Can Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Cause Depression?
Many women with PCOS often experience depression, anxiety and other mood-related disorders. A question that often arises is whether depression and anxiety are a result of having the symptoms of PCOS or whether they are caused by the hormone imbalance related to PCOS.
A study conducted at the University of Chicago Hospital Department of Medicine linked slightly elevated free testosterone (FT) levels with increased rates of mood-related disorders. The study looked at 27 women with PCOS and elevated FT levels and 27 women without PCOS and normal ranges of FT levels.
The results of the study show that women with slightly elevated levels of FT were more likely to be depressed than women with normal or very elevated levels of FT. This is a rather interesting finding because it showed how FT can have a negative effect on mood at slightly elevated levels but not have much of an effect at extremely elevated levels. One thought was that women with extremely elevated levels of FT become accustomed to the high levels and their bodies adjust accordingly. (1)
The study advises physicians to be aware that depression may be a symptom of the hormone imbalance found in women with PCOS. Treatments aimed at treating the cause of PCOS and balancing hormone levels may help many women relieve their depression and anxiety along with other symptoms of PCOS, which can range from infertility and excess facial hair to skin conditions like acne and brown patches and male pattern baldness.
(1) Weiner CL, Primeau M, Ehrmann DA. Androgens and mood dysfunction in women: comparison of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome to healthy controls. Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):356-62. PMID: 15184695
Hi
This is a truly marvellous and informative website.
I am 30 years old and weigh 79 kilos. I live in India. I have been having irregular periods since I was a teenager. I was diagnosed with PCOS three years ago. I took medroxyprogesterone, ethynyl estradiol, cyproterone acetate, glucophage, multi-vitamins etc and suffered a multitude of side effects. Doctors told me to lose weight or suffer dire consequences. Even the gym wasnt helping. I also became irritable with a lot of horrible mood swings. A long term relationship broke up and I became depressed and withdrawn.
Then i discovered yoga…and vegetarianism. The breathing techniques known as pranayam are very simple and have a relaxing effect on the body and mind. It helped me concentrate, calmed my mind and my body started shaping up on its own. I no longer feel depressed. I am still taking metformin and cyproterone acetate, with dietary supplements, but the side effects are minimal. Laser therapy helped me get rid of the hugely embarassing facial hair. But yoga has really changed my life. It helped me calm my mind, concentrate, drove away my depression, helped me lose weight and ease my symptoms. I would like to share these breathing techniques with all those who have PCOS.
See pranayam at
http://www.yogajournal.com
http://www.divyayoga.com
or watch Astha Channel beamed from India – Swami Ramdev’s programme on pranayam
I have just being diagnosed with PCOS & feel very depressed. I have been trying for a baby for over a year. Has anyone got any advice on fertility?? I feel very lost. Thanks
What is the effect of pcos on pregnancy?
Even I have been diagnosed with PCO in just one of my ovaries and have been trying to conceive since past 3 years.The doctor has put me on Metformin since past one month.Could anyone please provide some views on metformin treatment.Is it helpful in conceiving?also is it necessary to have PCOS if you have PCO?I would request anyone who is going through the same to come forward and be more active in sharing their experiences too.
Thanks
Hello Jennifer. Are you on any medications? What sort of test have you had done? Has your partner been tested and when you have intercourse are you using lubercants? There are a lot of lubes that are linked to killing sperm cells is why I ask. This is an interesting website that I found.
http://www.babyhopes.com/pre-seed.html
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001. My husband and I tried for two years to get pregnant. I take Metformin and at first that wasn’t working so my OB/GYN prescribed Clomid on two separate ocassions with no results. We took a break from it so I could relax my body. I became pregnant when we weren’t trying and now have a beautiful daughter who is 2 1/2. The old saying is true, your body won’t let you become pregnant when you are stressed. I took Metformin for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and I think this helped prevent a miscarriage. Good luck to all out there. I understand your pain. I also suffer from depression for a few days each month (usually the week before ovulation).
hi, i just wanted a bit of advice i havent yet been diagnosed with pcos because my doctor just wont listen to me! i am 19 and havent had a period for 6 monts now, i have all the other symptoms and im so frustrated, did anyone else have problems with their diagnosis from a GP or is it just me??
Hi, i am 36 and i’ve had pcos all my life and was diagnosed in 98. i had more mood swings on the pill than off. i am about 100 lbs. overweight. i exercise to no avail sometimes, but i am going to try some hints on these support lines. i have never been married or pregnant. the doc just suggested metformin but won’t give it to me since i had blood test at 103. i have to see a doc again since i am more irregular. i am glad scientists are now looking in to this problem now. some doctors aren’t very nice sometimes to people overweight. my mom has diabetes, so maybe it is the diabetes gene. there’s more support now than ever. so take care.
Hi!
I have Polycystic overies.
I Have depression, is there any cure for this disease?
I have dark facial hair, I am overweight.
hi! i was diagnosed with pcos abt 2 yrs back. had been taking Diane-35 for almost a year for my acne(which is my main concern).got married 4 months back and have stopped diane as i want to get pregnant.but the acne is back and i feel horrible. what do i do to get rid of this problem.plz help. i am 31.
hi ashley im 24 and it took my doctor a year and a half to refer me to be investigated i was diagnosed with PCOS 4 mths ago but have been suffering with absent and heavy painful irregular periods for nearly 2 years.
You must keep pushing your doctor i had to.
