. However, that did not stick, I gained the weight back gradually and my PCOS symptoms worsened. That is why I switched. When I was put on Yasmin, for over a year, my symptoms were almost gone, and although I didn’t lose any weight, i didn’t gain too much either. However, my sex drive went out the window. So, I went on cyclen for a few months, which has only increased my hair growth and decreased my sex drive even more. I’m at a complete loss for what to do. I go to the gym almost daily for a hour a day. I do weight training, cardio, yoga and volleyball, and I have not managed to shed the pounds. I have been restricting my calorie intake and tracking my foods, and eating fairly healthy as well.
So, I guess I have two questions. Is there anything you can suggest for weight loss? I have not tried any other medication (like metformin) other than BCP, so I’m not really familiar with other types of medication that may help me. And, what is the best solution for increasing my sex drive? I thought about going off the pill to see if my sex drive returns, but I am very scared that I will gain a lot more weight, get more facial hair, and get serious cramps again. I was very fortunate to have fairly regular periods even off the pill, before I was diagnosed, but I’m not sure if going off the pill (after being on it for 7 years) will help.
Thank you for your response.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for writing in to the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry to hear about your struggles with PCOS and the effects of birth control. As you know, not all birth control pills (BCP) are helpful and some make things worse.
Although there are some BCP’s that help with the androgenic (relating to male hormones) symptoms, others can actually worsen them. Here is a link with more information in case you are interested: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm. Here is a list from that site.
The pills that are likely to cause worse acne and hair growth side effects are those pills high in androgenicity and low in estrogen content. Such pills might include:
* Loestrin® 1.5/30
* Loestrin® 1/20 Fe
* Estrostep® Fe
* Levlen®
* Alesse®
* Ovral®
* Norlestrin® 1/50
From http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/american-hair-loss-association-birth-control-pill-index/. This list is in the order of lowest androgen index to highest:
Desogen, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Micronor, Nor-Q D, Ovcon-35, Brevicon/Modicon, Ortho Norvum 7/7/7, Ortho Novum 10-11, Tri-Norinyl, Norinyl and Ortho 1/35, Demulen 1/35, Triphasil/Tri-Levien, Nordette, Lo/Ovral, Ovrette, Ovral, Loestrin1/20, Loestrin 1.5/30.
Yaz is also a low androgen BCP.
However, the draw back of birth control is the affect they can have on your sex drive. Because they can lower androgen levels, which is useful to help reduce facial/body hair growth, it certainly can reduce the desire/pleasure. Trying different ones can help but it can be associated with use of all types of birth control pills.
Karen, as you know the pill can help to regulate your cycles and can help with some of the androgenic symptoms, however, there is evidence that its use can worsen the underlying cause, insulin resistance. I also wanted to direct you to a post on the blog regarding a study on this topic: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/insulin-resistance/can-birth-control-pills-affect-pcos.
Metformin helps some women lose weight and not others. I have had women who have gained weight with the use and some not willing to continue due to side effects (nausea/diarrhea).
Regarding weight loss and maintaining those changes, have you continued a low carb diet? It will be important to maintain a low carb diet consistently. Even when you reach your goals, a whole food diet with a focus on vegetables, healthy fats and lean proteins is the best diet for the majority of women with PCOS, especially those who struggle with weight.
Be careful not to restrict your calories too much, as this will only make it more difficult in the long run. Be sure that you are eating 3 small meals and a couple of healthy snacks.
Keep working out, that is great. I know it feels as though it is not benefiting you but it is. So, please keep exercising.
Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System? This addresses the underlying cause, insulin resistance as well as helping to reduce androgens, help to regulate periods, and helps you reduce weight. The PCOS System provides a comprehensive approach to PCOS. The best solution for increasing sex drive is to balance hormones. With helping to restore a more normal hormone balance we would expect symptoms related to PCOS to improve.
Karen, I hope that you see you have some options. Please let me know if I can help further and thanks again for writing in.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello Doc
I am 27 married woman (married for almost a year). I have been diagnoised with PCOS. I was on birth control pills for the last 6 months. Now I have stopped as I am planning to become pregnant.
What care should I take as I have PCOS. What kind of problems may come during pregnancy because of PCOS and how to take care of it. Is it true that if one has PCOS, pregnancy might take a long time?
Dear Nivedha,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I hope that you are finding support and helpful information here.
This is a great question and a very important one. There are some problems with regard to pregnancy in a women with PCOS. I want to preface this with more information about the cause of PCOS in many cases.
The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Difficulty becoming pregnant is one of the more common problems. Many women with PCOS are not having regular periods and therefore are not ovulating. This is often due to elevated insulin levels that then affect other hormones such as testosterone, as mentioned above. Elevated testosterone levels can inhibit ovulation, which results in a lower progesterone level and the end result…missed periods.
If a woman with PCOS is having regular periods and is ovulating, she may not have the hormonal imbalance to the same extent as other women. However, she may still have lower progesterone levels even if pregnant. Which can lead to another concern that women with PCOS face.
Women with PCOS also have an increased rate of miscarriage. This is due to hormonal imbalances and other complications. However, keep in mind that many times it is difficult to determine the cause and there are other causes of miscarriage and they include: genetic, endocrine (hormonal), anatomic, inherited, infectious, immunologic and unexplained.
PCOS is a syndrome of hormonal imbalances and the miscarriage rate is indeed higher in women with PCOS. There is a connection between insulin resistance and miscarriage, at least in women with PCOS. In fact, women with recurrent pregnancy loss much more often have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. While it seems obvious to some that cysts on ovaries will prevent a normal pregnancy, there are many theories about this.
One theory is that the relationship between PCOS and miscarriage is due to the hormonal imbalance of PCOS. Elevated insulin levels and insulin resistance contribute to the hormone imbalances associated with PCOS.
It is always important that, as you go through the process, you are asking your doctor questions and making sure that she/he is familiar with PCOS and the possible issues that can contribute to problems during pregnancy.
For example, we always recommend when a women becomes pregnant that she have her progesterone levels checked in case she is low and needs to be supplemented for the first trimester. Of course, this should only be given by your doctor and only if evaluated.
In addition, if you are overweight or you have higher glucose levels your risk for gestational diabetes can increase.
What you can do is start to make lifestyle changes that are supportive to women with PCOS.
A low carbohydrate diet is recommended for women with PCOS. Reducing processed foods and refined grains will be important as well as overall carbohydrate intake (including grains such as rice, while wheat, etc).
Exercise is another way to reduce glucose and insulin levels. When you exercise, your body becomes more insulin sensitive (responds more appropriately) and this can also help increase your metabolism.
Nivedha, I would also recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System. This is a comprehensive approach to PCOS. It is a non-pharmaceutical program that includes nutrients/herbs, nutrition and exercise guidelines, support and carbohydrate addiction awareness.
I know that it may sound a bit overwhelming but remember that there are many women who have PCOS that have has successful pregnancies. I hope that you find this helpful. Please let me know if I can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc!!
I hope you are well!! Sorry I have been so quiet we have just been very busy and having loads of fun.
We have been keeping up with the exercise – we generally swim 3 to 4 times a week for about 2 hours now and then walk once or twice a week.
We both lost 2 more kilos however since then we have not lost anymore. We are still eating a GI low Diet I even made some GI low biscuits and muffins which was really nice with loads of nuts, seeds etc. what would you suggest we do to boost our weight loss again as I still have a good few kilos to loose.
Those figures I gave you for my cholesterol was right – HDL 2.2 and LDL 1.1 I checked again. Is there something wrong with it like that?
My period seems to have come right I was and was happening every month between 28 and 30 days however this month seems to have gone up the wall. Remember the Doc took me off the Provera and said I should only use it if I have not had a natural period for a while.
The hair growth on my face has reduced considerably and there have even been days when I do not shave …. I have also forgotten a few times and gone out to the shops without shaving and then suddenly I will freak and realise I have not done it and Andy will calm me down and assure me that he cannot even see it.
So this period I was due to have my period round about the 27 or 28 February (that is if it was on about 30 days) it only hit me late last week when I realised that was getting to close to 40 days late.
I am feeling kind of weird but other than that I feel just ok and going about stuff as always.
Around the time my period was due I had a few days Lower Abdomen discomfort it is hard to explain it is not a pain just a constant sore feeling almost like cramps but not intense enough for a pain killer – it comes and goes but is mostly there when I am busy or sitting still but when I lay down it goes away – it was as if I was going to get my period.
I have notice in the past 2 week my nipples are always erect and sore to the touch (I thought it could be that I was getting my period in the beginning) …. I am tired a lot in the past week and have had to take a nap in the middle of the day…. I have also been urinating a little more than usual (not majorly just abit more) The only thing that has been hassling me a lot is that I have been abit constipated not severely but enough to make me feel stuffed and uncomfortable. I also feel like I am retaining a lot of water again my hands and feet tend to be puffy.
Today is Sunday and I am on day 39 – making me about 9 days and with all these things happening we popped down to the pharmacy 2 days ago and got a Home Pregnancy Test… BUT we have not taken it yet we said we will do it when it is 40 days which is tomorrow …. My nerves are shot …lol all I have been dreaming of is seeing 2 strips on the test ….lol
Well it is 40 days tomorrow morning (Monday) and we will do it then … I am not sure if I should be excited or not cause there is a HUGE chance that this could all be my hormone messing with my head again. I really do not want to get my hopes up too much just in case I a not pregnant. We are not urgently trying to fall pregnant but have decided when it happens it will be at the right time.
Doc what do you think of all of this???
I will let you know what is happened after tomorrow.
If you would like to see some of our pics on our adventures please send me an email and I will send you some.
I look forward to hearing from you
Len
I am 39 yrs old. I am regular for my periods (every 29 days), I work out, not overweight, have acne, top of scalp hair loss, lack of sex drive, tire easily (I do have young children), iron deficient (diagonosed recently), moody, depression. I know there has to be a reason for my acne, it seems to flair up most of the time right before my cycle begins (10 days out). When I stumbled upon this website I teared up (maybe finally an answer!!) because it has so many of the symptoms listed that I have been dealing with for many years. How can I be certain that I may have PCOS? I would like to resolve/control with herbal supplementations if at all possible. Please advise a mom looking for serious answers.
Thank you,
Renee
Dear Renee,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear that
you are not feeling well and I hope that I can help.
Regarding diagnosing PCOS, it is what is called a diagnosis of exclusion. It
becomes a diagnosis when other conditions that can cause similar symptoms
have been ruled out.
Other conditions that can have some of the same symptoms include Cushing’s
disease, hypothyroid, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Your doctor would
need to order tests to rule out other conditions and to evaluate if PCOS is
a possibility.
Here are some of the tests that we use to diagnose PCOS:
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this
test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that
results greater than 9 indicate Insulin Resistance. Insulin Resistance is
usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our
site.
- fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this
information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose
Insulin Resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of Diabetes so
it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH:FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two
hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts.
Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not
mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
Renee, although your symptoms are similar to some of the symptoms we see in
women with PCOS, there are still other possibilities to consider. Also,
some of your symptoms may be a result of the iron deficiency. And some can
be seen in PMS, especially with a worsening before your period.
I would find a knowledgeable person in women’s health to properly evaluate
your current symptoms and perform some tests. This can provide you with the
information to allow you to address the problem.
If it turns out that you do indeed have PCOS, I would recommend the Insulite
PCOS System to help with the hormonal imbalance that can lead to the
symptoms you are experiencing.
I hope that this helps and you continue to use the PCOS support blog as a
source of information and a place to share your thoughts and insight.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc
I hope you are well and have not forgotten who we are. This is a follow up to the last posting.
We did the Home Pregnancy Test on the Monday and after 25 minutes we got a faint positive it was suppose to work between 30sec to 15 minutes. So we then decided as it took longer than it was suppose to we would wait a week and test again.
In the mean time I was eating health, resting and doing everything as if I was pregnant. Anyway I Was having all the symptoms. So yesterday morning we did the second Home Pregnancy Test and we got a positive result with in 30 sec….. We are really happy and excited…. I keep on looking at the test to make sure I was not dreaming ….
We have scheduled to meet with a doctor next week and until then I will be taking it slow. I got myself some vitamins and am drinking loads of water and aware that there is something going inside me. We have decided not to tell our family till later but they can see something is potting cause we cannot stop smiling and they have heard me being sick a few times….
My weight seems to have stayed the same so I have not put on any more weight. We worked out that I am about 4weeks and 3 days so it is still very early days. We have been doing a lot of reading and just general research online to know what is happening.
Do you have any advice for us????? I do have one question I was taking a calcium tablet twice a day before however the multi vitamin I am taking how is for pregnant women and has calcium in it….do I need to take both or should I only take the multi vitamin?
There are so many questions but I need to list them for another time….
We are sooo happy and excited!!!
A huge thank you to you for all your advice and support we do appreciate.
Len & Andy
Hi Len,
How could I forget who you are? This is wonderful news! I was so happy to read your post. Congratulations!!!
It sounds like you are taking this in stride and I understand waiting to tell your families. Plus it is a bit of extra time for you and Andy to share this delightful secret.
Taking a prenatal vitamin is recommended. The prenatal should be adequate for calcium and you may not need to supplement any additional. However, please check with your doctor to see if they have any concerns about calcium levels and the need to supplement.
You can ask the doctor to test progesterone levels. Since this can be low in women with PCOS, women may need additional for a period of time.
Progesterone supplementation would depend on your levels of progesterone. Again, many women with PCOS do have lower levels of progesterone and supplementation would be helpful if that is the case. If you use it, I would recommend making sure it is a natural, bio-identical form of progesterone and provided by your doctor. Women respond much better to this than the synthetic forms of progesterone.
Progesterone is safe in the beginning of pregnancy and in fact is prescribed by many doctors for maintaining pregnancies. The placenta is not functioning in the beginning and only fully functions at week 10 or so. At 3 months some people are on progesterone to compensate for lack of placental progesterone but then can be weaned off safely.
You seem to be doing all the right things; just be sure that you are getting rest/sleep when you need it, get some exercise and eat healthy food. Like I said, keep doing what you are doing.
I will be anxiously awaiting more news. Sending good thoughts your way.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Doc,
I am a 21 year old female experiencing irregular periods for the last one year. I have not skipped one completely but the length of my cycle has started fluctuating. Earlier, the average length was 30-35 days which has now extended to 30-45 days. I am also experiencing excess scalp hair loss with an increase in body hair in certain places like the lower abdomen, nipples and chin.
Most of these symptoms point out to PCOS so I would like to get an examination done but before I did that I wanted to know your opinion. I would first like to address the scalp hair loss problem, so could you please suggest a medicine that helps to reduce hair fall while balancing other hormonal problems.
Thank you in advance.
Dear Nusaybah,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I understand you are not sure if PCOS is something that you are experiencing. You are right, some of your symptoms do point to PCOS. However, there are also other conditions that can have similar symptoms and it would be important to have these ruled out and other tests done to determine if
indeed, PCOS is an likely diagnosis. PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose. It is a diagnosis of exclusion.
In other words, it is important to rule out other diseases that can cause symptoms similar to PCOS such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Cushing’s Disease and hypothyroid. However, your doctor would be able to evaluate this for you.
To diagnose PCOS, we use a combination of clinical symptoms (what you experience as the patient, such as excess hair growth, irregular menses, acne, skin tags, weight gain, infertility, etc.) and lab tests.
The blood tests to consider are:
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate Insulin Resistance. Insulin Resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our
site.
- fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose Insulin Resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of Diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH:FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts.
However, even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
- I would also check your cholesterol levels and liver function tests, as these can also be abnormal in PCOS (as well as in many other conditions).
The hair loss you are experiencing may be due to elevated testosterone levels. If this was determined to be the cause, your doctor may choose birth control pills or a medication to directly reduce the testosterone, such as spironolactone.
Keep in mind, these treatments are standard if the hair loss is related to elevated testosterone levels. However, if it is due to another cause, another treatment may be recommended to best suit your needs.
We do commonly see the symptoms you are dealing with in women with PCOS and it can be frustrating, to say the least. The Insulite PCOS System does address this aspect by helping to reduce testosterone levels to help reduce hair loss and excess facial and body hair as well as helping to balance out other hormones and promote a more regular period.
Nusaybah, I hope that this helps. I do think it is a good idea to be evaluated by your doctor to help you find out what is going on.
If PCOS is what is leading to these symptoms for you, please consider the PCOS System to address it.
If you are interested in the PCOS System, please visit our website at:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com.
Please feel free to write with any questions or concerns. Thanks again for writing in.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
HI Doc!! ( I see everyone calls you Doc now…lol)
I hope you are having a good day!!
Tonight I am sitting in the kitchen writing as I am making food for a short trip we are going on in the morning.
Andy and I are very happy it is starting to sink in more now …. Firstly I got my numbers completely wrong when I did the calculation for the formula given (maths was never my strong point) I was looking at an online calculator and it set it all straight for me – My first day of my last period was 29 January 2009 making today 7 weeks and 1 day.