I am 13 yrs old and on 6.3.07 i was told i have pcos. I started my periods age 11 and always had very heavy periods i dont know nothing about pcos and would like some information i am a size 8 and have been for the last 3 years.But it sounds like i will put weight on with pcos in the near future, my mum is really worried so if you could give us some information on this i would be very greatful. thank you yours sincerly poppe
Thank you for all your comments on thi sight . I 22 and been suffering with PCO since I was diagnosed at 17 . Even after the diagnosis the dr. clearly were not giving me any helpful advise. I started getting worser symptoms of depression and heavy weight gain , but stil the dr’s did not want to acknowledge that it was down to my PCO. The clearest advise I have been given from a dr. is too lose weight . Not knowing the unedrlying cause of PCO is insulin resistance I have become very descourraged with inability to lose weight . Doing my own study and diagnosis I am slowly been able to use what I have found to medicate myself. Themost logicle answer to me is to realy look at your food intack and lifestyle. Just eating fruits and vegatables and digestable protiens I am seeing a increased diffrence in my weight . Sertain minerals and herbal extracts are helping the visable symptoms of thining hair , acne and facial hair. I am using saw palmetto to help ballence my hormones and other minerals such as Biotin and C10. I was placed on several contraceptions when i was diagnosed but all lead to migranes and depression . I am planning to get married next year and would like to be placed on a contreception pill but the two I have used – dianette and co-cyprindiol made my condition worse . Can anyone recomend anything else ? I am also wondering about Meformin. How does it work and will my dr. perscribe it to me if I ask ? Many thanks ….Tamara
Dear Poppe,
Thank you for joining our PCOS Support community. We are very glad that you have found us.
A good place to start learning about PCOS is the Insulite Labs PCOS web site:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I think that both you and your Mum will find it helpful and easy to use.
If you have specific questions about your PCOS, the web site has many places to “Contact Us” where you can
submit questions to Insulite’s Medical & Advisory team.
Poppe – good luck and keep us posted on your health.
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Wow I am goning to post the links I posted in the other section. A good book to read is “A Patient’s Guide to PCOS”. Inform yourself ladies do not wait for your Dr’s. If the Dr won’t listen get a new one. I have been through enough to know this. If anyone needs anything do not be afraid to email. I don’t check on this site enough times a week so try the email. MelodyRey@hotmail.com
Some great sites.
Herhairloss has a PCOS section that I am part of too. A lot of women with info on here.
http://www.herhairlosshelp.com
WebMD has some great info. Navigate around.
http://women.webmd.com/tc/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-PCOS-Medications
This is a great site I shop from daily. The supplements are number one. You can’t get these in stores at all. They have a carb blocker that I use daily to block the calories from my carbs. They have sugar free energy drinks, the only sugar free sports drink, and Artistry facial products that I have used to help control my acne and scaring.
http://www.ourpathway.wwdb.biz
Hi, I have been having some struggles with the weightloss and managing the balances of life generally.
I have been going to the gym and feel like nothing is working for me in the weight loss department.
I was depressed and went to see various doctors for help with my depression.
I tried reki (not sure if that is the correct spelling)massage and it lifted my mood and I do this twice a month and even though I am still struggling with my weight I feel I have the energy to try harder for ME!
hi, ive been diagnosed with pcos for 11 yrs now, i have been with my partner for 8 yrs, for 3 yrs we were trying to concieve, we went to fertility specialist were we tried clomid which left me with side effects until the doctor put me on metformin, within 6 months of regulating my period it worked, i was ovulating and having periods regularly and spot on time.
i now have a 2yr old beautiful girl and now 5 months pregnant with a boy on the way.
ive had no problem taking metformin, for the second baby it has only taking me 2 months to regulate my period and ovulation.
never give up!
I have had PCOS for the past 18 years. I was diagnosed at 18 years of age and told that I would NEVER have children. Through many years of tourment and research I have learned a few things along the way. I tried fertility treatments for four years with no success of pregnancy. We tried everything except invitro, and honestly we could not afford it. My husband and I wanted a child so bad. So I went on Yasmin 28 for three months to shut down my ovaries, and I was taking Vitex. After the three months of Birth control pills, I conceived the next month, but I had a miscarriage at 8 weeks. I believe with everything in me, I miscarried because my progesterone level dropped. So I decided it was time to get down to business. I went on a diet. I drank no sodas, and I had no sweets, desserts, etc. of any kind for one year and three days. I lost 50.2 pounds, and I found out that I was pregnant. I worked very closely with my doctor, we monitored my progesterone levels, and I did in fact have to take progesterone. My doctor checked it every 3 days, and we adjusted my meds accordingly. Now, at the end of 12 weeks, my doctor told me that I could quit the progesterone “cold turkey”, I DID NOT!!!!! I think that any kind of peak or drastic drop in progesterone, would make my body think that I was having a period and shed everything including the baby. So I took myself off the progesterone slowly. I was taking 2 pills a day. The first week, I went to: 2 pills one day, 1 pill the next day. The second week, I went to 1 pill every day. The next week, I went to 1 pill every other day. The next wekk, I went to 1 pill every two days, etc. until I was off the progesterone for good. I can happily say that my baby boy—Isaac (means God’s promise son, and it also means laughter)born at 39 weeks by C-Section because he weighed 10 lbs. 5.5 ozs.—-is doing wonderful. He turned 8 months old today.
I have ordered the PCOS System from Insulite Labs to help me lose weight, stay balanced, and have a harmonious life. My specialist also told me that walking was the best exercise for PCOS, and I believe that to be the truth. When I walk, I feel much better and lose weight faster. Never give up!!! God will give you a baby if you really want one. He gave me one, when the top specialist said “NO WAY”. Everytime I look at Isaac’s sweet little smile, I say “Wow, you were worth the weight”. Good Luck Gals. I’ll be praying for you all.
Hi Allea,
Thanks for writing to our PCOS Support Blog and for letting us know how you’re doing.
I’ve asked Dr. Sari Cohen of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team to respond to your comments.
Take care and please join us online anytime.
Your Editor
Dear Allea,
I am so sorry to hear about your frustration and struggles with losing weight. This is very common among women with PCOS! You can read all about why it is difficult for some women with PCOS to lose weight
at this link:
http://wwwpcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Weight-Gain.php
We have noticed that for people who have dieted a lot in the past, particularly diets like the Atkins diet, it takes more time for them to see weight loss. 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.
Did you know that research shows that the rapid weight loss is almost immediately followed by rapid weight gain. If you have been overweight for some time, your body recognizes that weight as its normal state.
When you lose weight quickly, the body does not have time to habituate. It sees the rapid weight loss as abnormal and, once a diet is stopped, it makes an effort to get back as quickly as possible to
the normal retaining of fat.
At Insulite Laboratories, we emphasize gradual weight loss so that the body can slowly adapt to a lighter weight. In fact, in an effort to eliminate the dreaded “rebound effect” of weight loss and gain we
recommend in most instances that the Insulite PCOS System is used to lose no more than one half to one pound a week. Your body will respond favorably as
you slowly and gently move into better health.
The Insulite PCOS System can give your metabolism the boost it needs to safely and gradually reverse insulin resistance, balance the hormones, and help you lose weight.
Reiki is a wonderful treatment modality! Here’s a link to read about PCOS and depression:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Emotional-or-Mental-Disorders.php
You can read all about the different elements of the Insulite PCOS System here:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Elements.php
Take care, Allea, and good luck!
Best wishes,
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research 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 would like to share with all of you my experience thus far while I have been taking the Insulite System. I have never had a regular period and when I was married eleven years ago I started noticing other PCOS symptoms. My husand and I did the infertility treatments with no success. We have felt very blessed to be able to adopt and now have a four year old daughter who entered our lives when she was only four days old. Anyway, back in October of 2006 I started takig the Insulite System. At first I lost 15 lbs. within two months. Now I have lost a total of 28lbs., 5-7 inches throughout my body, my acne has calmed down, I have noticed that my facial hair doesn’t grow back as fast, I have had my period every month for the first time ever, all in all I have been feeling pretty good. Every month I have lost atleast 2 lbs. and I try to exercise atleast threee times a week. As of now, I am trying to focus on getting healthier, but I still hope to be able to get pregnant. I highly recommend that all women with PCOS try taking the Insulite System. I wish everyone luck with getting healthier and being able to have the family they have always wanted. I too know that God will bless us and as long as we have faith and never give up we will make it through all of our trials.
Best of luck to you all!
I was diagnosed with PCOS 3 years ago right before my wedding. I have always had irregular periods. That was my only symptom until I started to gain weight in my late twenties. I am now 33 and I do not get my period at all. I have acne on my back. I am 80 lbs overweight. This sucks! I do not ovulate. I did take Metformin for 3 years but nothing happend. It just made me feel crappy. I tried to get pregnant last year with clomid but it didnt work. Everyone in my family has been able to conceive. Why me? They say it is in the genes but where? I would like to try something like this system but am skeptical. Anyone have any feedback?
i am 17 years old and i have been just diagnosed yesterday with pcos. i am really depressed about it and feel very lost. my mother is trying to do all she can for me but she does not know what is like; it is good to know that there are other people here who are going through the same things that i am going through. i have always had problems with my period whether that be not getting it not getting it lasting too long or only a few days but it is always very painful. i am very overweight for a 17 year old and i have always ate right and exercised when i was up to it. now i know why i was overweight and it makes me feel a lilttle better to know that i was not in control of being over weight. i am starting medicine today and the side effects are depression and anxiety that i am most worried about.
Hi. I’m 18 and I was diagnosed this past summer.
I’ve had a great deal of complications with this, but my biggest question is this: I know that the problem with depression has been addressed, but what about having such severe mood swings that you go crazy? I’m tired of this. I can’t live like this, and I have no money for this treatment!
Hi Julie,Pam
Your stories really gave me hope that things do improve with time.I am also on metformin since past 2 months and hoping i will be able to conceive too.It was frustrating not to conceive after trying for 3 years..but now I don’t want to give up at any cost.Thanks so much for sharing your stories here.God bless you all and your miracle babies.
Hi everyone, I just wanted to say thank god for this site! Finally other people who know what i am going through!
my story – I started my periods not until i was 18, and since then have had very irregular periods! it wasnt until about 5 years ago that i found out i had pcos after i was unable to conceive!! I still havent had a baby (it would be my dream) I was put on dianette a couple of years ago mainly for my symptoms! Unfortunately i had a stroke 8 months ago, and was taken off dianette, and my symptoms returned terribly, i have just ordered a months supply of the supplements, and just hope that they work!!! if anyone would like to email me please do i would love to talk to others who know how it feels! its ellie! elainepick@btinternet.com. take care everyone
ellie xx much love xx
It’s great that people can come together and share their stories in hopes that they can shed some light on a dim situation.
I’m 20 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 2 weeks ago. I began having periods when I was 8 (yes, 8 years old!) and they’ve always been regular. When I was 18, I began to notice weight gain and irregular periods, which was not normal for me. I went from 160lbs to 225lbs in almost 2 years…that’s 65 pounds!! But I work in an office and thought that my weight gain was because I was sitting on my butt all day, thus the irregular cycles. But I was freaked when I started growing facial hair, skin tags and having skin discoloration. I was skipping cycles at a time, going 2-3 months with no cycle, then having thick vaginal discharge filled with blood clots. That was scary. So I went to 3 different doctors before I was diagnosed. She was very sympathetic and told me that it was so hard to diagnose because of the variety of symptoms from woman to woman. She told me it would be difficult to have kids (I don’t ovulate and I have 10mm cysts on both ovaries, more on the right side). She told me that because they caught it at a young age that I should try now because the older you get, the less likely fertility treatment will work. I just want to know how is it? For all the women who had to go through this, how is it? My heart goes out to the women who have tried for years and years to have kids with no success, and then they finally have their miracle baby. The doctor has not started me on any medication, so I’m still suffering with the symptoms. What is metformin and should I ask my doctor about it?
thanks for listening.