Anyway I have an appointment for this week and will ask the doctor all the questions you listed. I am feeling well just been very tired but as soon as I feel the urge to nap I go and sleep or just lay on the bed we are lucky cause we work from home so the bed is always near.
One thing I am saddish to report is that I have put on 2kg. I have been sooo hungry the past week it has not been funny but I am trying as far as possible to eat healthy stuff like nuts, fruit, etc. I am also making a point of drinking least 2 litres of water a day and that is sure sending me running to the loo all the time.
Even with all the water, fibre my digestive system is sooo sluggish I am at whit’s end cause I just feel so stuffed all the time. Is there anything I can do to easy it up?
I have only had morning sickness twice but I have been feeling queezy and have not in the mood to eat but this was only been a few times. Is this ok? My nipples have been soooo sore at times I have had to put a warm water bottle on them.
Andy has even been looking at how and where we are going to put a car seat in the Land Rover we have a really old one so we will have to specially fit new seatbelts. The land rover is called George and is a bright yellow and seats 12 people when we are working but we convert it into a camper when we hit the road fully kitted with a small fridge, double bed and the best views in the world. But let me not get into that or you will think we are wacky….lol
I have been taking my 2 vitamins in the morning with my Metformin and then a calcium at night but I will ask the doctor when I see him. IS there anything I can take for headaches and nasal congestion???? I have not taken any western meds since January.
Anyway Doc I am starting to feel tired have abit of a headache now. It has been a long day out in the sun looking at birds and for a hippo yes a hippo we want to take a pic of a local hippo who ran away but that is another story all together.
Have a great week and I will keep you updated with what is happening.
Len
Hi Len,
Great to hear from you. What you are feeling is pretty normal right now. Fatigue, hungry, slow digestion, sore nipples, etc. For the slow digestion, just be sure that you are keeping up with water and fiber. You can try to add some ground flax seeds, as long as water in increased. This is often due to progesterone increasing, it can slow digestion. Exercise also helps to keep digestive system moving along.
If you are finding you are not hungry or you are nauseous, it is fine not to eat something. Although, keeping something in your stomach, even dry crackers (I know, a carbohydrate…) can help to settle your stomach. Also, if you find that you are getting this in the morning, keep a couple crackers next to your bed and have them before you get up, with a little almond milk or regular milk. This can help a bit. Or you may find that not eating is better, but if you can’t get in a meal, be sure to have something small, some herbal tea with a couple tablespoons of yogurt, for example.
Well, it sounds like Andy has a challenge to work out with George. I hope that goes well. I would love to hear more about what you get to see. It really sounds fantastic, not wacky. But more important news is happening and I am sure that in in time we will all be able to enjoy reading stories from your adventures.
As for the headaches, I would rest and or put on a compress (warm or cool). As far as any other recommendations, I think it would be best to discuss with your doctor. He may recommend something as easy as a saline spray. You can discuss options that are safe during pregnancy if needed.
I hope that you are well and will be looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
time we will all be able to enjoy reading stories from your adventures.
Dear Dr.
I am a 28-year-old RN with PCOS. I have all the symptoms PCOS has to offer. excess hair on my body (just started laser hair removal-painful and expensive); hair loss; pre-diabetic, high chol. I am 5’0″ and 138lbs. I started taking insulite about a month ago. I have alot of energy, i sleep better and no more mood swings. I gave up red meet, and have been working out at least three times a week. however, I haven’t shed a pound. I am about to give up. What should i do????. I eat sensibly… lots of greens/fresh fruits, and no sweet no soda of any sort. I am desperate.I am getting married soon, and want to loss at least 10 pounds. Please help!!!
Hi Helena,
Please don’t give up! Your email has been forwarded to Dr. Heather DeLuca who is extremely knowledgeable about PCOS and very supportive. She’ll be able to make suggestions to
“tweak” what you are currently doing.
We’re glad to hear that you are having some positive results from the Insulite PCOS System after 1 month.
Hang in there, please! We are here to help.
Regards, Catherine L, Editor, PCOS Support Blog
Dear Helena,
Thanks for writing in for support. I am happy to hear that you have chosen to use the Insulite PCOS System.
It sounds like you are making great changes with taking out sweets, including soda. You are also already noticing positive changes in energy, sleep and mood. This is great and a sign that you are responding to the PCOS System. These are some of the changes we would expect for your first month.
Regarding weight loss, as you may know, we do advocate a very slow weight loss of about half a pound per week, so the fact that you are not shedding enormous amounts of weight is actually good from a medical standpoint.
Losing weight quickly is harder for the body to adjust to and often leads to rebound weight gain.
Having said that, I understand that you would like to see more (any!!) evidence of weight loss so here are a couple tips that might “kick start” your metabolism.
Are you counting carbs? If so, about how many grams of carbs are you eating per day? We suggest gradually decreasing your carb intake to about 60 grams per day. Again, this should be a gradual process to help your body adjust. So depending on how many grams of carbs you are eating, simply decreasing that intake a little bit may help with weight loss. I can assist you with this by assessing your diet if you provide me with a detailed diet diary.
Another recommendation is to increase your exercise by 15 minutes per day when you exercise, and to increase the intensity and variety of your exercise. Try to do an entirely different physical activity for 1-2 of your exercise days, such as swimming, dancing, biking, etc. To increase the intensity of
your walking, try adding wrist and/or ankle weights.
One final tip is to engage in some gentle physical activity after you eat. For instance, take a 10-15 minute walk after dinner. This helps with glucose disposal.
Please don’t be discouraged. Losing weight permanently is a frustrating, but ultimately very rewarding process. Even if you don’t see changes on the outside, I want to affirm for you that on a cellular level, your body is healing: improving insulin sensitivity and getting the nutrients it needs
from your food and supplements.
Please keep closely in touch with us over the next few weeks. If you don’t start seeing changes in the next few weeks, we should probably discuss in more detail your diet and exercise and any other health issues that are contributing to your condition. We are committed to working through this
with you!
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi Doc!!
hope you are doin good..actually i have a question..i am 22 years old and unmarried girl..i am experiencing irregular cycles from one year..sometimes my period come after 35 days and sometimes after 45 days…my doctor has suggested me Diane-35…i want to know if this pill will regulate my cycle and after using this pill my reproduction wont be disturbed as i am getting married after 4-5 months…i will take pills for 3 months as suggested by doctor..i just want to know if this pill has negative effects for unmarried girls?? should i start taking this pill?? n yeah i am also experiencing excess hair on my face..n my bleeding is normal by the way..thanks:)
Dear Sheela,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am doing well, thanks.
Birth control pills are often used to help regulate menstrual cycles. For most women the pill brings on a cycle once a month. However, I can’t tell you how you will respond once you discontinue the pill. Some women will have a more normal period and others will again become irregular. It really
depends on what is going on.
Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? I ask because PCOS is not the only reason to have these symptoms. It would be important to find out why you are having an irregular period to know how to best address the problem.
Birth control pills are used in women with PCOS for a couple of different reasons: one to stimulate a period, and they can also help to lower androgen levels such as testosterone that can lead to some symptoms commonly seen with PCOS (excess facial and body hair, acne, etc.). However, some birth
control pills can actually contribute to some of these symptoms. It is important that if you do choose this method, that you work with a doctor that uses a birth control pill that supports more balancing of hormones.
Here is a link with more information in case you are interested:
http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm. Here is a list from that site.
The pills that are likely to cause worse acne and hair growth side effects are those pills high in androgenicity and low in estrogen content. Such pills might include:
* Loestrin® 1.5/30 * Loestrin® 1/20 Fe * Estrostep® Fe * Levlen® * Alesse® *
Ovral® * Norlestrin® 1/50
From
http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/american-hair-loss-associatio
n-birth-control-pill-index/. This list is in the order of lowest androgen
index to highest:
Desogen, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Micronor, Nor-Q D,
Ovcon-35, Brevicon/Modicon, Ortho Norvum 7/7/7, Ortho Novum 10-11,
Tri-Norinyl, Norinyl and Ortho 1/35, Demulen 1/35, Triphasil/Tri-Levien,
Nordette, Lo/Ovral, Ovrette, Ovral, Loestrin1/20, Loestrin 1.5/30.
However, there is evidence that its use can worsen the underlying cause of PCOS, insulin resistance. Here is further information from a post on the blog regarding a study on this topic:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/insulin-resistance/can-birth-con
trol-pills-affect-pcos.
If you are not sure if this is the best option for you, you should discuss this with your doctor. I do not know your history and have never seen you as a patient, so I can not comment on what is the best choice for you.
If you do indeed have PCOS, I would recommend that you check out:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. PCOS requires a multi-factorial approach and should include treatment to address the underlying cause, insulin resistance, as well as symptoms and nutrition and exercise (lifestyle changes).
I hope that this helps and you consider the PCOS System. Please feel free to write in at any time. I would be happy to help.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi,
I have been very stressed about this problem for almost 3 years. I can’t seem to find a cure. My periods have stopped, and every year I seem to have more and more increased facial hair problems. I am want to go the natural approach as I know other medication only masks the symptoms. Recently, I read that taking Saw Palmetto and Wild Yam supplements may solve the problem. If so, I am not sure how many pills I am suppose to take a day and when. Is there anything else I should be taking. If not, I will order the supplements right away. Will there be any side effect I should be aware of. Your help will greatly be appreciated. Thank you.
Dear Samantha,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
First, I want to encourage you to reach out to the PCOS community for support. Just as you have here but also on the PCOS forum: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php. And here is another link to information and support: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php.
PCOS is complicated and since each woman can experience this condition very differently, treatment and success can vary. At this time, we are not sure that PCOS is curable. But for many it can be managed with appropriate lifestyle changes and by addressing the underlying cause. For most women, this is insulin resistance.
Saw palmetto can certainly be a part of the treatment and we do use this herb as a part of one of the supplements in the Insulite PCOS System. Here is a link to the supplements and the herbs/nutrients used: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php.
As you will see, saw palmetto is used to reduce the conversion of testosterone (a hormone) from being converted to a form of testosterone that can increase hair loss as well as facial and body hair growth.
Because many women with PCOS may also have low progesterone levels, which often is a result of lack of ovulation, supplements that support progesterone can be another part of the treatment plan. I think this is why the information you read included wild yam. However, wild yam does not convert to any hormone in the body. It became a popular supplement for menopause and hormone imbalances because pharmaceutical progesterone was made from wild yam. However, this requires a chemical conversion process that does not take place in the body. There is some research that it can increase HDL (healthy) cholesterol levels.
If your progesterone levels are low, helping to restore ovulation can help increase the levels. If this does not help, your doctor can prescribe progesterone for you. You can ask for bio-identical progesterone such as Prometrium (natural progesterone) or Provera (synthetic progesterone).
I recommend that you consider the PCOS System to help you address your PCOS. Keep in mind that supplements or pills alone will never be the only answer. PCOS requires not only addressing the hormonal imbalance but also the reason why these hormones change. Consistent exercise and a diet that is low in carbohydrates with an emphasis on vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats and fruits is the basis of a diet that is supportive of PCOS.
Lastly, if you do choose the PCOS System, here is some information about possible side effects. the side effects that have been reported to Insulite Laboratories have been minor and include gas, bloating, loose stools or other digestive disturbances.
The reason for this is that we should eat 35 grams of fiber per day but, typically, we consume far less than this. The changes in digestion that happen to some people starting on the Insulite PCOS System are due to being unaccustomed to the soluble fiber in the GLUCX supplements. This fiber is an important component in the Insulite PCOS System because it acts to decrease a glucose (blood sugar) spike following a meal. These side effects will improve as the person’s system gets used to this type of fiber.
A few women have also written in to report that they had spotting after starting the Insulite PCOS System, but this too seemed to be a temporary reaction, and is rare.
In addition, there have been a few complaints of headaches after starting the system and we believe this is due to a detoxification reaction.
A couple of people have written in to say they experienced slight nausea but this was resolved when they took the supplements with a little bit of food.
If I can help further, please feel free to contact me.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Doc!!!
I hope you are well!!
I am doing really well and am at 10 weeks and 3 days. We went to see the doctor two week ago and he was very happy with the size of the baby at 7weeks and 6 days. We got to see the baby and even heard the baby’s heart beating it was absolutely amazing … We are due to see him again on the 16 April ’09.
He has recommended that I check my blood sugar levels twice a day as there is a history of Gestational Diabetes in our family but so far I am doing well I have fasting rates at 5.0 & 5.5 and 2 hours after a meal rates at 4.6, 4.8, 5.1 … We have been working hard to ensure that I do not get it we have look at the people who have had Gestational Diabetes and their habits during pregnancy we very different to ours – Eating loads of carbs, sugars, fizzy drinks, no exercise,
Andy and I go and walk everyday for 30minutes nothing hectic just at a nice pace. I am feeling bigger however I am not showing yet. I have only morning sickness 6 times so I am not complaining …. The tiredness and frequent trips to the loo is going away and everything seems to be going well….We still have not told anyone yet I guess we will start when I start showing.
The biggest challenge for me is the Bra story…lol I own 2 bra (still in the box) and never used them cause I wear tops with build in support and my breasts are small enough to hold themselves so I can say I have not worn a bra since 1995… it was horrible going to look for one at a local department store after spending an hour trying to get the assistant it advice I left with nothing …. I am now using the 2 I took the wire out and they worked fine for 2 weeks but now they are getting tooo small. None of my tops fit me and I just feel trapped wearing these bra it is just not something I am used to.
One thing I am abit concerned about is that I have lost 3kg and I have been eating well… similar to before but abit more cause I am hungry all the time. Still no sugar drinks or major carbs.
The seasons are changing here and I am suffering really really badly with hayfever … Doc says there is not much he can give me anything for it… I can sneeze up to 11 times at once and I am just very scared about hurting the baby cause when I sneeze my whole body gerks…. Is there nothing natural I can take?
We bought a Doppler this week but cannot hear anything yet cause it is only from 12 weeks.
Anyway I will let you know what happens at the next visit I am hungry again and want to also bake some GI LOW cookies with loads of seeds and whole wheat flour.
Anyway I will chat to you again … Regards Len
Hi Len,
So good to hear from you. I have been waiting to hear how you are all doing.
Glad to hear baby is doing well and right on schedule. I can only imagine what you and Andy felt when you got to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time. It seems there are no words that can truly explain how wonderful this sound is. I can’t wait to hear how the family reacts to the news.
Yes, with your family history it will be important to be proactive in preventing gestational diabetes, but like you said you both have been following a healthy, supportive diet for some time now and you know the importance of the hard work, good food and exercise to your body.
Hate to say it but even if you have been lucky enough to be able to go without, you will probably find them useful once you get used to them, lol, in the months to come. What we women have to go through….
In regard to the weight loss, some women will lose some weight while they are pregnant but your doctor should be monitoring this when you visit, and as long as you are eating enough in calories, healthy fats, proteins and complex carbs, this should balance out. If weight loss continues without your attempting to lose weight, check with your doctor.
Because many women read the blog, I do want to mention that pregnancy is not a time to be dieting or limiting calories. Following a healthy diet that includes the nutrients above is necessary to support the changes you and baby are going through.
There are some great herbs to reduce seasonal allergies but as for herbs during pregnancy, there are not many to choose from. You can use a netti pot or saline spray to help wash the nasal and sinus cavities. Do you have any naturopathic practitioners or herbalists that have experience working with pregnant women? They may have additional suggestions that would be helpful and safe during this time. In addition, sneezing will not hurt the baby. The baby is inside a sac that acts as a shock absorber.
Hope the baking went well and that the allergies take a break. Looking forward to the next time we chat.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
HI Doc…
Sorry for taking soo long to reply previously but we had endless hassles with our internet access.
I just had a feast I was starving ….. The cookies went really well and are vanishing on this end it is just a basic cookie recipe that I have modified with seeds, whole-wheat flours …. I also made a lovely Beetroot Chocolate cake with a low fat cream cheese toping -it is goooood …. I know not totally great in cals but I could have made worse…. I was caught las night at about 3am eating a small piece of cake and heck I am just not hearng the end of it … what can I say I was Hungry!!
It was for one of our Anniversaries…. We Celebrate 2 anniversaries… one the day he message me and said “hello…” … Yes we met online by chance on a basic chat programme he was not looking and neither was I … but we chatted through the night everyday there after and then the Day we actually met in person less than 3 months later…. And the rest is history we are sooo happy together … We were just saying earlier that it is amazing how we can sit next to each other and not say a word for an hour yet walk away feeling like we had the best conversation of our lives….
Anyway I am not sure if this is good news or not but I lost another Kilogram …. I do not look like I am pregnant just fat and my bum is getting BIGGER….. When do you think I will start showing??? I cannot wait!!! Will the Fact that I have an apple Shape body make a difference?
In the last few weeks I have been craving ginger… I had ginger drinks, ginger cookies, ginger crystals etc…. But now all I think of is good old home made Veggie Soup… I am going to make some tomorrow…
I have a question for you Doc…. Why do so many women online say that they are waiting for after their 10th week to hear the baby’s heartbeat when we got to hear it at 7 weeks and 6 days???? IT was totally amazing …. I talk a lot but I can truly say I was speechless… So often I have to check that is all not a dream cause I use to day dream about having a baby a lot …. Andy is so sweet Everyday a few times a day I say to him “we having a baby and then checking like today we are really 10 weeks and 5 days ….”
As for Herbalists this is Africa Doc you will find one on every street corner either on the street or in a “consulting room” however I would not trust them with the health of my goldfish…. everything they do is linked to their Ancestors and they use some of the most outrages things as cures… from goats tongues to herbs and plants to even human body parts (which is illegal) …. I went to a real western naturopathic practitioner many years ago but I think they have since left the country…. I will have to look for one again… let you know what I find.
Keep well!!
Len
Hello Len,
Happy Anniversary!!! Sounds like you and Andy are a perfect match.
Regarding the additional kilo you lost, you will not get this in time, but since you will have seen your doctor today (April 16th), this is best addressed by your doctor. They will best be able to evaluate if this is a concern. It is still early on and it will be important to look at calorie intake, prenatal vitamins, etc. Also, at the last visit you mentioned that the growth of the baby was right on target, so it may be a short term change. You may find this change as you enter your second trimester, soon.
I am not sure when you will start to show. Every woman is going to be a bit different but you can start to see the bump by the middle of the 4th month.
Now with the heartbeat, it is evident by the fifth week but can’t be heard yet. Usually by the 9-10 week you can hear it, of course there is variation in that and that is why you heard it earlier. Also, position of the uterus can impact when you can hear the heartbeat as well as the right placement of the instrument. Usually by week 12 it is pretty consistently heard.
I completely understand that you may not be able to find an herbalist that can meet your needs. I would also be a bit hesitant.
I have to say that I enjoy how much you are both sharing with all of us. We are all sending you and baby thoughts of health and healing.
Let me know how your appointment went today.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hey Doc!!
I hope you are doing well!! By the way what kind of weather are you having over there? It is Autumn here and winter is definitely coming soon…. We are relaxing here and enjoying the Cricket…
Well I had my second appointment yesterday and was abit nerves not really sure why …. But it went off really well I went in with a long list of questions… here are some of them….
1. Weight loss … is it ok … is it safe????
He said it was perfectly normal and he was happy as I am still overweight. He also said that I may not really gain a lot of weight as I am already chubby…
2. What was this whitey creamy mucus discharge?
He never really answered me just said it is Normal as long as it does not smell … What is it Doc??
3. How long Can I Exercising for?
He said to just take it in my stride and let my heart rate increase abit but not to over do it or overheat.
4. When was the latest we could fly?
He said the latest would be at 32 weeks however he would have to check me before hand and then give the ok… What do you think?
I then gave him the sugar results for the past 3 weeks and he was very happy with then even though I had 3 higher readings but that was due to what I ate on those days. He then said I did not have to test my sugar for the next 2 weeks however I think I will still be taking it as it helps me stay in check and also lets me see if there is something I should not be eating. I did notice an increase especially in the fasting number it was 5.0 in the start of pregnancy but has started to move to 5.6…
Ok then we had the scan … the doc did an external scan and wow it was amazing absolutely amazing… We saw that baby and it was waving and kicking and moving all about we were in tears it was so beautiful… What I cannot believe is that I cannot feel the baby move at all … I am sooo excited I cannot wait…. Anyway when the doc checked the size the baby is 49.7mm and according to the computer the baby is 11 weeks and 5 days so I was a few days further along than we originally thought… so that would make the baby due on the 1 November. I have been doing loads of reading in the past few weeks both online and in books and there is no consistency on size at this stage some say 85mm some say 2 1/2 inches … what do you think? The doc said that the Baby was a little big but that was not due to diabetes or anything I have done he said it was good. What do you think Doc? What is the average size for the baby at this stage?. He never gave us the weight and it is not on the scan pics but did say the baby was abit bigger for its age. So that info I cannot give you today. All he made very clear was that the baby was looking very healthy and happy.
He then gave us the option of having a series of blood tests &scans that would rule out any deformities and Down Syndrome… and we agreed… I had blood taken and on the 27 April we will go to a Fetal Development Centre to have some scans. He said from what he could see on the scans that baby is looking very good and the very very thin layer of fluid along the spine and the baby also has a good formed nasal cavity so everything was good… I will keep you posted on what happens….
I still have not bought a Bra that is good for me …. We went back to a dept store today and they wanted to sell me something that looked like a kind cage cause now the do not have my size… I am only a 44b …. Anyway I think I found something online that looks like I would wear and it come in my size …. Do you think you can have a look and let me know what you think Please please … http://www.carriwell.com/?page=sdc
We have only told 5 people and you are one of them …. Our parents still do not know and we are not sure when we will tell them cause it will only cause more stress than we need right now. Maybe some other time I will explain why…
Other than feeling tired I have been feeling pretty good but still seem to be abit tired still and emotional …. But I will say cooking smells really make me feel queasy …. But ice cream & milk is so appealing at the moment
I really appreciate you and the time you give me … I do not have any female friends here and so its nice to be able to chat to someone online… So thanks to you and everyone else for always being willing to listen and give advice… Do you have an email address doc I would love to send you some pics of the scans…. If not it is no stress…
Anyway that is all I can think of for now … I hope you have a great weekend… We going to spend ours looking for the hippo we want to get some good shots of it in and out of the water … did I tell you the story of the hippo. We going on Safari 10 minutes from home …lol
I look forward to hearing from you soon
Len
Hello!!!!
I hope that this finds you all well. Glad to hear the visit went well. I know it can be a bit nerve-wracking and I understand your concern.
Well, it is Springtime in PA. This past weekend we had beautiful sunshine and 90 degree weather. This is my favorite, I really enjoy the heat. However, it is Spring and the Spring temperatures will be back tomorrow (60-70’s). I like that too. Overall, glad that the trees are filling with leaves and the days are longer.
Good timing with the cooler weather for you. I am sure that you will appreciate the cooler temperatures.
Ok, so onto your questions. I am sorry that I did not get back to you sooner.
The weight loss is fine. I agree that since you do have some weight to lose it is safe and as long as you are being monitored at your visits, that is fine.
The discharge is normal and is likely due to the increase in estrogen and more blood flow to the area. As long as there is not a strong odor, itching, change in color, etc, it is normal. But if it continues and it can through your pregnancy, just check in with your doctor as they are best able to determine any significance.
Here are some links for exercise and pregnancy: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/exerciseguidelines.html, http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/basics/305.html, http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/exercising_pregnancy.html
I do agree with limiting flying after that time period. There are some sources such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that recommends not flying past 36 weeks or 32-35 weeks for international flights. But again, this is going to depend on the individual and your doctors recommendations. The fact that your doctor is on the more conservative end, even better.
Regarding the average size, there is going to be a range. It sounds like the baby is doing great. Here is a link that you may have seen but a guide: http://www.babycenter.com/average-fetal-length-weight-chart.
The scans are pretty amazing. I bet you felt something you never quite felt before. How did the scans go and the additional blood work?
I like the bra that you found. It looks like it will give you a bit of support without being too restrictive. I think you will like that there is no under-wire.
Only five people so far. I feel very honored to be one of those that you choose to share this journey with. It has been a lot of fun for me to get updates and be able to share information that may be helpful. I can’t imagine the reactions you will get.
I would love to see the scans. My direct email is DrHDeLuca@insulitelabs.com. I will be looking forward to them as well as the hippo story. I have to say I am a bit fascinated when you speak about the adventures you have. So, I gather photography is part of what you and Andy do, am I close?
I look forward to hearing more on how everything is going.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi
i was diagonsed with pcos at the age of 13, now 26 i have always had a problem with my weight…. i have miss carried twice but now have a beautyful son nearly 2…., but before i had owen i managed to lose nearly 3 stone.. which i feel may have been the reason i was able to fall pregant.. but my problem is that i put on 4 1/2 stone during my pregancy even thou i was eating healthy and since then i continue to eat healthy i am with weight watchers and i am struggling to get my weight down even thou i do my diet religiously i cant seem to shift the pounds… i have recently been put on metformin to help the pcos and help with glucose intolerence and im taking reductil to help with the weight… i have found that alot of the pcos problems ie: periods are more regular and hair thinning is improving.. the dark and unwanted hair in places has more or less stop… but the weight still not budging, the good thing is i have been able to maintain it at the same weight without putting more, but i really need and want to lose at least 4- possibly 5 stone overal. and have heard that certain foods that are healthy, maybe a trigger for the weight gain in people with pcos, so i was wondering if you had heard this and could recommend foods to avoid, i already cut out all junk foods/ process foods/ fizzy drinks, and eat a heathly balanced diet with fruit and veg,fish white and dark meats and a low carb in take.and i exercise regualy 2-3 times a week for around 1-2 hours atime sometimes more.
so could you please reply with any suggestions that i may need to try or any thing that i could change/ or foods that im eating and i should try to avoid or reducing the intake of????
thanks
samantha nottage
Dear Samantha,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. Congratulations on your successful pregnancy and the arrival of Owen. We understand how difficult PCOS can prove to be relating to fertility and loss.
It sounds like you have made some great changes. You mentioned you have cut out a lot of junk foods. Great! Low carb, also appropriate for you. Your intake should be about 60-80 grams a day. These should be coming from vegetables (mainly), small amounts of fruits and limited grains. Overall, removing refined foods (pasta, rice, breads) all support lowering glucose and insulin levels.
With that being said, there is one book that I use a lot. It is called “The Natural Dietary Solution for PCOS and Infertility”, by Nancy Dunne, ND. It can be really useful in addition to what you are currently doing. What can be confusing is that we hear there are foods that are good for us, but I will say that just because they have good qualities and may be healthy foods, they may not be the best choices for each person. For example, whole grains are healthy, they contain fiber, B vitamins, etc but for women with PCOS they may not be the best choice, at the recommended servings per day. They are a great source of carbohydrate and yes the fiber/nutrients are healthy. So, what is healthy can be relative to the individual.
Don’t forget the healthy fat sources to include in your diet. Nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil are also useful. They provide beneficial fats, give a sense of fullness and are part of every cell and hormone in your body.
With your exercise routine, it may help to vary what you are doing. If you have been doing the same exercises for a while, your body can become accustomed to it and changing it up can help. This can be by increasing intensity, increasing time, changing to another form of exercise, or increasing the number of days that you exercise. Eventually, you will want to exercise more days of the week than not, 4-6 days.
I would also suggest that you consider the Insulite PCOS System. This again, can help with how your body responds to the foods that you eat. Often it is the comprehensive approach including nutrition, exercise as well as nutrient support to address the underlying cause of PCOS, which is often insulin resistance.
Here is more information about the PCOS System. The PCOS System consists of five elements, all designed to work together to address PCOS. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time losing weight, as you know.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS and to help improve the symptoms of PCOS.
We advocate a slow weight loss which is healthier and more permanent. This is not a quick fix or fad diet. We want you to be healthy for the rest of your life by applying sensible lifestyle changes to your diet and exercise routine.
Samantha, please let me know if this helps and if there is any other support we can offer.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello,
I just recently had a missed period for almost three months. I for sure thought I was pregnant but test after test told me no so I went to the doctor and they did a lot of tests on me. My doctor just called me last week and told me I had a little bit of an abnormal lab result and told me that I had PCOS. She said that because I have never really had an abnormal period until now that I shouldn’t worry about it unless I miss my period again. I am very concerned however about how this could play out. I have always wanted children and I know that if I find out I can’t have children b/c I never did anything then I will be devastated. I want to know what I should do, whether I should go see a specialist or just put it off. I am going to go back on birth control to try to help me keep on my normal periods and b/c I don’t want to get pregnant right now. Thank you.
Dear Alicia,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis with PCOS.
I think that your concern is valid. Even though right now, you are not sure how you will be affected by PCOS, it is a great time to be proactive in educating yourself about what it means to have PCOS.
Here is a link that will provide you with other links to help you continue to learn more about what is going on in your body: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php. I would also encourage you to join some of the online support groups as there is nothing like learning and sharing similar stories or how others are affected.
In my opinion, I would not put it off. You can certainly see a specialist. You would need to ask about the experience the doctor has with PCOS. It would most likely be an endocrinologist or gynecologist. However, there are others that are possible. One thing that is important to understand, PCOS symptoms can be helped by medications but often they do not address the problem or support you with how you can make changes to support yourself.
There is lot that you can do to optimize your health and reduce the effects of PCOS. First and second…. Nutrition and exercise. These can not be overstated. Even if you are eating well and exercising regularly, we want you to understand the link between what we put in our bodies and how that may be affecting us. Each woman is very different in how she will experience PCOS and some can struggle even with the best of lifestyles. I do not know where you fall on this spectrum but I do feel that attention to these areas can help most women.
I would also recommend considering the Insulite PCOS System ( http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/). The reason is that this was developed to be a non-pharmaceutical, comprehensive approach to help reduce symptoms, support a more normal hormone imbalance as well as reduce long term risks that are increased with PCOS.
Regarding fertility, yes, PCOS can negatively impact your fertility. However, as I said, each woman is different. Hopefully, you will be supported and you will be able to maintain a normal period and ovulation pattern so that when you are ready to start a family, you may not be impacted by this aspect.
Alicia, I hope that you do consider the PCOS System as this is a great time to address what is happening in your body. Please let us know how you are doing and if we can help.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello Doc.
Great hearing from you again… we are enjoying lovely winter weather over here and It rained all day today …. I have been doing loads of cooking …mostly veg soups and stew for the freezer so I do not need to cook every day – I feel like I am stock piling…lol
I have also started a new hobby Crocheting I found some hooks and have loads of wool from my knitting …so I found a teaching video on you tube and now I am making myself a shawl….lol
We have been very busy this past 2 weeks with work, exploring and also I got to vote for the second time in my life. We had our 4th democratic elections and so it is a huge thing here especially for our community. It was declared a public holiday and people started lining up early to vote. I am part of what is classed as the Coloured Community here. I am of mixed race and heritage I am not black or not white but a blend of Dutch, Irish and Indonesian (slaves) heritages. Only in my late 20′s did I come to realise that the term Coloured is an offensive one to many societies around the world but to me and millions of other South Africans it is who we are. So we went off to vote and this one for the baby!!!
Anyway I went for another scan on Monday it was at an Fetal Development centre and the doc was very happy … She said that I am at Low risk for Down’s syndrome according to the blood test and the fluid that is along the spine of the baby… She confirmed that I am 13 weeks and 3 days (today). The baby weights 2.91 ounces and was Crown to rump was 72.0mm and head circumference was 86.5mm abdominal circumference of 67.9mm with a heartbeat of 160bpm. And there was a lovely nasal bone present We are very very happy that it is a girl …it is a girl!!!!! (No one here knows!) The other 4 people that know had to be told due to work. We will be doing some editing on the DVD we received and then I will send it to you… We have another appointment at the fetal development centre again at I think 22 weeks just to make sure all is well.
Andy was very worried about the baby having a Cleft Palette as he was born with one – some say it was from German Measles his mum had and others believed it was hereditary. But the doc said it was not likely that the baby would have it and that his was a once off. But to add to all this my dad’s and all his brothers have bone structure problems … humps, clubbed foot etc…. The doc assured us not to worry cause it was all due to other factors such as in my dad’s case his grandparents were 2nd cousins (wanted to keep the Indonesian part of the family going…)
We have our next appoint with the doc I think the 15/5/09. The baby was very active at first and then she seemed to have fallen asleep but the doc woke her up again. What we were so shocked at was that although she is sooo active I can not feel anything yet.
Here are some more questions for you…
How many hours a day does the foetus sleep?
We have a little Doppler (12 weeks onward) but cannot hear anything yet would my extra body fat have an impact on hearing?
Will all my allergies rub off on the baby? I am still sneezing …. I have never gone this long without taking something.
I seem to have put on one kilo but other than that you cannot see I am pregnant. Thanks for answering my questions about the mucus it seems to have slowed down is that right?
I never really drink coffee but lately I have been craving it …. I know that caffine is bad but does having decaf make any difference?
I love my new bra in fact we will be going to buy another 2 next week. I got the sport version as that is all they had in stock … I was kind of annoyed with the shop attendant cause she was totally discouraging me from buy it as they were not comfortable however I am just loving it cause it does not feel like a bra but a top.
We still have not told anyone in our families yet although most likely will do it on mother’s day…. So wish us luck please!!
I have not forgotten about the email but as I am here I have to tell you about the most amazing experience ever… we recently received a small tent and went to put it up just to see what it was like in a mountain side park near a forest. It was a lovely cool afternoon and while we were putting it up a troop of baboons came to join us. It was amazing there was about 30 of them all ranging in age from infants to adults… they were just all over the place playing, watching us and just relaxing … we know they are wild and never approach them or tease them. It was amazing and some of the females with infants came within less than 10 metres away from us. We have learn from other experiences that when in close contact with them always remain calm but I could not help worrying abit cause they can be unpredictable and I would not like to put the baby in any danger. But it was as if the females knew I was pregnant they just sat there looking and with such peace in their eyes and at times even stopping some of the juvenile males from getting tooo close and snooping in our bags. We carried on with the tent and they must have been there for about an hour totally surrounding us…. It was sooo cool… They are so advanced we have been in a car when a male baboon opened the car door to see what was potting inside…. On another occasion we have had at least 10 all over the car and trying to get in…. Thank God we did not have any food on us or in the vehicle or things could have been different….