hi my name is brittany, i’m 20 years old and a month ago i was diagnosed with PCOS. I realize that with PCOS i don’t ovulate normally but is it possible to get pregnant without fertility drugs? Any information on this would be very much appreciated this is all so overwhelming. Thank you, Brittany
Hey there,
I’m really glad I found this site. It wasnt until about 6 months ago that I finally realized that I had PCOS. A doctor had suggested it to me about a year ago when i started noticing some unusual hair growth. After that though I saw doctor after doctor, asking them to do test after test. Even still its hard to say if i actually have it or not. I just know that I have all the symptoms. Irregular periods, Ive had horrible acne since gr 7, hair growth, trouble losing weight (although ive been able to stay around 160), and let me tell ya… DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY!! When i was in grade 12 I was on Diane -35 for my acne and i went through an intense bout of anxiety that lasted for a year. After I stopped taking it, the anxiety faded, although I didnt make this connection at the time. Last year when I first went to the doctor about the hair growth, and also the depression I was starting to sink back into, they put me back on dianne 35. Immediately after i started taking it i became extremely depressed and anxiety stricken. This is when i made the connection. I stopped taking it and felt improvements almost immediately. I knew I had to find some type of other treatment. I am considering trying either this system, or metformin. One thing i have to say though is that doctors still don’t know much about this and if you think you have it, you have to take charge and figure it out for your self. I really do believe though that PCOS is directly linked to depression and alxiety, because i have always been susceptible to it and go through frequent bouts of it. Also, when the PCOS symptoms were more prominent (like when the hair started coming) I Was also experiencing periods of high stress and nervousness, mood swings, intense emotions, and depression. Please let me know if you’ve experienced something similiar!
Is there any support groups or anyone on this insulite labs in hawaii?
Hi Tara, I have just read your comment, and can appreciate everything you are saying! I was diagnosed about 5 years ago when i went about fertility! so all i was given at the time was clomid, nothing was explained to me, of why i had it and what i could do about it, it wasnt until i came on this site that i realised it was anything to do with insulin resistance! But yes i do suffer with mood swings and get terrible anxiety!! I was put on dianette also, mainly for my symptoms but had a stroke (that was about 9 months ago) and they felt it was alot to do with being on the dianette!! My symptoms have come back awful, which makes me feel down and pretty anxious! I have just ordered a supply of the insulite system and i am praying to god it will help me as it seems to of helped so many others! If you want to email me, just so we can chat and give each other support you are welcome to! elainepick@btinternet.com
thanks and stay positive
ellie x
Hi Chantell,
Thanks for writing in about PCOS support groups in Hawaii.
I visited the PCOS Association (PCOSA) web site and
found a list of discussion boards for various states.
Here is the link for Hawaii:
http://www.pcosupport.org/forums/index.php
The PCOSA also has a list of Professional Members
who have showed an interest in treating PCOS. Perhaps you can locate a healthcare professional based in Hawaii. The link is:
http://www.pcosupport.org/membership/professionals.php#HI
Finally, you asked about Insulite Laboratories. While we don’t have a presence in Hawaii (unfortunately), we are available for support and guidance on PCOS via email.
You don’t have to be an Insulite PCOS customer. We support all PCOS woman with complimentary email consultations. Just email us at info@insulitelabs.com
Chantell, best of luck and don’t hesitate to contact us.
Your Editor
Hi Ashly,
It took me going to an Endocrinologist to finally be diagnosed. I didn’t have any luck with my GP or my OGBYN.
For the past 5 months I have been on Metformin. It has helped a lot, but I am feeling more and more depressed everyday.
Best of luck to you.
Hello…My name is Annie. I am 30 years old. I have been reading everyone’s stories…and “boy”, do they all sound like ME! I started my first period when I was 16, 115 pounds, size 5..I thought I was a normal teenager who just started her period. Well…it was very, very painful and lasted for two weeks. My Dad and stepmom thought I was going to hemorage to death, no joke, they took me to the hospital. The Doctor said it was normal for an active 16 year old not to have any periods. I played 3 sports at the time in High School. Well, a year and a half later, I had another period. This time it was BAD! I missed school for almost 3 weeks, hospital here we come again. They said the same thing as before. I weighed 122 at that time and still was playing 3 sports. So, from the time I was 17, when I met my husband untill now, 13 years later, still no baby! I have been to abut 15 different doctors, and I can recall one of them saying I have PCOS, but she wasn’t to concered about it at all. She even showed me my x-ray, and explained to me about my mutiple eggs on my ovaries. Since then, I have had adhesion removal surgeries, because 2 doctors thought that scar tissue was holding down my ovaries, causing them not to function right. But, go figure, they was wrong. I have been on many, many, many kinds of pills, including birth control pills to provera to clomid. All they caused me to do was to become very depressed. I have very bad mood swings, I swear, sometimes I feel like I am two or three different people. I cry because I feel like an alien or something, like I am not normal. I hate this! I went from a size 5, 122 pounds to 215, size 16 within a 9 year time frame. Well, I got tired of the weight, so I went on weight watchers back in 2005, and I can proudly say I went down to 170, size 12/14. I went off of that, gained back 20 pounds FAST! Now, my husband and I have joined the local YMCA, and I have managed to get back down to 178. But, I cannot be consistant. I also forgot to mention, that I am very hairy. My legs grow like weeds and my arm hair is horrible along with my back. I hate the hair under my chin/neck area. I have noticed that hair under there has gotten really bad. I went from plucking two hairs to about plucking thirteen hairs. I also can’t keep a job because of my anxiety/depression. I have had mutiple jobs. I just want to lay in bed for days sometimes. I decided to give up on the doctors, because they can never get it right. The one doctor I went to put me back on provera about 2 years back, I bled so bad, that I got fired from a job, who made me come to work in the condition that I was in. I bled so bad, I changed at work 3 times, my clothes, and they still didn’t care. I cried for days because noone understands me at all about this. I almost had to get a shot to stop my period. So, my doctor, at the time, told me to take the pills for one more month and that should help. Well, I switched jobs and explained to my boss about what happened before, and she was so understanding…untill it happened again. Yes, I lost that job too. Well anyways, I am writing my story because my husband and I want to have a child or maybe children. We just bought a new house and we have that “puzzle piece” missing. I decided to do some research on this last week, and I came across your website, and it all makes so much sense to me, I could cry. Yes, I am very emotional when it comes to this because, like I said, I feel “alienated”! I am going to start your program and continue going to the YMCA on a regular basis. I fell that this is Gods way of letting me know everything will be okay and that I found your website for a reason! I will be ordering your system sometime this week. I hope anyone reading my story who sounds similar to me, will respond back. I could sure use a friend who understands me about my problem. I feel everyone’s pain and wish all of you the best of luck.
hi to every one i notice that Dr.nancy dunne gave a great
explanation about the causes of pcos.Most chronic health problems, including polycystic ovary syndrome and ovarian cysts, result from complex combinations of inherited genetic susceptibility and controllable environmental factors — including biochemical, nutritional, behavioral and psychological factors.You can take a look at her book here:
Dr. Dunne’s all about pcos .
Hi Annie,
Thank you for writing to the PCOS Support Blog and for sharing your experiences. Certainly, many women will be
able to relate to your story.
We are glad you found our PCOS web site and that it has been helpful. We are here to educate and support
women with PCOS.
If you have any questions about your health or about the Insulite PCOS System, you are welcome to send them to the Insulite Medical & Advisory team at info@insulitelabs.com They are very knowledgeable about PCOS and are available to help all women with PCOS regardless of they’re being customers or not.
Good luck, Annie and best wishes for your improving health,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
hi im jessica, i have been diagnosed with pcos for nearly 2 yrs. my periods are always on time. the reason i found out i had this condition is because i was having pains in my stomach. i went to my doc for 1yr and he kept on telling me don’t worry it’s nothing until i had enough and he told me i had to go for a scan. then i was diagnosed with this. i have been having really bad depression and i really want a baby so please could u help me!!!! i’m on metformin and i would like to know is there a tablet to help me conceive
thanks jessica
Hi Jessica,
I’m glad that you found our PCOS Support Blog. We’re here to help. Thanks for letting us know what’s on your mind.
Dr. Heather DeLuca of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team has responded to your comments.
Your Editor
Hi Jessica,
I am sorry to hear about your struggles with conceiving and depression. We understand how emotionally and physically draining it can be to discover that you have PCOS and then having to deal with some of the complications such as possibly making it more difficult to conceive.
You are not alone. There are women with PCOS that have children. However, having PCOS may make it more difficult.
Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and improving the Insulin Resistance that underlies PCOS. To read more about PCOS and infertility please visit the following link: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php.
Unfortunately, there is no one pill that can reverse PCOS or Insulin Resistance. The Insulite PCOS System, which you may have read about on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, is designed to help reverse 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.
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.
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.
Women with PCOS are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, although the reasons for this are not entirely known.
Many women with PCOS may find themselves more anxious or depressed by their appearance or their inability to become pregnant. These mood disorders can also be caused by hormone problems. Managing your PCOS symptoms may help to relieve depression and anxiety, though this is not proven in research studies.
We have not designed the Insulite PCOS System to help specifically with mood swings. However, the System is designed to target the underlying cause of PCOS, which theoretically would improve all of the symptoms of PCOS.
Here is some general information about the PCOS System. It 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, 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 and/or decrease insulin, reduce the symptoms of PCOS, correct the hormonal imbalance of PCOS, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin.
I hope that this information is helpful. You can always receive help and advice about your PCOS by e- mailing us at info@insulitelabs.com. You don’t need to be an Insulite customer.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Medical Advisor, Insulite Laboratories Research 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’s Bernice and I was diagnosed with PCOS a year ago. I think the depression and anxiety link is caused by hormones and what the PCOS takes away from your life, especially if it’s taken ages for you to get diagnosed and by the time you start to get help your symptoms are horrendous.
I have always had irregular periods but I never was particularly concerned as they were not painful or any other problems. I was thin as young girl and had reasonably good skin. I worked as a model amongst other things and was blessed with my looks – my ambition was to get into acting and singing. However, when I was pursuing these ambitions I suddenly for no apparent reason started to put on weight and my skin broke out in horrible boils. Nevertheless I had to give up modelling. The doctor’s attitude was ridiculous, they just thought I was being shallow worrying about my looks and were patronising about my career with a “tough luck you will have to get other work” sort of attitude. Why are doctors so dreadful on this? When my periods stopped for a whole year I was eventually given a scan, and diagnosed. I take Metformin and changed my diet and do LOADS of exercise and I feel like a woman again. My periods came back but they’ve gone again – never mind. I had a lovely son when I was 23 so I have decided not to try for any more children. I went through a horrible phase of not knowing why I had lost my looks, and other people being horrible as they thought it was great ( you know what people can be like, I guess I made some I knew people sick when I was thin, glamorous and confident and they were pleased that I had lost that. I just did not feel feminine at all. My partner cheated on me as he just didn’t fancy me anymore and I was moody and depressive.
Even now I don’t think the doctor’s know enough about this condition, or they just can’t be bothered. I have learned more researching PCOS on the internet!
Hi everyone!