We love photography but it is not what we do…lol we own a tourism consultancy doing a variety of tourism related things from customised private tours to related journalism. I will tell you some of our amazing stories in an email. I use to be in media but sat behind a desk most of the day… I am by nature a scare kind of person game to do stuff as long as it was in my comfort zone.. That quickly changed when I met Andy… Now we do everything we take clients on from shark cage diving to kayaking with whales in the open ocean… Stepping out of that comfort zone and trusting myself firstly to be capable of doing things has been a huge things especially with me being overweight. I was 120kg when I went kayaking could not swim to save my life but I over came that fear of the unknown and trusted myself to paddle enough to get out there and back…. For me it has done a world of good before I met Andy I was 127kg and growing fast and between that and contacting the institute and adopting your lifestyle programme and principles I got down to 114kg just from being active… just proving by believing in myself and just going out exploring does wonders for your image and body. And as I sit here now I am 108kg and pregnant… wow what a journey…
I really enjoy chatting to you … it feels like I have a friend to share with as I do not have any female friends here and there are things Andy well finds hard to understand even through he tries…lol.
I look forward to hearing from you here again… it is way after 1am and we need to get to bed.
Len
HI Len,
Sorry for the delay in my response. I hope all three of you are well.
Very exciting about being able to vote. I appreciate your sharing that. You must have been so proud and just wait until you share the stories with the baby… A better world it will be when we are all truly equal and have the same opportunities.
So, from our most recent email, the one that was more private than the blog…. A little girl. I think it is important to make a big deal about it. Well, of course if it was a boy the same would apply. But maybe because I am also a “girl”, I feel good that another will be joining this world soon.
Here is a nice link to some information about the fetus and sleeping. So amazing: http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/tul/psychtoday9809.html. Seems like she is sleepy most of the time. But I can’t say that I blame her, so much is happening to get her ready.
Right now you still may not be able to hear much. That is fine. Everything is going very well as far as development.
She may not have all of your allergies, but there is a genetic link. Most people who do have allergies, also have parents or siblings with them. But not always. Breast feeding can help to protect from allergies and help build a strong immune system.
The mucus can change and as long as you are not experiencing signs of infection, itching, etc then it is fine. If you are still having questions, bring it up with your doctor at the next visit. But otherwise it is not abnormal.
Caffeine and pregnancy… Well, some research shows that 300 mgs of caffeine (equivalent to about 2-3 cups of coffee, not 12 or more ounces) is safe while others have shown that caffeine intake was related to low birth weight and premature labor. Some more current studies are recommending that if you don’t usually drink coffee, then don’t start.
Or if you have to have a cup, have only one. Also, keep in mind that the caffeine content can be different depending on different factors and if you are drinking soda, caffeinated tea, eating chocolate, you need to take these and add to the caffeine total.
Here is an interesting article I came across and included it because of the other information you provided. As you will see, they are not saying a direct link to but something maybe to consider: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE54532M20090506
So, what does that really mean, limit your intake? At this point I would say if you can get away with 1 cup that should be fine. I would (if possible) use organic to avoid pesticides and unwanted chemicals that can be used in the decaf process. Also, if you choose to use caffeinated, this will also affect the baby as it affects you, can increase heart rate, blood pressure, etc. But like I said limiting to one cup seems to be safe.
Interestingly, there was a study done comparing caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and pregnancy, here is what they found.
A new study of 5,144 pregnant women by scientists at the State Department of Health, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and UCSF turned up some surprising results. The study found no significant increased risk for spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, associated with caffeine consumption. Even among women considered heavy caffeine consumers (300 milligrams or three cups of coffee a day) miscarriage risk increased only slightly — about 1.3 times the risk as non-caffeine users. The Study also found that women who drank three or more cups of decaffeinated coffee a day in the first trimester had 2.4 times the risk of miscarriage as those who did not drink decaf.
So, making it more confusing. There is not as much research using decaffeinated coffee pregnancy.
Read the full article at: http://www.ucsf.edu/daybreak/1997/08/825_caff.htm. I tried this link but it is no longer available.
Now, I understand more of what you and Andy do. It really sounds amazing, the experiences, the locations, the animals, etc. I can’t say that the baboon experience would not have shaken me a bit. I checked out the website too. Now, if I ever have the opportunity to get to your side of the world, I will know just who to call to be sure that I get the most out of my trip.
I know by now the great news has been given to the families. I am sure that both you and Andy are only getting more and more excited too. Sure sounds as it is meant to be.
As always, looking forward to the updates from the three of you.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Secondary Infertility
Here is some history: When my husband and I tried for our first child he worked for an offshore company in New Iberia, it took us 6 months to conceive, our daughter was born September 27, 2003.
My husband currently works offshore on a 14 and 14 schedule. I gained 30 pounds for my pregnancy and about 30 pounds after my pregnancy. I found out I have thyroid problems and now take snthryoid as well as Zoloft for depression. We started trying approximately three years ago trying watching my ovulation dates, using the ovulation kits, testing Jeff’s sperm count which one doctor said was low so he was taking vitamins to help improve that.
In 2008 Dr. Stormant preformed 4 unsuccessful IUI’s:
• April 17
• July 13
• August 10
• September 6
Because of the emotional stain and low financial funds we decided not to have any more IUI treatments and we knew we would not be able to afford IVF.
January of 2009 my thryroid doctor, Dr. Rizk prescribed me Adipex for weight loss and I have lost a total of 27 pounds.
My question is, having lost 27 pounds does that give me a better chance doing another IUI??
Dear Sharlene,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog. It sounds like it has been quite an journey for you and your husband over these last few years. I am sorry to hear that.
Regarding the success of the IUI… depends on a few factors. First, quality of the sperm being inseminated and health of the woman’s body. If you also have PCOS, then it can make ovulation less frequent or absent and certainly affect ability to conceive.
If you have PCOS, then losing weight helps your body and the insulin resistance that underlies this condition and can increase your chances to conceive. The reason is that losing weight can help to regulate your cycles. When you are having regular periods, you are more likely ovulating. Have you seen this pattern with the weight loss?
Has the quality of sperm also increased for your husband with the changes he has made?
Overall, weight loss can help but I am not sure how it will affect the success rate of the IUI procedure itself. But losing weight does help PCOS and can help when infertility is due to lack of ovulation. Were you also given Clomid or another medication to increase development of eggs and ovulation prior to the IUI procedure? This is done to increase your chances as I am sure that you know.
There are many factors that will affect the efficacy of the procedure, and you and your husband’s health will play a part. I know that this does not answer your question, but the weight loss will not harm you or worsen your chances and for the most part, it is beneficial. For more specific guidance, please discuss this with your doctor.
Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System? You can read more about this non-pharmaceutical approach at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/index.php.
Please feel free to write in at any time.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hello doctor,i’m 29yrs old,wt-58kg,ht-4’11”.i got tiny cortical cysts on both ovaries and irregular periods.so my obg advised me to take ginette-35 for 6 cycles.i took it for 6 months.after stopping pills my periods were so regualr for 8 months but in april 10th i got scanty periods (i’v not used pad) only a few drops.again may 10th is my due date still no periods.35days over.i’m taking metformin-500mg daily once for past 2 yrs.i tried letrozole-2.5mg for 4 cycles with no luck.so in april month i didn’t take letroz.my cycle is 32 – 35 days. is there any chance i might be pregnant?i didn’t find any pregnancy symptoms still.after treatment with ginette-35 again there is chance to make the periods irregualr.kindly give your reply.
Dear Sasi,
I am so glad you found our blog and decided to write in! We hear from many women who struggle just as you do with PCOS and are trying to conceive. We know how frustrating and heart wrenching this process can be – but there is hope and things can get better. Thanks for writing in!
As you may have read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances
such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time losing weight, as you have experienced.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
Regarding the Metformin, Metformin isn’t a drug for PCOS. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose (not insulin which is believed to be the underlying cause of PCOS). Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents.
Metformin decreases glucose production in the liver, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged and fasting plasma insulin levels and day-long
plasma insulin response may or may not decrease. In short, metformin treats only the symptom of hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the bloodstream), not the cause (insulin resistance).
As for the birth control pills, some women with PCOS are prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their menses. We do not generally recommend oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. When the
contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist (as you have discovered).
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs
website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is
not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek
the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care
provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition.
i am missing my menses from 2 months i gain weight alot dr told me its hormonal imbalance they say male harmones are more than female i am just 26 single and i am 90 kgs i tried every diet every exersice but no postive change
Dear Ishrat,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
Did your doctor mention anything about PCOS to you? Women with PCOS certainly do exhibit some of these signs and symptoms.
Some women have elevated testosterone levels. Testosterone is a male hormone, but it is also present in females, just in lower amounts. Similarly, men also have estrogen but in much lower amounts than women. If the levels of testosterone become too high for what is considered “normal” in a female, it can lead to symptoms such as acne, irregular cycles, excess facial and body hair.
Weight gain is also not uncommon in women with PCOS. The reason is that if PCOS is what your doctors are considering, the underlying cause of in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain that is often associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Now I am not sure that this is what is happening to you or that your doctors suspect PCOS. It seems as thought they are considering this. Here is some additional information on the tests that are done as well as some of the symptoms we can see with PCOS.
The following is a list of the more common symptoms of PCOS, but note that not everyone with PCOS experiences all of these symptoms. Some women may have 2 or 3 of these traits while others struggle with all of them. Most experts consider that a woman must have evidence of both lack of ovulation manifested by irregular periods AND signs of excess male hormones to be diagnosed with PCOS. Some experts also require the presence of polycystic ovaries to diagnose PCOS.
1. Weight Gain or Inability to Lose Weight. Other people may not necessarily gain weight but find that no matter how hard they try, they cannot lose any weight. Not every woman with PCOS will have problems with excess weight. In fact, up to half of women with PCOS are lean. Even lean women with PCOS may struggle with high insulin levels or insulin resistance, however.
2. Absent or Irregular Periods (Amenorrhea or Oligomenorrhea). Irregular or absent menses indicate that a woman is probably not ovulating.
3. Infertility. The high levels of excess insulin seen with PCOS can stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of the male hormone testosterone, which can possibly prevent the ovaries from releasing an
egg each month, thus causing infertility. Because women with PCOS don’t have regular menstrual cycles, many are unable to become pregnant. With help, however, many PCOS sufferers conceive.
4. Excess Hair Growth (Hirsutism). This symptom causes excess hair, which can be difficult for many women. For most PCOS sufferers, hair in the mustache and beard areas becomes heavier and darker. Masculine hair on the arms and leg is also possible, as well as hair on abdomen, chest or back, together with more growing in the pubic area. High levels of male hormones (androgens) cause this condition.
5. Thinning Hair. Just as heavier hair growth is possible, so is the type of hair thinning that many men experience.
6. Acne and oily skin
7.Ovarian Cysts. The elevation in insulin levels also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. These multiple, immature ovarian cysts that are the hallmark of PCOS are associated with irregular menstruation and trouble conceiving. Polycystic ovaries are defined as 12 or more follicles in at least 1 ovary as seen by ultrasound. Note that not every woman with PCOS has polycystic ovaries.
8. Fatigue. Fatigue is a common symptom that may be related to PCOS in that insulin resistance can be one cause of reduced energy levels. Furthermore, many women with PCOS also have low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) which itself causes fatigue.
9. Other Skin Problems. Skin tags: thick lumps of skin sometimes as large as raisins can form as a result of PCOS. They are usually found in the armpits, at the bra line or neck and can easily be removed by a dermatologist. Darkening and thickening of the skin can also occur around the neck, groin, underarms or skin folds. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, is a sign of insulin resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS. Other women with PCOS note an increase in dandruff.
10. Mood Swings.
11. High cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia) and High Blood Pressure (Hypertension).
12. Sleep Apnea. Women with PCOS have a high risk for sleep apnea. This may be due to the increased BMI (Body Mass Index) in about half of women with PCOS. Another possible reason for the increased prevalence of sleep apnea in people with PCOS is the effects of testosterone on blood vessels.
The blood tests to consider are:
- free testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- often elevated in PCOS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)- usually low in PCOS
- Fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our site. Some doctors may also order a 2-hour post-prandial insulin test, along with a 2-hour post-prandial glucose test. For the post-prandial insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance.
- Fasting glucose or 2-hour post-prandial glucose test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the insulin levels helps to diagnose insulin resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts. Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
I do want to let you know that there is another condition called Cushing’s disease that has many symptoms of PCOS and is sometimes mistaken for PCOS. Cushing’s is not very common, but I still wanted to mention it to you. This would be something to discuss with your doctor to ensure it has been ruled out.
If you feel that PCOS is something you are dealing with, I would recommend the Insulite PCOS System. You can read more about it at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. The PCOS System helps to address the insulin resistance, help you lose weight and correct the hormone imbalance.
I hope that this gives you more insight as to what may be going on. Please let us know if we can help.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I surfed inand read a few comments. I am a 29 year old who just recently over a year ago was diagnosed with PCOS. I am overweight but my obgyn put me on a Generic at first then Yasmin birth control Pill. i started my menses late parents thought nothing of it. The time pass an i took weight lost durgs and my menses would start but it would go for like 3 to 6 months at a time. I was wondering if i can do a transvaginal ultasound to see my ovaries to see futhermore what i can do. I want children someday and i am faced with developing gestational diabetes being overweight or miscarrying a child. I just want to know my options is there anyway pills i can suggest to my doctor to put me other than yasmin. the weight lost may help. i am wondering if i can seek the help of a endocrinologist just want to know
Dear Dee,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
As you may be finding out, many women do see their cycles regulate with the use of birth control and with weight loss. You mentioned that with weight loss you did see your cycles return, however not as regularly as you would have liked.
Weight loss is important both for your general health and also to help increase your chances of conceiving, when you are ready to start trying. For an overweight woman with PCOS, losing 5-10% of her weight can help her to achieve regular menstruation, which increases the chances of ovulation and conception. The Insulite PCOS System addresses this component not only with the supplements but also with diet and exercise guidelines. We advocate gradual weight loss which is healthier and more permanent.
As you know weight loss is not always as easy as predicted. Exercise and nutrition are of course crucial for anyone wanting to lose weight, but can be more difficult to get results with a condition such as PCOS.
However, with PCOS, it is important not to only address the symptoms of the condition, such as weight gain, irregular or absent cycles, acne, excess facial and body hair, etc. but to also address why this is happening and how these symptoms develop as a result.
The underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles.
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain that is often associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Women with PCOS may also find it more difficult to achieve pregnancy because of the hormonal changes (elevated testosterone and DHEA-S) and ovarian cysts that are characteristic of PCOS.
You can ask your doctor to do a vaginal ultrasound to detect the presence of ovarian cysts. If you are not having monthly periods or they are being controlled with birth control, you may or may not see cysts. Not all women with PCOS have cysts.
There are many types of birth control and it would be best to discuss other options with your doctor. Yasmin has a lower androgen index, which means that it does not increase testosterone levels. However, some of the side effects can include acne and increased weight.
Since you have already been diagnosed with PCOS, your doctor may not feel the ultrasound is necessary or she/he may want to wait until you are ready to try to conceive.
If you are trying to conceive and cysts are present, they may recommend a procedure called ovarian drilling. Ovarian drilling may make it easier to become pregnant, however ovarian drilling does NOT cure PCOS. The cysts can return once drilling is complete because ovarian drilling does not address the underlying cause of PCOS, it merely removes one of the symptoms of PCOS (the ovarian cysts) temporarily.
What steps are taken will depend on the doctor.
What the goal would be is to work towards having regular periods so that the you are ovulating and this is one way to prevent the cysts from forming. The goal should also be to reduce they symptoms you are dealing with in addition to the irregular periods and the risks associated with PCOS, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dee, I recommend that you consider the Insulite PCOS System. What we have designed is a non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing the cause of PCOS and to reduce the symptoms and long tern risks of PCOS. The PCOS System helps to reverse insulin resistance, reduce symptoms of PCOS to help you reach your goals and manage this condition.
You can read more about it at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope that this helps Dee. Please keep coming back to the blog, our forum ( http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php ) and other support sites for women with PCOS.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I was told at age 19 that i had pcos and my obgyn at the time suggested that i take birth control pills to regulate my cycle and diet and exercise regularly. i had very normal cycles but then stopped taking contriceptives and got pregnant. i had to change doctors b/c i moved and was told by my new doctor that i was fine. my pregnancy went well and i had a normal period after the birth. I have now been on my period for a year. i dont know what to do!! we would like to have another child soon so i dont like the idea of birth control and i am gaining weight even though i am trying very hard to loose weight. i have seen two different doctors that say my year long period is “normal” is this true? i really wish i could go back to my original doctor but i dont even know how to find her…
Dear Katrina,
I am delighted that you found our blog! We hear from many women who struggle just as you do to find the best way to manage PCOS that works with their life and their goals. We understand how frustrating and distressing this can be, but there is hope and things can get better!