I feel the need to say something about all the comments and concerns of most the women, especially the younger ones. Obviously, all of us with PCOS have had our own various heartaches and frustrations. I am 31 years old and have been to many doctors. I was lucky enough to find a doctor who was finally able to answer my questions, as to what as wrong with me. Even though he was able to answer my questions, I found out that I received the most detailed information while surfing the net. Sometimes I have been upset whenever I have gone to an OBGYN because it seems like I always have to tell them how to treat me. For those who are wondering about Metformin, I suggest doing your own research by typing “Metformin” in at one of the search sites on the internet. You will find a lot of info. that way, and it will give you something to show your doctor if you are interested in taking it. After my own research I have learned that every woman with PCOS has different symptoms or other things going against or for them, hence the reason why some medications work differently for each of us. I took Metformin for awhile with no success; so I gave up on it, but I do know that it has helped many other women with PCOS. I feel everyone’s frustration. On my husband’s side we are the only ones with a fertility problem, which can be hard when you are part of a big family and everyone gets pregnant so easily. Also, in my immediate family I am the only one with PCOS, which, of course, means no one understands the mood swings or the frustration. I had my first menstrual cycle when I was ten and have had irregular, long and painful, cycles up until I started taking the Insulite System back in October. I have also had the blood clotts and flow very heavily. I know that the hormonal imbalance, which is one of the side effects of PCOS, is a big contributor to the mood swings. It has been really difficult not knowing how to cure PCOS and that is why I highly reccomend the Insulite System. This is the first time I have actually had hope that I can possibly beat this. I hope my comments help. All I can say is I understand and feel for each and every one of you. Don’t give up!
Love,
Amanda
Sorry, hope you don’t mind hearing from me again. I just read what Annie wrote and it really touched me. If you would like to, Annie, feel free to e-mail me @ award0311@yahoo.com. It would be nice to have someone to share similar experiences with. I look forward to hearing from you and hope you have had success with the Insulite System.
Amanda
Amanda, Hello -
We are always happy to hear from you at our PCOS Support Blog.
You have much to offer in the way of experience and
empathy. Your comments are always welcome.
Best wishes,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Hello I am 28 yrs old and was dignosed with PCOS in 2006. My husband an I were married for 4.5 yrs, and am currently going through a divorce. I have no children and my husband had a child from a previous marriage. I miscarried 4 yrs ago, pretty sure twins. I am on Fortamat 1000 mg 2x’s a day. Will I have to take this medication for the rest of my life and will it be hard for me to conceive in the future? I know that right now I don’t want a baby due to all the stress that I am under. My husband told me that I am always moody, and that he didn’t want anymore children. Is the mood swings and the overweigt in my midsection part of this? I have read that women in child bearing age 15 to 30 is the ones that are at high risk. Will it go away at age 30 or this lifetime? I have lost 65 lbs in the last 11 mo., but I am still heavy in the midsection. Also is this a life time thing? If anyone can answer me I’d really be greatful.
Feel free to email me at hifromjess2u@yahoo.com
Thank you
Jessica
This is a reply to 19 year old Ashley. I am now 31 and just got diagnosed. Not because the doctors..both family and obgyn did so on their own, but because I did the research and brought this to THEIR attention. I have had problems since I started my cycle at 12. My advise is try the system offered here and don’t give up with the doctors. I have been seeing a specialist since I was 18, just look how long it took me! Good luck to you.
Tamara, mirena is an awesome birth control if you can use it. It has very low dose hormone and does not have the weight gain side effects of the pill. I have always had outrageous periods, but after about 6 months the Mirena has made an amazing difference!
Annie, I would be happy to share e-mails with you or anyone else who needs someone to talk to about this lovely nightmare we have been blessed with. scandalous411@hotmail.com
Stacy
I was diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance 2 years ago after searching and searching for a doctor who would listen to my concerns about it. All the doctors i saw told me that i was over weight and would feel better if I lost the weight. I would get so mad because I couldn’t lose the weight. No matter what i did I just couldn’t. Finally i was diagnosed and put on birth control and metformin. I lost 30 with the metformin in about 3 months but most of that was due to the intense nausea and diareah that I experienced. Most of it cam back on and i am still frustrated. I am going to try this program and see if it helps. If so I will reccomend it.
Does any one have theory’s on why so many women have insulin resistance and pcos? Is it all the hormones that they are putting in the meats and milk and cheeses we all eat?
Hi Micah,
Thanks so much for your comments.
About finding a healthcare provider that will understand your concerns about PCOS, I know that the PCOS Association (PCOSA) features a directory of professional members on their site at:
http://www.pcosupport.org/membership/professionals.php
These are US healthcare professionals, listed by state, with a commitment to PCOS. We hope this helps.
It’s good to hear that you will be trying the Insulite PCOS System. Remember, you can ask questions about PCOS, your health, diet, exercise or any other related concerns by emailing Insulite Labs’ Medical & Advisory team at:
info@insulitelabs.com
This is a complimentary service for all women with PCOS
and/or their concerned friends/relatives – you don’t have to be an Insulite customer.
Best of luck, Micah,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
I have just figured out on my own that I have PCOS. i also have type 1 diabetes and am on an insulin pump. I have 100 pounds to lose and just found out I am also insulin resistant.
AHHHH – who has any of these problems that has had success from these supplements? Please – I want to hear from you!
i havent had my period for 5 months and im not pregnant do u think i have it
please somebody answer me that question im scared i will aprecciate it
Is their any other PCO sufferers in the UK that have come up with a suitable diet or eating system. Since Insulite is based in th USA and their examples in the booklet are proving to be unlocatable and I also detest cottage cheese.
I have had PCOs for 10+ years, tried Metformin and all that it did for me was put on wieght and now I am struggling to shift it, but hopefully with the help on Insulite I will at last suceed. I’ve been on the programme for just over a week and noticing some differences already.
It is a big possibility Emily. Have you gone to your Dr. to have any test done ?
Dear Huong,
Thank you for writing in to our PCOS Support Blog. We are so sorry you are experiencing these difficulties.
I have requested that Dr. Mary Shackelton, MPH ND, Medical Director of Insulite Laboratories, respond to you. Her comments are below.
We send our best wishes for your improving health,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Huong’s Comment:
>> Hi, I am too sad about my Pcos. I am 31 years old. I want to have a baby.
>> I used to treat PCOS with alot of money. Today, I have no money to
>> treat more. I need your advice of natural treatment and guide of diet.
>> I am living in Vietnam and It is difficult for me to find the kind of
>> food or herb as the Western Nations, the herbal meredies from VITEX is
>> difficult to find here.
>> Thanks alot for your advice and your support.
>> Huong
Dear Huong,
We are so glad that you have contacted us. We know how difficult it is to have PCOS and suffer with its challenging side effects. If you cannot
afford our Insulite Laboratories Systems there are still many things you can do to positively affect your PCOS.
We know that hundreds of women in your situation have, in fact, improved their PCOS and their ability to conceive by watching their carbohydrate intake and by exercising reguarly.
Specifically, please try to keep your carbohydate intake to about 60-80 grams of carbs per day. This may mean that you will have to avoid rice and rice
products. Focus on lean protein such as chicken, fish, tofu, nuts, beans and greens.
You can find out which foods have how many carbs in them by going to Google online and typing in “carb counter.” This will give you a chart to look up the foods that you typically eat. The lower your carb intake the less insulin you will make. The less insulin you make the more likely you are to have normal menstruation and ovulation.
Having PCOS does not mean you cannot have a baby; it means you may have difficulty but it is not
impossible.
Insulite Laboratories’ exercise recommendations are designed to lower insulin and tesosterone levels which aid in ovulation also. By exercising 3-5 times per week for 10-30 minutes you will increase your chances of balancing the hormones that impact ovulation.
By focusing on these two suggestions you will be making strides toward reversing your PCOS.
Please stay positive, Huong and know that we are here
supporting your efforts.
We would love to hear from you as you make changes to your diet and exercise.
All the Best
Dr Mary Shackelton, MPH, ND
Medical Director, Insulite Laboratories
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.30 yrs. ago, at 14 yr.old, everything suddenly changed. I gained 55 lbs. in 3 yrs., (I’m 4’11″),had the first of sev. HORRIBLE winter depressions, was diagnosed w/ hypothyroidism, developed acne,facial hair. I look back and THANK GOD I did not kill myself in those years of teenage angst. I went thru nursing school, and w/ my increased understanding of the body,etc,,and barely eating,the weight come off over a 4 yr. period. I never had irregular periods. I finally had to about stand on my doc’s desk and scream IT IS NOT NORMAL THAT I HAVE A FULLER BEARD THAN YOU DO! Abdominal ultrasound was normal. I kept fit-throwing. He finally sent me to an endocrinologist in a bigger city. Though I was not “text book”,he diagnosed me w/ PCOS, and first on his list was an infertility specialist. This MD at first did not concur w/ the diagnosis,but upon a vaginal ultrasound, “you DEFINATELY have PCOS”. Also, found endometriosis. Clomed did nothing.After 3 yrs of trying,I accredit conception to a God-thing.With my second child, I had a severe, post-partum depression.(My mother had shock treatments for depression after 2 of her babies.)We tried Lupron injections to shut down the ovaries. I felt great, almost euphoric. Finally, out of frustration, I had a total hysterectomy for “severe PMS”. Now, 12 yrs. later, I still have coarse facial hair, muscle bulkiness,mood issues,acne.After the hysterectomy, once again I experienced a 50 lbs. wt. gain over 3 years.(I had also quit smoking and went on anti-depressants.) I eventually figured out the hi-carb,lo-fat diet no longer worked for me. I encourage everyone to gain insight on the glycemic index. This has helped me tremendously w/ food cravings, wt. loss,mood stabilization.My doc. has ran a gamut of tests, from free testosterone, thyroid panels,insulin levels,etc.,and tells me I’m “fine”.This does not discourage me.The field of psycho-neuro-endocrinolgy is exploding,and eventually, more will be found out. I hope in time that my daughter doesn’t have to walk this road if she’s inherited my hormonal issues.I write all this to encourage all of you to not give up.Insist on seeing an endocrinologist if your doc is not taking you seriously. You’re not crazy,and PCOS can lead to serious health consequences.It’s your life, and your body. (My MD had never heard of PCOS,when he received the report from the endocrinologist.) My question is…Is it still called PCOS if you’ve had a total hysterectomy???
Dear Jenny,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on your PCOS experience. I’m certain that many women can relate to your frustration.
Thanks also for your recommendation of following the Glycemic Index, a very helpful tool. We’ve posted an article on the G.I. on our blog so that others can learn about it.
We join you in hoping that your daughter and other young women do not have to “walk this road.” If we can keep talking, keep sharing information with friends, relatives, the medical community and the “global” community, we can raise awareness of PCOS and move closer to healing it.
Best regards to you and your daughter,
Your Editor
PCOS Suppport Blog
Dear Jenny,
Thank you for posting your information.
What is clear about your case is that there are many tests that appear to be in the normal range however your symptoms are significant.
In my opinion this speaks to the insensitive nature of tests. That is, you can have a condition even though all the tests are negative. It is always important to remember that tests are imperfect and treating the patient requires a detailed history.
To answer your question, PCOS is not really a disease of your ovaries. Did you know that you can have PCOS without cysts on your ovaries? So taking your ovaries out does not treat the condition. It is still important to manage your PCOS because it can lead to other serious conditions like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
The reason that you are still at risk for these other conditions is that you still have an imbalance of insulin and glucose even if you have had a total hysterectormy. Additionally, if you treat your PCOS you could finally gain some relief from the symptoms you have been struggilng with.
I applaud you in never giving up, keep working at reversing your PCOS!
Best,
Dr Mary Shackelton, MPH, ND
Medical Director, Insulite Labratories
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 diagnozed PCOS in march this year. Am lucky that i have access to internet – i straight away went about finding out what it is, causes, etc. I live in Africa and i dont have a credit card – they are for the few very rich people. Am lucky i have a sister who lives in the States and i will be sending her money through a friend who is travelling there to purchase for me the 3 month’s supplement – it is quite expensive for me but am willing to sacrifice doing my hair, nails, facials in order to raise the amount. Am exercising, though am not regular, and am on low carb diet. Many African foods are not listed in the carb counter and i hope am not doing it the wrong way especially that i have fruits (water melon, pineaple, papaya, sugar cane and Jack fruit)only for lunch.
Am happy to have found this website!