Thanks for writing in!
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
As you may have read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).
The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to insulin resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.
Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very difficult time losing weight, as you have experienced.
That said, it is not normal under any circumstances to have your menstrual flow every day for an entire year. It is true that women can experience significantly heavier periods after a pregnancy, but these typically regulate within a few months. Also, we want to be careful that you are not bleeding so much as to become anemic. You might see your doctor about a blood test to check for anemia. And also to check your hormone levels because you may need to also supplement with progesterone.
I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Andrea Lee, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting and Advisory Team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
hi,i’m tanya. you people out there have to help me .please. i don’t know what to do?9 months back ,i visited the gynocologist,she said ,i was lurking around the circle and soon fall into the pcos problem. my periods have come to normal,my face hair still grow,i wanted to know whether i am supposed to be finally dia gnosed with it or it is still under my control?
Dear Tanya,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am glad that you found us.
It is interesting that your doctor did not diagnose if there is reason to do so. What I mean is it seems you are having some of the symptoms of PCOS. Has your doctor done any additional tests that may indicate that PCOS is the reason for the symptoms you are experiencing?
The tests would include:
- free testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- often elevated in PCOS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)- usually low in PCOS
- Fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our site. Some doctors may also order a 2-hour post-prandial insulin test, along with a 2-hour post-prandial glucose test. For the post-prandial insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance.
- Fasting glucose or 2-hour post-prandial glucose test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the insulin levels helps to diagnose insulin resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH: FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts. Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
- I would also check your cholesterol levels and liver function tests, as these can also be abnormal in PCOS (as well as in many other conditions).
Lab testing is not mandatory for diagnosing PCOS, especially if you are experiencing so many of the symptoms. However, the above tests do give us numbers which, along with the improvement of your clinical symptoms, help us monitor your progress.
PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, it is important to rule out other diseases that can cause symptoms similar to PCOS (such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia). To diagnose PCOS, we use a combination of clinical symptoms (what you experience as the patient, such as excess hair growth, irregular menses, acne, skin tags, weight gain, infertility, etc.) and lab tests.
I do want to let you know that there is another condition called Cushing’s disease that has many symptoms of PCOS and is sometimes mistaken for PCOS. Cushing’s is not very common, but I still wanted to mention it to you. This would be something to discuss with your doctor to ensure it has been ruled out.
Have you made changes to your nutrition and exercise program over the last 9 months to help with the symptoms? These will be crucial in helping to manage your symptoms and addressing the underlying insulin resistance that often is attributed to causing PCOS. Based on the information you posted, I am not sure that you are controlling your symptoms or if more is needed. Regardless, I would recommend that if you are waiting for a diagnosis when it seems you are on the path that can increase the likelihood of PCOS, that you make the appropriate changes as soon as possible.
It is important to be proactive about your health. You might want to consider using the Insulite PCOS System to help you control the symptoms and prevent progression of the problem. If you are interested, please visit the website: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope that this has given you some information that you can use and helps you determine what steps might be needed. Please feel free to write in at any time.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I am 21 years old and found out I have PCOS two years ago. At first, I tried Glucophage, but the side effects caused me to stop using it. I am not insulin resistant, but at the time I was very obese. I have since lost 100 pounds, but am still overweight. Now, my husband and I are trying to conceive and I am not sure where to start. I just stopped taking BCP and am not sure if I can get my period on my own or if I ovulate. I am wondering where to start, as I can’t seem to find a lot of information about non-insulin resistant women with PCOS. Any help you could give would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Peggy
Dear Peggy,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am sorry to hear that you are having a difficult time conceiving.
There are women who do not have insulin resistance but some women with PCOS hyper secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. Furthermore, in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
How did your doctors determine that you are not insulin resistant? The reason I ask is that this is often seen in PCOS, not everyone as you know but often seen in those who are overweight. This is done by looking at fasting insulin levels. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
You may know these levels and you may not have an elevated insulin level but I just wanted to check to see if this was measured. Glucose levels are often the only test done to determine the presence or absence of insulin resistance.
The fact that you just stopped birth control you may have some changes as your body readjusts to not having hormones. Some women will continue a regular cycle, some will not. However, if you are still overweight, we can continue to see irregular or absent cycles.
Have you considered a non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing PCOS? In your case, this is what I would recommend in addition to helping you lose weight with lifestyle changes, the nutrients in the Insulite PCOS System can help to normalize the hormone imbalance. This can be a great option for you right now.
If you are interested, please visit our website at http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. Since you have done very well with losing weight, you know some of the changes that are crucial to helping to manage this condition and I would continue with this as well.
Peggy, the topics of PCOS without insulin resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. But often it is addressed similarly and then adjustments can be made along the way. Let me know if this helps or if you have any other questions or concerns. I hope you consider the PCOS System as I think that it can help.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Can I get pregnant when I have PCOS? Will I get a miscarrige? I want to know will it be posible for me to get pregnant and not to have a miscarrige. I dont want shots. I take yasmin. I have very bad acne. Thats why I take it. I am 17. Will there be a risk for me.
I stoped yasmin.
And I have a thyroid problem.
Dear Dr. Heather DeLuca,
I have a few questions concerning my health. I had just been told by my gynecologist that I have PCOS, and she re-tested my thyroid levels. I have been diagnosed with my underactive thyroid for about two years now,which I take levothyroxine.The blood work results that my Gynecologist gave me were that I was taking to much levothyroxine. I am a bit confused. Also My blood work results show that I produce insulin, but does not work properly throughout my body. So she prescribed me Meteformin, which I must take three times a day. She said this will regulate my periods, help me loose weight. I am about 5 ft, weigh 191 at this time. I am not able to conceive, I would like to but, I would like to loose weight before I do. Also I had a visti to my primary doctor and she told me to quit taking my thryroid medicine, just take the meteformin, so I am really confused to what to do. My gyne said for me to continue to take my thyroid medicine. I would to seek some advice. Also I really would like to loose weight, this is my big health concern at this moment, I would like to get myself healthy before I concive.
Dear Angelina,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
It sounds like you were diagnosed with insulin resistance, in that you are producing insulin, maybe too much and that your body is not as sensitive to it. This can lead to weight gain. It can also lead to hormone imbalances.
Insulin resistance vastly reduces the insulin sensitivity of cells, which impairs the processing of glucose through the cell wall for conversion to energy. As a result, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated levels of blood sugar, some of which is sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar may be converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, key factors in creating PCOS.
Sometimes insulin resistance results in high blood sugar, sometimes in low blood sugar, and sometimes there is no change whatsoever in blood sugar levels. I think this probably depends on how long the person has been insulin resistant, among other things. Like many things, developing insulin resistance was probably a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
Here are the tests that are commonly used to diagnose PCOS along with symptoms (irregular/absent periods, weight gain, acne, excess facial and body hair, etc.):
- testosterone- elevated in PCOS
- DHEA-S- elevated in PCOS
- fasting insulin- elevated in PCOS. Some doctors may hesitate to order this test because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we find that results greater than 9 indicate Insulin Resistance. insulin resistance is usually the underlying cause of PCOS, as you may have read about on our site.
- fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test- elevated in PCOS. Using this information in combination with the fasting insulin helps to diagnose insulin resistance. Also, women with PCOS have a higher risk of diabetes so it is important to screen for this early and often.
- LH:FSH- Some doctors may also look at the ratio between these two hormones. In PCOS, we would expect LH to be elevated in comparison to FSH.
- You could get an ultrasound to check for the presence of ovarian cysts.
Metformin is used to reduce glucose levels and insulin levels. Some women notice benefits and some do not. What remains crucial is that you also make lifestyle changes. Reducing carbohydrate intake, especially refined and processed foods (pasta, rice, breads, sweets, etc.). Your diet should include a variety of foods but focus on vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and some fruits and whole grains.
You can also consider using the Insulite PCOS System. This is a comprehensive approach to addressing PCOS, cause and symptoms with researched supported supplements and lifestyle changes as well as support while you are on the program. You can read more about this at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
Angelina, regarding the levothyroxine, I cannot make any recommendations on whether or not you should continue, it would be unsafe and unethical, since I am not your doctor and have never seen you as a patient. You should discuss how you are supposed to take it with the doctor who prescribed it for you. It may be that you still need the thyroid support but that the dose may need to be changed so that your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is at a more optimal level. This is what is often measured when looking at thyroid function.
Also, it is not uncommon to see other endocrine problems with PCOS. What I mean is that many women with PCOS can also have other endocrine issues and we see this first when insulin (a hormone) increases and affects other hormones such as reproductive (estrogen, progesterone, leuteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone, etc) and thyroid hormone.
Research has shown that for overweight women with PCOS, losing at least 5-10% of their weight increased the likelihood of restoration of regular menstruation. Regular menses means that the woman is probably ovulating, therefore losing weight can increase the chances of becoming pregnant for these women with PCOS.
Focusing on weight loss will help to restore your periods and some other symptoms by helping to control some of the hormone imbalances seen in PCOS, which can positively impact your ability to conceive, when the time comes.
I hope that this provides you with some insight. Please feel free to write in at anytime.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Dr.DeLuca,
I feel like I am in a different boat than many of the people I see on this site and on the forums. I am 40, I was diagnosed about 6 years ago with PCOS and I am not trying to conceive. My symptoms started after I had my daughter 15 years ago and I had two miscarriages when she was two. My Dr. at the time refused to look into it and told me to keep trying…I gave up because I was too devastated and then a divorce followed so it wasn’t a good thing for me. At 40, I don’t want to have more kids, I don’t care so much about my fertility, though I do understand that it is part of my normal body functions. I was taking YAZ and Spironolactone. the YAZ was helping with my symptoms, but my periods never returned. (I always had very painful heavy ones, so I was happy they were gone). Recently my MD took me off the YAZ due to high blood pressure and started me on metformin (previous MD never offered this). Now my cycles have started back where they left off. I am back to two weeks of cramps and PMS and then a full week of heavy bleeding.
I just started the Insulite PCOS system yesterday, so it is too early to tell what will happen here, but do you think it will help with the painful and frustrating periods?
What do you recommend for me at this point where fertility is not something I want? I have read elsewhere that hysterectomy will not remove PCOS symptoms?
I have scheduled an appointment with a natural medicine/chinese medicine/acupunture Dr. in the Seattle area (also a graduate of Bastyr)who is also a friend/former co-worker of mine.
I am severely frustrated and angered by my PCOS as it really affects my quality of life and I know my weight is also an issue, but hoping with the Inuslite system and more energy that I can work on this too.
Any feedback about the issues faced by being over 40 and at the later stages of my fertility would be appropriated.
Dear Laura,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support Blog. These are great questions.
First, we understand that not all women with PCOS are trying to conceive. Many women are not interested in having more or any children.
Although it affects fertility in many cases, PCOS is an endocrine disorder. It is our goal to address the underlying cause, insulin resistance, that will further affect other hormones that will affect ovulation, and cycles and other symptoms related to PCOS.
So in fact, even though we do want more balance of hormones associated with reproduction (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) and elevated insulin and/or glucose, we also know that imbalances affect symptoms of PCOS, excess facial and body hair, acne, increase risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We can then see imbalances in other areas as well such as adrenal hormone production and thyroid function. So in fact, we are trying to be comprehensive in the approach to PCOS, but we hear from many women whose goal is to conceive.
The metformin will decrease glucose and insulin levels but often if other lifestyle changes are not being made, then you are continuing the same pattern. You did mention this. Exercise is going to help even if it is a 5 minute walk after lunch or dinner.
Also, you can start with the nutrition changes as these will be necessary for long term control of symptoms. You are right, it is frustrating however, I feel that you are taking some really positive steps in seeking help from someone you can work with in your area as well as committing to the Insulite PCOS System.
I am glad to hear that you have chosen to use the PCOS System and recommend that you take it with you to your appointment. This way, if at some time there are modifications that need to be made, your doctor will have the information needed.
Now, for your other questions and possibly the most important. You are correct. Initially we don’t know how the pain and cramping will be impacted by the System but I have had many women report that cramping and pain have decreased. With that, the amount of cysts that are present and if there are any other reasons for this, may need to be addressed.
This will be an area that your doctor can help address if it does not decrease. There are many herbs and treatments that can help as you work through all of this.
Hysterectomies only remove certain symptoms but many times other symptoms continue and the other risks are not changed with a partial or complete hysterectomy. Hormones are produced in several places in the body: the ovaries, the adrenal glands, and even in fat cells! Simply removing the uterus, cervix, or ovaries may have some effect on the hormone imbalance, but not necessarily. Removal of these organs would not affect the insulin resistance.
So, my advice is to continue working to address the insulin resistance, find ways to get some exercise in your life, continue making nutrition changes that support reducing insulin levels and work with appropriate practitioners who will also support the goals and the treatment of PCOS. You are already doing some of these and getting ready to start the others. You are on the right track, Laura so keep it up. We understand the frustration women experience but we hope that we can encourage you to continue through it all in order to change how your body responds.
I hope that this helps and wish you the very best. Please keep us posted and feel free to write in at any time.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Generally I do not make comments on blogs, but I have to mention that this post really forced me to do so. Really fantastic post
My question/comment has to do with hypertension and PCOS. I never had hypertension. . . .until I had my two boys?? They called it PIH and medicated me for 6 mos. after my baby was born. My question is now that I have been weaned off these meds I now have a new concern/or residual? Only with my period, do I have headaches and yes, high blood pressure and rarely, sometimes have the swelling. So on day 3 of my cycle I find myself routinely checking and yes, even medicating my high blood pressure?(approx 150′s/100′s) So what’s up with that? It’s not the day my cycle starts, it’s always day 3? I do plan on trying the supplements you offer, since all the traditional medicine has to offer is a bucket of pills to take as I need them. I agree to treat the cause rather than the symptoms. Thank you for your thoughts or input in advance. Respectfully, Violet
Dear Violet,
Thank you for contacting Insulite Labs. I am glad that you wrote in.
There may be an explanation for an increase in blood pressure, however the reasons that it is likely to happen, in my opinion would not raise it so much.
It is not uncommon for a woman’s blood pressure to increase with her period. Why day 3 for you, I am not sure. But a woman’s blood pressure can be highest in the luteal phase or the first half of the cycle. In this case, it may be a result of hormone changes.
Since you did have pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) or pre-eclampsia, it may be that you are tending towards having a higher blood pressure. One of the risk factors for PIH does include diabetes (among others), and even though you did not state that you have elevated glucose, with PCOS, many have insulin resistance (pre-cursor to diabetes), which can lead to elevated blood pressure.
Now, keep in mind that I know you only have this at certain times and I would recommend getting this more closely evaluated. Especially since you are having other symptoms such as headaches and some swelling.
Overall, I am not sure why this is happening to you and why the increase in significant. This is something that you should speak to your doctor about as high blood pressure is not something you want to continue.
Once you start the Insulite PCOS System you may notice more control over the blood pressure, as you address the insulin resistance and help to balance out some of the hormones. Please keep us posted.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I was diagnosed with pcos about 15 years ago. At that time i did not fully understand what that meant other then I had irregular periods and needed help getting pregnate. Recently while trying to get pregnate for a 3rd time I saw a new dr who explained a little more to me about pcos and said that i should not be taking birth control pills. I started taking metform 1000mg 2x daily and within a month became pregnate. yeah… my question is this. What should someone like me who has pcos and takes metformin to control it at 1000mg 2x daily use for birth control? (when i have my baby that is)
Dear Becca,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am glad that you found us. Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!
There are many great birth control options that you can consider. First, condoms are still a very effective form of birth control. Also, there are cervical caps and diaphragms. These methods require some planning. There are also others, including IUD’s, one of which is non-hormonal. What I would recommend is discussing with your doctor all the options and then making a decision that best fits your needs.
What is really important in addressing PCOS is making appropriate nutrition and exercise changes that support addressing insulin resistance. The metformin can lower insulin and glucose levels but once you stop taking it, if you have not made these crucial changes, the insulin resistance, that underlies PCOS, can remain and continue the cycle of symptoms and consequences.
Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System? This is a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing insulin resistance and PCOS. Of course, this is not appropriate for you right now during pregnancy or breast feeding.
The reason that birth control may have been not recommended is that birth control may contribute to the insulin resistance. Here is a link to a study on this information: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/5/can-birth-control-pills-affect-pcos/
Becca, since you are pregnant, you can still make nutrition changes that are helpful in supporting reversing insulin resistance and helping to reduce the symptoms of PCOS. Women with PCOS should be eating a whole foods diet, this is a diet that of foods in their whole form, for example lean meats such as turkey, chicken, fish, healthy fats such as nuts, seeds avocadoes, olive oil and complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, lots of vegetables and some fruit. To address the underlying insulin resistance, it is important to reduce overall carbohydrate intake. At Insulite, we help you with how to do this.
Also, don’t forget how useful exercise is to help maintain a healthy weight gain during your pregnancy. Exercise also helps to increase glucose disposal, which will help control the hormone imbalance that is seen in PCOS.
We hope you have a very enjoyable and safe pregnancy. Please let us know how we can help further and how you are doing.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Dear Dr DeLuca
My doctor diagnosed me with PCOS. He tested my thyroid which he found to be within the normal range. He found the small cysts on my ovaries. I also displayed other symptoms, such as acne, irregular menstruation and the weight gain. I am struggling to lose the 12 pounds I need to, to get me back to my normal weight. He put me on the pill in attempt to balance things. However, my main problem, which he did not have an answer for is the destruction of my libido, which PCOS seems to have caused. I used to have a strong, healthy sex drive, now I have none. I would appreciate your advice, as this factor is ruining my life. I just want to feel normal again.
Thanks
Hi Nicole,
Dr. DeLuca is away from the office currently so I’ve asked Dr. Nicole Kellum to respond to your post.
Catherine, PCOS Support Blog Editor
Dear Nicole,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis of PCOS and the distress it is causing in your life.
Many medications interfere with orgasm and libido, so that might be an issue for you depending on what, if any, medications you are taking. I would speak to your doctor about this and see if that is the case.
It may also be a hormonal imbalance due to the PCOS. You may find that, as you get the hormones and weight (if that is an issue for you) better under control, this problem may then resolve.
Finally, some women with PCOS have reduced libido and orgasm simply due to the emotional impact of having a condition that they feel is physically disfiguring (i.e., hair growth, acne, and weight).
The Insulite PCOS System consists of five elements, all designed to work together to address PCOS and its underlying cause, insulin resistance.
The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, addiction awareness and customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult to make without some help!
The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin. Here is a link to a page on our website that describes the supplements in detail: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php.
The diet and exercise aspect of the Insulite PCOS System is also crucial to your success. You can read the general information about these guidelines at the following link: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Nutrition-and-Exercise-Plans.php. Of course, more detailed information is provided in the Insulite Guide that our customers receive.
You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System by visiting the following link and browsing around: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the
sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello I found this site. I recently had a three hour glucose test and found that when I have sugar my levels go down, so my doctor told me to cut all sugar out of my diet. Well my question is I have been taking Femcon FE non stop for the last year. I don’t know when I will get a cycle still and I still get cyst. I take the active pills non stop and skip the non active pills. I am going to see an Reproductive Endocrinonligist because my family doctor said that he thinks I need that since my GYN is not getting anywhere. I hope you can explain my taking the pills non stop I still get cyst and still get unknown cycles..
Thanks so much Cassey
Dear Cassey,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
Has your doctor diagnosed you with PCOS? It sounds like you have ovarian cysts and irregular menses and your doctor is treating them with an oral contraceptive pill.
Continuous oral contraceptives may decrease ovarian activity. I’m assuming your doctor is trying to reduce the occurrence of cysts.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent or irregular menses with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives for treating irregular or absent menses, or other symptoms of PCOS.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello, I have been recently diagnosed with PCOS after years of wondering what was going on with my body. An endocrinologist finally detected it after testing my testosterone and insulin levels, none of which I would have otherwise realized were out of whack. The symptoms that I HAVE been bothered by have been severe weight gain (I am approximately 60lbs overweight and have really struggled with not only taking it off, but maintaining the weights that I rise to), acne, chronic fatigue and stress, and unexplained pains in my back and stomach (which I have learned through my own research are common complaints to those who suffer with PCOS). I have sought the advice of many medical professionals about treatment and management of these symptoms, but seem to be on a merry-go-round of advice. Two different gynocologists recommended YAZ and seemed seriously opposed to metformin, although that is what my family doctor and the endocrinologist who discovered my PCOS suggested. I have tried the YAZ and have decided to go off of it after four months in favor of another birth control pill because it gave me very adverse side effects. I have been on birth control pills since i was 13 and have never had a problem with negative side effects before. I choose to remain on them (anything but yaz)because I do not want to get pregnant and they really help lighten what would otherwise be extremely heavy periods for me. My main question for you is what your take is on the metformin debate- i am going to continue to take birth control pills and have no desire to improve my fertility (which I know is the main reason many ppl with PCOS go on metformin and my gynocologists have suggested that I do not need it). Will it help with the symptoms that I noticeably suffer from? (continuous weight gain, acne, fatigue, body pains).
Thanks very much!
Dear Amanda,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis with PCOS. We understand how difficult this can be. However, we hope that this leads you to more understanding of what is happening to your body and taking steps toward changes that can be useful in bettering your health.
With regard to birth control pills, it will be trial and error to find what may be useful for you without accompanying side effects.
In general, we do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist. However, I understand that this was not your question.
Our view on the pharmaceutical treatment of PCOS is that there is no one drug on the market that will change your condition. The only way to reverse the disorder is to reduce elevations in insulin which directly affect testosterone and other hormonal changes that are responsible for causing PCOS. The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS.
Glucophage (Metformin) acts as an anti-hyperglycemic; it reduces glucose thereby reducing insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by insulin resistance. You are right that it is used to help with ovulation, but in the same way that it addresses the underlying cause and to possibly reduce weight that can help restore cycles.
Some women with PCOS respond well to Glucophage in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective or they can not tolerate the side effects.
The Insulite PCOS System was created to address the cause of PCOS. With those on Glucophage, we cannot say that we have noticed dramatic results in weight loss, hair growth, acne or other symptoms related to PCOS.
These symptoms can be partially controlled by diet and exercise changes and are crucial in managing the symptoms of PCOS. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of insulin resistance and PCOS.
At Insulite Labs, we specialize in the non-pharmaceutical approach to PCOS. However, there are women that choose to continue metformin while on the System and lower or discontinue with progress.
Even though you are not interested in conceiving, remember that PCOS is not just a gynecological/infertility issue, it is an endocrine condition that affects many areas of the body. Women are not only at a higher risk for infertility but also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.
Amanda, I hope that this helps. Please let us know if we can help further.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
hi doctor, i’m a 27 yr unmarried girl suffering from PCOD. taking treatment of glyciphase 250 twice a day, aldactone twice a day, krimson 35 at night since 3 yrs. my height is 5.7 ft and wt is about 55-56. i’ve hersutism, fatty abdomen, little skin trouble too. i’m worried when i’m gonna get rid of PCOD? how long i need to continue the treatment? i may get married within a yr but getting nervous after thinking about PCOD. my would be is very much conscious about child and he’s insisting me to get the infertility tests done b4 marriage. if i’m infertile he may refuse to marry, this is making me very upset. he wants to take chance after 3 yrs of our marriage that means at my 33/34 age. i tried making him understand its not going to be normal and may create complications but he’s not ready to understand it. he thinks i’m infertile so to hide it, i’m giving him silly reasons. i’m totally pissed off. please help me get out of this.
Dear Rucha,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry that you are struggling to control your symptoms. I wish I had a clear answer for you as to how long you will need to be treated. Often women with PCOS are treated indefinitely.
The medications you are using are very common in conventional treatment of PCOS. The birth control pills you are using (Krimson) are used to try to balance hormones before trying to conceive and to help reduce symptoms. The glucophage is used to reduce glucose and indirectly insulin levels. It is prescribed to women with PCOS because the condition is caused by insulin resistance.
Some women with PCOS respond well to Glucophage in terms of losing weight and regulating their menses, but we hear from many women for whom this medication is ineffective.
Aldactone is used to help reduce the androgen symptoms, such as acne, excess facial and body hair and hair loss on the head.
However, what can improve your chances of reducing medications as well as symptoms and complications is to make nutrition and exercise changes. This is the best place to start and is essential in controlling this condition. In addition there are nutrients that can also help to address the underlying insulin resistance as well as supporting a more normal hormone balance.
But keep in mind that medications alone are not the answer without nutrition and exercise. These will always need to be a part of not only helping to reduce symptoms but also to maintain changes.
I also want to make clear that not every woman with PCOS is infertile.
There are women that do not struggle to conceive and some that do not.
It will be difficult to know how this will affect you without starting to try to conceive.
Also, if you both decide to wait until 3-4 years after you get married you may be in a very different situation as this allows time to focus on getting PCOS under control.
If he is willing to start to understand what you are going through and how this may affect your relationship, he can research PCOS and he is also welcome to send in any questions or concerns to our support blog.
As you are going through this, please consider the Insulite PCOS System to address PCOS. PCOS is a complicated condition and how it affects each woman will be different. But I do believe that there are many aspects that can be improved.
Rucha, I hope that this helps some. I wish you the very best. Please write in again.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello,
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 2 years ago and right away my OB put me on metformin and Sprintec. I was disputing the possiblity of having PCOS and got off the meds for about 9 months. I than realized that I do have based off my symptoms and not having the meds to help manage the symptoms surrounding PCOS. My concern is that now that I am back on the Sprintec I am now having severe ovary pain. I do remember having this pain now that I am back on it. I don’t understand why I am having this pain or if it is associated to the BC (Sprintec).
Dear Mawissa,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
Have you spoken to your prescribing doctor about the pain you are experiencing? If not, I suggest talking to him/her soon. It is possible that the pain is from the birth control pill you are taking or from the PCOS.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill! The supplements of The PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hi Dr.Nicole,
My tubes are currantly clamped so i am unable to have any children. My OBGYN only put be on the B/C so my hormones can become balanced. I never had issues with my ovaries being in pain not even prior to starting my monthly cycle. It only happens when I get on the Sprentec. It’s hard attempting to balance out what exactly I should dobecause teh B/C helps keep my face from breaking out and it also seems to help balance out my weight as well. (I am cone shaped) I just dont understand why my overies are in constant pain while on the B/C. Would it happen to have anyhting to do with my tubes being clamped?
Thank you!
Dear Mawissa,
It’s nice to hear from you again.
One of the possible side effects of Sprintec is pelvic pain. I don’t suspect the pain is due to your tubes being tied. Consider going to your doctor and getting a pelvic ultrasound to see if you have ovarian cysts.
I know you must feel hesitant to stop the pill since you are seeing improvements in your weight and acne. Keep in mind that the contraceptive pill only masks the symptoms of PCOS and the symptoms will return if you discontinue the pill. The contraceptive pill does not treat the cause of PCOS. With the Insulite PCOS System you can treat the cause the PCOS and see lasting improvements in your PCOS.
The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, addiction awareness and customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult to make without some help!
The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin. Here is a link to a page on our website that describes the supplements in detail: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php.
The diet and exercise aspect of the Insulite PCOS System is also crucial to your success. You can read the general information about these guidelines at the following link: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Nutrition-and-Exercise-Plans.php. Of course, more detailed information is provided in the Insulite Guide that our customers receive.
You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System by visiting the following link and browsing around: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hi doctor,
i was diagnosed with PCO for more than 3 yrs now and took my ALTHEa pill. two month ago i stopped taking my pill after i completed the pack? is there any chance for me to get pregnant after coming off the pill? thanks
Dear Mary Pauline,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
The birth control pill is often recommended for women with PCOS to control
periods and to help reduce some other symptoms. However, they are not really
treating the underlying cause. Also, many doctors have women use the pill up
until they are trying to conceive with the hopes that they will ovulate on
their own once discontinued.
If you are not having a regular period after coming off of the pill, then
you are not likely ovulating. However, there are some women that will
ovulate with that one cycle and have a chance at conception.
If you are unsure if this is the case and you have not had a period, you can take a
pregnancy test. Now if you are not pregnant, this is where it gets tricky
since more birth control may be recommended again even though you are trying
to conceive. It may be that you will resume a regular period but we are not
sure. It really depends on the hormones and to what extent they are out of
balance. I wish I had an easy and clear answer, but PCOS can be complicated.
Since you are trying to conceive, it will be important to track signs of
ovulation. There are a few ways to tell whether or not you may be
ovulating. One is the presence of regular menses. Other signs of ovulation
include a shift in the basal body temperature and the presence of fertile
cervical fluid (also called “egg white” mucus or spinnbarkeit). You can read
more about how to monitor your fertility signs by reading the book “Taking
Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to
Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health” by
Toni Weschler. I highly recommend reading this book because you will
definitely gain a better understanding of your body and optimizing your
chances of becoming pregnant.
You may also want to check out the following
website regarding the Fertility Awareness Method:
http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp
One way to track your progress is taking your basal body temperature. By
doing this you will be able to see if you are ovulating or not. To do this
take your temperature under your arms each morning BEFORE rising from bed
with a basal body thermometer. Approximately midway through your cycle,
depending on how long your cycle is, you should see a rise (around 1 degree
F) for 3 days. If so, this is an indication that you have ovulated. Which is
great news, because ovulation means you are releasing an egg to be
fertilized for conception!
I would also recommend checking out the Insulite PCOS System. We have
developed a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to PCOS.
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
The Insulite PCOS System is designed to help heal PCOS by addressing its
underlying cause, which in most cases is insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it
produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in
turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other
androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin can also contributes to weight gain, as well as the
formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and
also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving
and/or ovulating if she has PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its
combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines.
The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
While we cannot guarantee that you will conceive on our program, we know
that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your
chances of conceiving, barring any other factors contributing to the
infertility.
It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the
System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using
the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy
and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that
while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in
general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials
specifically on pregnant women or infants.
Here is some general information about the PCOS System.
The Insulite PCOS System consists of several elements, all designed to work
together to address PCOS and its underlying cause, insulin resistance.
The System is comprised of supplements, diet and exercise guidelines, and
customer support. We provide ample customer support because we advocate
lifestyle changes, and we know that these types of changes can be difficult
to make without some help!
The supplements are designed to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce the
symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage
the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin.
Here is a link to a page on our website that describes the supplements in
detail: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php
The diet and exercise aspect of the Insulite PCOS System is also crucial to
your success. You can read the general information about these guidelines at
the following link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Nutrit
ion-and-Exercise-Plans.php. Of course, more detailed information is provided
in the Insulite Guide that our customers receive.
Mary Pauline, I hope that this provides you with some information on what
steps you can take to address the cause and symptoms of PCOS.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello,
I have been recently diagnosed with PCOS..
Im 21 & I havent had my period in 5 years (except for a few very painful forced periods when on birth control, but birth control aggravates my symptoms dramatically so I wasnt on them for long). I have polycystic ovaries but I dont have elevated testosterone. No hair growth or acne.
Im 5’5” and 130lbs.
(pls note, during childhood I have always been a very small eater, I was an elite gymnast & had to watch what I ate)
I didnt go through puberty until I was 17. I had 2 natural periods, & ballooned in weight from 107lbs to 130lbs in a few months regardless of eating a low calorie diet. My periods stopped & my skin broke out badly. I was put on birth control for my skin & gained even more weight to 140lbs but my skin cleared up. I went on a super low calorie diet because I was determined to lose the weight. I ate 600cals per day & still didnt lose any weight. I started exercising as well and lost about 3lbs. I finished school & went on holiday for a week & ate about 1500 cals per day & in 1 week I gained 10lbs.
I spent 4 years after that trying my hardest to lose the weight. I began exercising 2 hours per day & got a personal trainer. I was put on a 900 cal per day diet & my weight didnt budge, I was slowly putting ON weight over 6 months. I couldnt understand. Everyone thought I must of been secretly bingeing but I WANST!
I went off my birth control because I thought that was stopping my weight loss. I lost 6lbs because my cravings were much smaller so I found it easy to stick to a 600cal per day intake.
I wanted to lose more weight so I increased exercise to 3 hours per day & decreased calories to 500, then to 400 then to 300.. Until I finally reached 107lbs which I was very happy with.
To maintain that weight though, was almost impossible. I was doing hard cardio 4 hours per day and eating very little for over 1 year & my weight yo-yo’d around 107 – 120 lbs.
I got very sick and couldnt keep up with the exercise and low calorie eating. This is when I started seeing a doctor because of feeling unwell, no periods & my weight concerns.
I was gaining weight as I decreased my exercise to 2 hours per day, & calorie intake was 600 per day. This was infuriating. I was up to 128lbs.
I decided to stop exercising so much & eating a “normal” 1200 cals per day because my doctor thought this may be the reason for no period. In 3 weeks I was back to 140lbs. I did this for 7 months & no period returned. I started seeing a specialist at this time who has finally diagnosed me with PCOS.
I have just been given Metformin and will start taking it in a few days time.
I have a few questions….
Is the struggle I had with weight related to my PCOS?
If I wasnt dieting so hard over those 5 years, do you think I would be overweight like many of the other PCOS sufferers?
Because I am not overweight at the moment do I classify as a “lean PCOS” suffer?
Or am I a normal PCOS sufferer that has gone to dieting extremes to keep a low weight?
Is it possible for PCOS sufferers like myself get down to a low weight and maintain it?
Will taking the Metformin help me lose weight?
All I want is to be 107lbs again. I have a very small frame & feel so fat & uncomfortable at 130lbs. I try so hard to lose weight, eat very healthy, low calorie & am still bigger than all my friends. Most people cant understand why I am not stick thin because of what I eat & how much I exercise! I cant understand it either!!? Maybe if I ate 1300 cals per day I would be comfortable at 130lbs. But I never eat more than 1000 cals per day & im struggling maintaining my weight without gaining.
Sorry for such a long question. I cant seem to get answers from my doctor & because I am a “healthy” weight, no one is concerned about my issues. I was mis-diagnosed 3 times before finally being diagnosed with PCOS because I am at a “healthy” weight.
Please help me!
Kind Regards,
Morgan.
Dear Morgan,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am sorry that it has taken me this long to reply to your post. Please know that your concerns are very important to us.
I hope that your recent diagnosis has helped to provide some understanding of how you have been feeling over these past years and the reason why you have these symptoms and are struggling to maintain a healthy weight. As you have experienced there are many times it takes quite a long time and many doctors to receive the proper diagnosis. It is frustrating but persistence can pay off. Many women go from doctor to doctor as they know that something is wrong even when they are told otherwise.
PCOS is the reason why weight loss and maintenance are difficult. However, your goal of 107 pounds is too low and the calorie and high amounts of exercise needed to get to this weight are not healthy.
Currently at 5’ 5” and 130 pounds you are at a healthy BMI (body mass index) of 21.6. Normal BMI is 19.1 to 24.9, as you can see you are well within this guideline. Although this is not a perfect tool, we use it as a guideline to determine what is “normal” or “abnormal” when it comes to weight in relationship to height.
At 107 pounds your BMI would be about 17.8 and this can cause its own problems. It is considered well underweight and we can see periods stop, lack of ovulation, lower estrogen levels, elevated blood pressure, slower heart rate recovery, excessive muscle fatigue, decreased immunity, gastrointestinal disturbances, and loss of appetite. Other symptoms may also include: depression, decreased self-confidence, mood changes, lethargy, lack of concentration, anxiety, sleep disturbance, restlessness, and aggression.
So, although you feel that this is the weight that is best for you, it may not be best for your body. I am not sure what this will be for you. The information that I am providing is general as I am not your doctor and do not have all the information needed.
Having PCOS, you are more likely to have a difficult time with weight but what is important is that you are not starving yourself with very low calories diets and hours of exercise each day. It is important to start learning how PCOS affects your body and the impact that is has on hormones and future risk factors associated with PCOS.
You are likely classified as a lean PCOS woman, but as you may know, this does not mean that you will not have the same symptoms over time, or trouble staying with in the normal weight category. But then again, you may not experience all of it. This is a condition that is very individual and we can’t say how each woman will be effected. There are many women that can maintain a healthy weight, and many who continue to struggle.
What we have seen in our work is that many times, not all, control of total carbohydrates helps manage PCOS. This is because the underlying cause is often insulin resistance. This can be identified by looking at fasting insulin levels.
The topics of lean women with PCOS, and PCOS without insulin resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. Many thin women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not Insulin resistant. Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
Metformin may help you lose weight. Some women find that this does help and others find that it does not. It will be a matter of trying it to see how you do.
Here is a link comparing lean and obese women with PCOS (lean women found to hyper-secrete insulin):
HYPERLINK “http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942″ http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942
Our specialty is in addressing PCOS without the use of medications, as much as we can. Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System? This is a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing insulin resistance and PCOS.
As you can see, clear answers are not easy. However, I hope that this helps some and encourages you to keep learning about PCOS.
Lastly, here is a link from our website of support/educational websites: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
Please let us know if we can help further.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I was diagnosed with a mild case of PCOS. I am 21 yrs old and married. I also have a mild case of hyperthyroidism. I am one point lower than I should be. I have been taking Thyroid Complex. I got my period the 11th of February through the 15th of February and I definitely ovulated on the 23rd of February I also had sex on that day and skipped a day and had sex again. What are the chances of being pregnant?
Dear Sara,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support Blog.
I understand that you are anxious to know if you have conceived during this time. However, I wish I had a really helpful answer for you. There are many factors that affect conception and the good thing is that you had good timing and ovulation. With PCOS, it is more difficult to conceive as many women do not have regular cycles and do not ovulate with each cycle. So, your chances increase when you are. But it comes down to other factors such as sperm quality, motility, quantity, etc. Also, hormone levels impact conception as well as the quality of the cervical mucus as well.
And since you had intercourse the day you ovulated, the sperm can stay alive and be available to the egg after ovulation. This greatly increases the probability of you getting pregnant. Conception risk is highest on the day before and the day of ovulation.
In normally fertile couples, those without complications such as PCOS, there is a 25 percent chance of becoming pregnant each cycle, meaning around 75 to 85 percent of women who have sex without using birth control will get pregnant within one year.
At this point, you will want to look for early pregnancy symptoms. These can include implantation bleeding, which can happen 6-12 days after conception, missed period (sometimes difficult with PCOS), breast swelling or tenderness, nausea, headaches and fatigue.
I hope that this helps and best of luck to you!
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello, I’m Josie and I am 20 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 after years of irregular, heavy periods. My GP recommended a combined Pill, and prescribed me Yasmin. I took it correctly for 1 and a half years, which helped me have regular periods. However, it caused me to put on some weight, I went from 10 stone to 11 stone, so I stopped taking the Pill Yasmin to see if I could lose the weight and whether I could have natural periods. I have not taken the Pill for seven months now. I have not had a single periods, no slight bleeding or anything. I am not pregnant, as I have done several pregnancy tests. But I would now like to go back onto the Pill, but as I am not having periods at all, I would like to know when I would be able to start taking it again. For the combined Pill, I have to start taking them the day I start my period, so I am a little unsure as to what effect this may have on me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Dear Josie,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
Regarding when to start the birth control pill when you are not having a period…. well, you can start at any time and the pill will regulate your cycle. If there are certain times of the month that you actually feel as if your period would start or have symptoms such as breast tenderness, cramping, or are more irritable (if these are symptoms that you can experience before or with your period), then you can start that as day 1. This may be the time you would have your period. However, if you are unsure, you can contact your doctor who prescribed the pill for you or contact your local pharmacist.
I understand that you want to have some regularity with your periods and cycles. Have you considered a more natural approach to helping balance hormones and help re-establish a period? If so, I would like to pass along our website: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
We have developed a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach that addresses the underlying cause of PCOS, the hormone imbalances and also reduces the long term risk factors associated with having PCOS.
I hope that this helps. Please let me know if I can help further.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS
symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I have been taking the PCOS system since beginning of July I was shocked to find i received my cycle on the 19th of July something I had not been able to achieve in over a year. However, August there is no cycle. I have all the pre-menstrual symptoms but not peroid. I even took two pregnancy tests which were negative. Is this normal? I know every body’s is different but I expected since I got my period in July i would get it in August and that the supplements were working. Thanks.
Nicole
Dear Nicole,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am glad that you have chosen to use the PCOS System.
With regard to your question, it is not unusual to have some hiccups at this point. What often happens is that since you did not have a period in quite a long time, the PCOS System helped get you started and there were changes to the hormones that supported your body’s ability to have a period. This is exactly what we want.
However, you may not yet be regular with your periods or cycles. This may take time. Some women will see periods return only to miss a couple.
The fact is that we know hormones are changing and it is a great sign that you had a period.
The System is working and I believe that you will see another period. It will be important to be consistent with the supplements and with reducing carbs and exercise. These will further support balancing of hormones and supporting the changes we are trying to make.
So, keep up the great work.
If you have any problems or have any questions, please contact me. I am here to help.
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS
symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite
Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This
information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical
advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other
qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take
any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers
to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello,
I am from Bulgaria. 34 yars old. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few weeks ago. My insulin is 8.9 mkU/l/doctor said that up to 15 is normal/ and have a normal glucose. Have high levels androstendion 5.4 ng/ml; high LH 9.6 IU/l; ratio LH:FSH is 9.6 IU/l: 6.39 IU/l; estradiol is low 0.003nmol/l. I have never took hormonal tablrts. My sicle is irregular since 6 months. I have grasy hair and face skin. I have excessive hair but not too much. So what I wanderig is it sutable for my case insulite program? What is going to happen if the glucose level and insulin are in norm?
Dear Ivelina,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
The mechanism of PCOS without insulin resistance is still not entirely understood in the medical community. As you may know, many women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. Some women with PCOS hyper secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. Furthermore, in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the insulin levels (fasting and random) and the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome. If the insulin result of 8.9 is your fasting insulin, I would say you are most likely insulin resistant now or could soon be insulin resistant.
I am beginning to think that there is a lot we don’t know about diagnosing insulin resistance and that our detection methods are not sophisticated enough to catch all of the cases of insulin resistance.
I understand if you are still hesistant to order the system. Your other labs and symptoms show me that you could benefit from the system, so I hope you will consider trying it. I would recommend for anyone with hypoglycemia to use HALF the dose of the InsulX and RejuvenX for 2 weeks when first using the System as these formulas have the greatest impact on blood sugar levels.
After two weeks, if your blood sugar is stable, you can go to the full doses of InsulX and RejuvenX safely. Additionally, if you suffer from hypoglycemia, eat 5-6 small meals per day that are protein-based and watch consumption of carbohydrates. Making sure to eat protein with every meal can really help to prevent those symptoms.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
I have PCOS and was on BCP for 20 years. I have been off BCP since April 2009. My cycle over the last few months has started to become regular (27-30 days). Previously it was 40-60 days. I take natural progesterone which has helped tremendously. However, I find I still have extreme depression 1-2 weeks before onset. I have tried Metformin which gave me insomnia. I have just recently tried D-Chiro-Inositol and it also gave me insomnia.
My concern is that the Insulite products will do the same. I don’t know if I am ovulating (not TTC). My labs indicate my testosterone has reduced but my dhea is still elevated. My triglycerides have reduced from 517 down to 144. However, I continue to gain weight despite exercise and eating well. I am incredibly frustrated and concerned to start another product. What can you tell me about why Met and DCI would cause insomnia. Neither one have stimulatory aspects to my knowledge. Do you think that the insulite products will cause insommnia based on my history. I should also mention I was on Armour thyroid and it eventually caused me insomnia and heart palpitations though my labs indiciate I am on the border towards the low side.
Thank you,
Dear Eve Elizabeth,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. I can’t say for sure that the Insulite PCOS System will not cause insomnia. We don’t have customers on the system reporting this side effect. I wonder if you are getting drops in your blood sugar while you are sleeping causing the insomnia. Our adrenal glands produce cortisol in response to low blood sugar levels and in response to stress (fight or flight response). After long periods of stress, whether emotional, physical, or mental, our adrenals get fatigued and need some additional support to get their biorhythms back on track. Many women with PCOS and hypothyroidism need adrenal support. Long periods of stress can cause high cortisol levels and can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to spikes and drops in blood sugar, which we see in PCOS. So you see the adrenals and PCOS are closely related. Our products do contain some adrenal support. So you may do well on our system. You may want to monitor your blood sugar levels, especially when you are experiencing insomnia to see if it’s related to your blood sugar. The metformin and DCI may have been causing your blood sugar to go too low. We are able to adjust the dosage in those that experience hypoglycemia. Also our system contains ingredients to help keep your blood sugar more balanced between meals.
If you do decide to purchase our product and find that it does not work for you, just let us know and we will be glad to refund your investment.
*OUR GUARANTEE*: Insulite Labs offers a 90 day money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the Insulite System, we will refund your original purchase price for up to 90 days. (Excluding shipping and handling)
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
hello,
I am 24 years old & have been on birth control since I am 18. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2009. this past march i decided to stop my birth control since I have gained 18lbs. I stopped getting a period around the end of June as well. I went to see my doctor and got back on birth control, and am in my final week for the month. I eat a high protein diet, exercise about 5 times a week and cannot seem to lose any weight. I have never been tested for insulin resistance, but am wondering if my birth control pills help regulate my hormones so I can lose weight? Also, is there any other way to find out if I am insulin resistant other than blood work?
Dear Alex,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the insulin levels (fasting and random) and the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.
Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill! The supplements of The PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System by visiting the following link and browsing around: HYPERLINK “http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/” http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
Hello,
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2005 and have been struggling with it since. I have also have diabetes diagnosed in 2008, I’m on metaformin 850 mg twice a day. Also have Hashimoto thyroidtis & take levothryroxin. My doctor advised me to be on b 12 shots of 1000 every two weeks.
I do have elevated cholestrol & testosterone levels.
Would you suggest an Insulite programmme for me.
Thank you
Dear Megha,
Thank you for posting on the PCOS Support Blog.
It sounds like these last few years have been difficult not only with PCOS but the other health conditions that have also affected your ability to manage how you are feeling.
With what you have explained in your post, I would recommend the Insulite Pre-Diabetes System with the additional PolyPlus supplement. This will give you nutrients to support lowering your glucose levels as well as addressing the underlying problems, supporting cardiovascular health and hormone imbalance.
Keep in mind that we do recommend that you work with your doctor to help make changes to your medication, if needed and to be sure that you are being monitored.
Megha, I hope that this helps and you consider the System. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.On 4/23/12 12:12 PM, Catherine Lord wrote:
hi doctor I was wondering if you could help me. My doctor said i may have mild PCOS. I have been off yasmin, (which ive been on for about 9 years) for 18 months whilst trying to get pregnant and in this time I have lost a lot of hair gradually from my hairline receding back an inch and have terrible acne, greasy hair that has gone very fine and delicate. I feel so ugly and disgusting because on yasmin i was always healthy and glowing and lovely thick hair. We found out my husband has low motility and we cannot conceive naturally. so we have to go through icsi. Since we found out, i went back on yasmin because i was losing the will to live and have been back on it for nearly 4 months. safe to say my skin is now great and glowing again, my hair, although it hasnt grown back, is now thicker feeling and not greasy and I feel happy in myself mentally again. I guess i want to ask you, if i go off yasmin again to receive this treatment and hopefully get pregnant, will my hair start to fall out again and my acne come back? or the extra estrogen from pregnancy cause everything to stabilise? thanks so much for taking the time to read this, my gp doesn’t really care.
——————
Dear Jasmin,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support blog.
Most women, especially those with lower hormone levels prior, do feel better in pregnancy due to the higher progesterone and estrogen levels. I can’t say for sure that this will be the case for you.
Since you will be using conventional therapies for enhancing fertility, please remember that these therapies do not affect the underlying disorder present with PCOS and, at some point, it will be necessary to treat the disorder and not just the symptoms.
Also we do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist. The supplements of The PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.
I hope this information answers your questions. Good luck with your fertility treatments! Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hello I am a 21 year old who was diagnosed with pcos last year. I had been to multiple doctors in my teens due to my irregular periods but it wasn’t until last year they found what it actually was. My question is that i am quite thin weighing 113 lbs with a 5’4″ height. I have managed my mild acne, slight unwanted hair growth and mild hair loss symptoms with a low glycemic diet. I have cut down on all the sugar and white carbs. I have started to exercise recently since I wasn’t very active. I have weight around my midsection mostly and that is about it. I am not sure what I should do since I am not a typical pcos with overweight issues. My doctor put me on birthcontrol and I tried it for 3 months and hoped that my periods would become regular but they didn’t. Know i have just been watching my diet but I am not sure what exactly to do. My mom and sister do not have pcos. My sister has to beautiful daughters and she had no issues getting pregnant. Though I am not trying to conceive, I really want to get regular periods since I haven’t had one in the past 3 months. I am a indian woman and we eat home cooked meals at home although I am not a vegetarian. Please send me any suggestions of information you have about thin pcos. I had an ultrasound done last year and it showed that I had multiple cysts in my right ovary but there were none in my left. If I did not have any cysts in my left ovary shouldn’t I still be able to get my period? My question is what else could I do to get regular periods?
—————-
Dear Khadija,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support blog.
Even if the ovaries do appear normal, the absence of ovarian cysts does not mean that you don’t have PCOS. Not everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.
The topics of lean women with PCOS, and PCOS without insulin resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. Many thin women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not Insulin resistant. Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.
Here is a link comparing lean and obese women with PCOS PCOS (lean women found to hyper-secrete insulin):
HYPERLINK “http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942″ http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942
Here is a link to study that was done with lean and overweight women with PCOS: HYPERLINK “http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1993.tb02144.x” http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1993.tb02144.x
If you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, if you have cravings for carbohydrates or sweets, if you have skin tags or acanthosis nigricans (dark patches on the skin, especially in the armpits) I would be more inclined to think there is a component of insulin resistance in your case. We have had customers with Lean PCOS on the Insulite PCOS System with success. You could certainly try the System.
You just might want to pay close attention to your blood sugar in the first few weeks on the System, to make sure it does not drop too low. You can monitor blood sugar with a home glucometer (blood glucose meter) and by watching for symptoms of low blood sugar such as: headaches, feeling faint or dizzy, feeling clammy or sweaty, trembling and hunger. These symptoms relieved by eating.
The dietary guidelines are flexible enough that you can adjust the caloric intake to meet your needs to sustain your weight. If you would like guidance to help you gain weight, we might be able to help with that too. The nutrients themselves will not make you lose weight. If you find that you are having difficulty maintaining your weight while using the Insulite PCOS System, please contact us right away so that we can help you with that.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I am 27 yrs old, married and have been diagnosed with PCO. Since my puberty ( at the age of 14 ) I had problems with my periods like, it would come once in 6 or 4 months and would bleed for 30 or more days. I had no other complications like stomach cramps or mood swings etc while on my periods except that it would last for a month.I wasn’t treated at that time and it went on for 8 yrs with irregular and longer periods. I had been in depression for a long time, which wasn’t treated either. For the past 2-3 yrs my periods duration had been changed from once in 6 months to once in 2 months and would bleed for exactly 5 days. This time I had severe stomach cramps where once I suffered from vomiting, diarrhoea and almost fainted. When taken to the hospital I was diagnosed with PCO. Again no steps were taken to cure it. I got married 2 yrs ago and then started treatments for my PCO. Since conceiving wasn’t possible without treatments and also because we weren’t planning for a baby at that time, I was prescribed contraceptive pills for an year and half. Now since I have started planning to conceive and so, I am prescribed with metformin and clomiphene or ubhiphene for the past 4-5 months and didnt conceive yet. I am of normal weight and height, LH is high. I have gained weight in my stomach area and my structure has changed. My body wasn’t proportionate from the start. My upper part is broader with big breasts and my lower part is thinner. I have very thin legs and thighs and even my pelvic area is small. Even then I have been maintaining the same weight as 49-50kgs for the past one year and my height is 5’2”. I don’t exercise but occasionally do yoga.I have very mild facial hair, no thyroid, no fatigue, no depression (now), no sagging or blackening of skin or any other associated with PCO. Still, without medication I dont get my periods once in a month and I am under medications to induce my periods and also to conceive. How bad is my health? Are there chances for me to concieve?
—————-
Dear Charan,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
I am sorry to hear about your struggles with PCOS and conceiving. I do think there is more you can do to improve your chances of conceiving.
Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by improving the insulin resistance that underlies PCOS.
The Insulite PCOS System, which you may have read about on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, is designed to help heal PCOS by addressing its underlying cause, which in most cases is insulin resistance.
With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
Elevated insulin also contributes to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin.
All of these factors combine to complicate a woman’s chances of conceiving if she has PCOS. The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its combination of nutrients and herbs as well as diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS.
Our system is designed to balance the testosterone, insulin and other reproductive hormones like LH that impact ovulation.
While we cannot promise that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will increase your chances of conceiving.
It is safe to continue trying to get pregnant while you are using the System. We do recommend, however, that, if you become pregnant while using the PCOS System, you discontinue using the supplements during your pregnancy and then resume them after you finish breastfeeding. The reason is that while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants.
As far as using your other other medications with the system: With the fertility drugs it is recommend that you wait 3 months to start the system until after you have finished these treatments. The metformin can be used with the system but you will want to take it away from the GlucX pill and will need to monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure they do not go too low.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Help needed.
I conceived our daughter taking metformin (only 500mg daily, continued to take it throughout my pregnancy, easy pregnancy no problems, thyroid was all over the place but asymptomatic from it, pp thyroid now normal ranges. Struggling since day 1 with my milk supply, very limited milk due to pcos we are thinking.
Would love some input on how I can deal with the pcos to deal with the milk issues? thanks
——————
Dear Kelly,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. Congrats on your pregnancy and birth but I know it must be frustrating dealing with low milk supply.
It is true that some women with PCOS have difficulty with breastfeeding. The mechanism by which this happens is not entirely understood. Below is a link to an interview with Lisa Marasco about her research regarding the link between lactation problems and PCOS. http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle.asp?page=/pcos/articles/childers-chats
If you are having problems with breastfeeding, I urge you to seek the assistance of a Lactation Consultant (which you can find through your local hospital or birthing center) or La Leche League (http://www.llli.org“). There are many herbs and nursing techniques that can help improve the breastfeeding experience for mother and baby. Motherlove herbal company makes some herbal formulations that can help in situations where a woman with PCOS is not making enough milk. Please discuss these herbal products with your healthcare practitioner: http://www.motherlove.com.
We recommend that women not use the nutrients in our System until they have stopped nursing. The reason is that, while we know that the Insulite PCOS System is safe and non-toxic in general, these supplements have not been tested in any clinical trials specifically on pregnant women or infants. (In fact most supplements and many medications are not tested in these populations.)
We strongly encourage our customers to keep working on the carbohydrate reductions and exercise plan, as these recommendations are both safe for pregnant as well as nursing mothers. Just make sure to eat enough calories to sustain lactation!
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Dear doctor, i am 21 yr old ,5 foot 4inches,weighng 50 kilos(i am nt overweight like most pcos) and i hav been diagnosed with pcos.I hav very thin legs(which frequently ache) but also a paunch which does not go.can you please give me any sugestions to increase my muscle mass in legs and lose that stubborn fat over my abdomen.
———————
Dear YG,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support blog.
In numerous studies, it was found that the distribution of adiposity in the upper body or abdominal region was associated with potent disease processes: Impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, fasting hyperinsulinemia, Hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia and low HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperuricemia, stroke.
Although abdominal obesity is often accompanied by whole body obesity, abdominal obesity, on its own, increases your chances of suffering from these diseases. Excess abdominal fat is seen in women with PCOS as well because of the association of PCOS with insulin resistance.
I recommend considering the Insulite PCOS System to help reverse the insulin resistance that is responsible for the increased abdominal weight gain.
I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Hi,
I have been diagnosed with bilateral PCOS in past two months. Been using Dianne35 pills now for two months also. I have taken my first tablet in my first pack on the first day of my menstruation, after 21 days I got my period. After 7 days I started using my second pack, now the 21 tablets have all been taken and I am suppose to have my period 6 days ago. I am sexually active ( just got married ). Can I be pregnant. Just given birth with my second child, 7 mos.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Jane
——————-
Dear Jane,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.
To answer your questions, yes there is a slight chance that you can be pregnant. But I would say that this is unlikely and that it is mostly due to the PCOS that you have missed this period. There are many women that are using birth control to regulate their cycles and some that are, 1. not regulated for a few months, 2. will continue to miss periods regardless of the pill being used.
At this point, you can take a pregnancy test, contact your doctor, as they know your history more completely.
Jane, please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
can i get pregnant with pcos??
I’m 23 yrs old.. I’m at ttc for 8 months…I’m 156cms height and 49 kgs…
my ultrasound report:
uterus is anteverted,and measures 7.2×3.1cms
nabothian cyst of 1.3cms is seen in cervical region
endometrium measures 3mm
right ovary measures 3.5×2.4×3.8cms(vol:17cc)
left ovary measures 3.8×2.4×4.0cms(vol:19cc)
both the ovaries are enlarged and show multiple peripheral cysts.
my blood test:
haemoglobin:7gms
blood sugar:90mgs%
urine sugar:nil
is this is a severe pcos… is there any chance for me to get pregnant…
——————-
Dear Ferina,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
This is not an easy question to answer. As you may know, there are women with PCOS that have had successful pregnancies, and others who continue to struggle to conceive.
We do not know who this will be. But the goal is to address the PCOS, cause, symptoms, etc. to increase the likelihood that you will conceive.
The cysts that are present on your ovaries, can affect your ability to conceive and also likely there are hormone imbalances as well. The cysts often form from lack of ovulation and we can see higher testosterone, higher insulin and changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.
Your fasting glucose is fine (90) but your hemoglobin, if this is supposed to be hemoglobin A1c, is on the high side, which means that your glucose levels are higher on average. This is a sign of insulin resistance.
So, yes there is a chance to become pregnant as long as PCOS is being addressed and there are no other complicating factors. But there is also no guarantee.
It is a frustrating position for many women.
If you are considering addressing this, I hope you consider the Insulite PCOS System.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I am underweigh and diagnosed with PCOS just recently though, exercises on gym helps me in gaining weight.. Doc put me on glucophage, diane35 and dupaston.. She told me to take diane 35 only during periods. I started bleeding very lightly for 7 days then had very heavy bleeding, went to another doc, she gave me daflon to stop bleeding. it stopped in 3 days and after 9 days, my periods are back…
i dont know what to take now.. Can you please guide me, Should i continue taking glucophage and start taking diane35 & daflon to stop bleeding?? please help.
—————
Dear Aishah,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support Blog.
I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. We understand how frustrating and confusing this can be.
If you did not have regular periods, it is not uncommon to have a heavier period that lasts longer than 7 days, with PCOS and with taking hormones to help to try to regulate your internal hormones. In addition, this irregular bleeding can go on for a bit, stop, restart. This is part of the complication of addressing PCOS with just pharmaceutical hormones. If you are still bleeding, you will want to discuss immediate options with your doctor. I can not make any recommendations regarding your medications, whether to use or not to use them. I am not your doctor and in addition, do not know your history.
Our take on the use of hormones is that this is a temporary fix to a long term problem. It does not address the cause but may only help with some symptoms.
However, if you are interested in a more complete approach to PCOS, reversing the underlying cause, supporting more balance in hormones, then I would recommend considering the Insulite PCOS System. It may not be the immediate help that you need but it a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to PCOS. You can read more at:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com
By using vitamins, minerals, herbs, fiber specifically for insulin resistance and PCOS, as a foundation to supporting your body and adding to that nutrition, exercise and other support, we have been able to help women manage their PCOS.
The exercise you are doing is helping but if you are still underweight, you will want to start adding calories that are coming from foods not high in carbohydrates, you can add some additional weight without worsening the other issues with PCOS. Some of the foods that have higher calories but are also healthy options include…. nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, unsweetened coconut, low fat organic dairy products.
Aishah, I hope that this does help. Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
I have had PCOS for at least 8 years. I was diagnosed when I started going to the fertility doctor. I could not figure out why I had put on about 75 pounds in about 2 years. I tried dieting but nothing would work. After I had my son in 2005 my symptoms became worse. The weight gain, hair growth on my arms, face, stomach, my moods, depression because of the symptoms, fatuigue, the lack of periods. Lets face it, not having a period is kinda nice BUT its not healthy. Its September 1st, 2012 and the last time I had a period was probably last year some time. I honestly cant remember. Blood work I have done in the past has shown my testosterone levels were high and my sugars were on the high end of normal. I hate not being able to go camping with my family because I have to shave my face, I would need a private bathroom etc. Or when people look at me I feel like they are seen any hairs I forgot to pluck. Sorry but I’m venting. I cant talk to any one about this. I feel like no one in my family understands. After 7 years of trying to have another baby its very depressing. I swear everytime I look around someone is pregnant and it makes me more sad. I’m finally ready to try something new from Insulite labs. I don’t want to take metformin. I have in the past and it makes me sick. I don;t wantto be on birth control either. I really hope this works for me. I’m mentally exausted from the side effects.
————
Dear Melissa,
Thank you for writing in. I am sorry that you are struggling to manage this. We do understand how difficult that this can be. I hope that you are finding the support that you need. This is a great place to vent as everyone reading this will be able to relate in one way or another. The affects are many and it does effect so many aspects of a woman’s life. It is not easy. But you are not alone.
I would also encourage you to take part in our bi-monthly support calls. The next PCOS Inspiration Hour is Tuesday September 18th, the topic is “Getting to the Root Cause of PCOS and Taking Charge of Your Health”. Learn more at:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/inspiration-hour.php
Since you have not had a period in over a year, I would discuss this with your doctor. It is likely that a form of progesterone can be used to bring on your period to help thin the lining of the uterus. This is usually done every 3+ months to ensure thinning of the lining.
I am very excited that you will be using the Insulite PCOS System. Please let us know how we can help support you or if there are any questions or concerns that you have.
We will be looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
My 13 yr old daughter has just been dx with PCOS. She started her period at 10 yrs of age. She has had about 2 a year.She has sig acne. Some excess hair since 5th grade. Her testosterone test was 73. Her LH to FSH ratio was greater then 3. Her glucose level was fasting 75, 2 hr test 75. Her BMI is 19. She is vey active in sports and eats well for a 13 yr old. The lab did not do the IR test, so we are having that done. She has issues when she plays sports that is suggestive of hypoglycemia (vision issues, dizzy) Her other issue is fatigue. Her endo says the fatigue is not related as all of the glucose test are good (her other blood test also all came back good) She is going on birth control at this time. (I did not want her on progesterone only as I heard the periods were heavy and I did not want he dealing with that on top of every thing else) She is so little (to me) The doc did not recommend any diet changes at this time given how healthy she is. I would appreciate any advise. Thank you.
I was recently diagnosed with PCOS. I am 25 years old and had regular (but overall heavy, painful, and long) periods all my life. I began taking Loestrin upon getting married in 2009 and continued to take it for almost 3 years. Loestrin made my period much lighter and shorter in duration. I stopped taking it in November 2011 as my husband and I were no longer concerned about an unexpectant pregnancy. I had a period in November and December but then they began to get very spread out and did not amount to much of anything thereafter. I went in for my annual OBGYN check-up. My lining was 5.3mm which was a little thin and I had multiple cysts on my ovaries. My uterus and ovaries were normal in size. She had ordered me to have my TSH, T4 Free, T3 Free, Estradiol, FSH, 17-OH Progesterone, Prolactin, and Anti-Mullerian Hormone level checked. I was told all of these were normal except my AMH level was 14 ng/mL (which I was told was a good sign that my egg reserve was high). I was then referred to a Reproductive Gynecologist. The Dr. there suspected that I had pcos because my ovaries were polycystic. He ordered that I have my testosterone, insulin, fasting glucose, and 2 hour glucose all of these being normal as well. I had a hard time believing I had PCOS as I am very petite (weighing 110 pounds, 5’1″, and overall fairly healthy). I do not have any of the symptoms such as acne, excessive hair, weight issues, etc. I am desiring to become pregnant so I started taking 50mg of clomid (my follicles did not get large enough), then uped my dose right away to 100mg (same thing.. follicles not big enough), then uped my dose to 150mg. I did the stair-step approach so tooke multiple doses in one month before getting a period. On 150mg I had one follicle that was 25mm so got my HCG trigger shot and had intercouse. I am waiting a week to test to see if I am pregnant currently. Clomid made me very sick and I experienced many unpleasant side effects but am happy that it finally worked. At my last Dr. visit I asked about checking my thyroid more extensively since my mom has hypothyroidism and hashimotos disease and recently had surgery to remove part her thyroid and a goiter. He said he had no problem doing that so ordered my TSH again and TPO. The TPO came back normal but the TSH was 3.7 (last time it was 3.1) which they said falls within normal range but for fertility they like for it to be under 2.5 so prescribed that I take 25mg of synthroid to lower my TSH. After researching online I have found articles that indicate that many believe the normal TSH level should be lowered to 2.5 or 3 not 4.5-5. I was wondering what you thought about my case and if the slightly high TSH (mild hypothyroidism) alone are causing me to have polycystic ovaries and I may not in fact have pcos. Do you agree with the tract that I am currently on and recommend checking anything else or taking other medicine? I should also mention that my life was very stressful from August 2011 until now. I lost my job and then obtained a different one that was very stressful and then just lost it again in early June.. I wondered if stress could be attributed to this as well? Again I just have a hard time believing it’s pcos when I do not have many of the symptoms and all of my labs were normal (other than TSH and AMH) but do have polycystic ovaries. Any insight/advice you have would be much appreciated! Thank you!!
I am 32 yrs old, 5′-7″ 120lbs and just recently diagnosed with PCOS. I went off birth control about 5 months ago as we want to start a family soon and was having spotting mid cycle while on the pill. About 2 months ago I started losing a considerable amount of hair. All my blood tests came back normal except I have an elevated testosterone level of 56. My GYN ordered an ultrasound and revealed I have cysts. We want to have kids soon so I do not want to go back on the pill but I don’t want to go bald either. Is there anything that I can to lower my testosterone without birth control pils so my hair loss will stop? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Hi, I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16 years old, I am now 29, and have been trying to concieve for 9 years. I only have 2 or 3 periods a year due to the hormonal imbalance that PCOS makes me have. I take medroxyprogesterone tablets to make me have a bleed, and the have to take norethisterone and tranexamic acid to make the bleed stop as it doesn’t stop on its own. I am getting sick of taking these tablets every time I need to have a bleed, and was wondering I have recently read that Agnus Castus does the same job, with having PCOS is Agnus Castus a good direction for me to take to try and get my body to do the normal things, and if I did take Agnus Castus would it mess up my reproductive system even more, or give me a better chance of getting pregnant? Please help as I am at my wits end with this. I have asked my GP but he does not really know about these things, and says I should ask my specialist at the hospital. But I was discharged from the hospital earlier on this year, so I can’t ask them about it.