Hi Ruth,
We’re happy that you’ve found our PCOS web site!
I asked Dr. Heather DeLuca of Insulite’s Medical & Advisory team to address some of the points in your email. Please see her comments below.
Do contact us anytime you have questions about PCOS, Insulin Resistance and/or the Insulite PCOS System. You can reach us through this blog, of course or by emailing:
myhealth@insulitelabs.com
Our best wishes for your improving health,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for writing into our PCOS Blog. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. However, I am glad that you have found us and have chosen to use the Insulite PCOS System!
It is great that you have already started to make nutrition and exercise changes. We know they can be difficult to stick with but it is crucial in controlling the symptoms of PCOS and decreasing glucose and insulin levels as well as providing you with energy. Exercise also increases certain hormones that make you feel good, like serotonin. I hope you will experience this when you start to exercise regularly.
We recommend that you start out slow if you have not exercised on a regular basis. You can start with a few days a week at about 20-30 minutes at light-moderate intensity and increase up to 5-6 days a week including some strength training, barring any contraindications.
We want these changes to be long term so do not be hard on yourself if it is difficult to adjust to in the beginning. Just stick with it.
Try to incorporate some activity on most days. Bringing a friend along when you exercise can also make it more fun and the additional support you lend to each other keeps you motivated.
If I can also make some suggestions regarding the fruits you typically eat for lunch: watermelon, papaya, pineapple, sugar cane. Although high in nutrients, they also tend to be higher in carbs than other fruits. You do not have to cut these out completely but have them less frequently (1-3 times a week).
Other fruit choices that are lower in carbs include apples, berries, kiwis, pears, peaches, to name a few. I understand that you may not have access to these and if you provide me with other fruits that are available to you, I can offer suggestions. With fruit, we recommend 1-2 servings a day. Just be sure when you do eat these fruits to include some fat and protein along with them. It will have less of an effect on glucose and insulin levels.
In regard to finding a carb counter for typical African foods, I would need to know in what country you are located as well as typical foods consumed. I have contacted a person in the UK that may have more information but needs a bit more detail before he can help. He works with the organization Food Africa.
In the meantime, I was able to find one website that you can use to find the carb content of foods, keeping in mind that it is more directed to foods in South Africa: http://databases.mrc.ac.za/FoodComp/start.jsp. Also, some foods like the fruits you mentioned with the exception of jack fruit and sugar cane,you can use the carb counter available at http://www.fitday.com.
Also, remember that preparing meals in advance helps you from straying to the foods that affect your glucose and insulin levels negatively
Ruth, we appreciate your commitment to your health.
I hope this information is useful. Again, having some more information from you will allow me to provide you with more guidance on the carb content of foods. You can email any other information to myhealth@insulitelabs.com. Please feel free to write in anytime with questions or if we can offer you guidance or support. I look forward to working with 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.
hi!i’m 19 n have been diagnosed with pcos abt 2 mths back.my gynocologist prescribed me diane 35 but as i left taking it i got severe acne on my face,chest and back. so my skin specialist whom i found more capable put me on diane plus metformin. on net ive got much info on the usefulness of metformin(glucophage).its safe 4 teens i heard.yeah i do get deppressed n weep 4 hrs long sometimes bt then feel ok when my doc told me that its a very common prob n u can have baby no doubt after proper treatment n time.well he told that getting married in time is suggested in women wid pcos i.e within 23 or 24yrs u shd get married as soon as possible.coz da younger u r the easier it gets 2 treat infertility.n kindly tell is da combination of cyproterone n metformin safe?ive recently strted takin metformin.
Hi Ann,
Thanks for writing in to the PCOS Support Blog.
I posed your question about combining metformin and
cyproterone to Dr. Heather DeLuca of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team.
Please see her response below.
All the best,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Ann,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support Blog. I am sorry to hear about your recent PCOS diagnosis. We understand how receiving this diagnosis can cause
confusion in how to address the multiple complications associated with PCOS.
Metformin and other anti-hyperglycemics (glucose lowering agents) are often used in women with PCOS since the condition is most often associated with
insulin resistance. Metformin will lower glucose levels thereby lowering insulin levels.
Cyproterone is a medication used to block androgens (such as testosterone). Increased amounts of androgens are often responsible for symptoms such as acne,
increased facial and body hair.
Here is a website that you can use to help determine any interactions between using Metformin and Cyproterone together: http://www.drugdigest.org.
Also, I would encourage you to discuss your concerns with your doctor about any possible interactions between these medications.
I would also recommend considering dietary and exercise changes that you can make for long term control of PCOS symptoms and to address future
complications that may result from having PCOS. To read more about this, go to: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
To read more about PCOS and infertility please visit the following link:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Infertility.php.
I hope this information is helpful. Please write in to this Blog any time. You can also reach the Medical & Advisory team directly at myhealth@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.
I’m 20 years old and although I haven’t been diagnosed I am pretty sure I have PCOS. I have always had a weight problem and when I was 9 I noticed that I had facial hair. I did not start my period though I was on diane 35 for about 3-4 years and since going off them I’ve had only 2 periods, the most recent being in January, before that, September. For the past 2 years I have been losing my hair and have gotten more depressed. Since graduating high school, all my friends have moved away and although I really want to go to university I am too embarrassed about how I look to do anything about it. I live in a small community and the local RN knows about my problems and even suggested years ago that she thinks I have PCOS but she has never told me exactly what it was, given me advice or referred me to a specialist (which around here is what the RN does otherwise you cannot get an appointment). A lot of women in my family have had similar problems; my mother had a cyst removed from her ovary when she was 14 and also has facial hair, a weight problem as well as type 2 diabetes, a couple of my aunts have had cysts (on both sides of my family) as well as facial hair, one of my aunts is infertile and my cousin was diagnosed with Cushing’s several years ago (she had a tumor on her pituitary). There’s also a history of heart disease and diabetes in my family so I am very concerned about this problem. My cousin, who is also 20, is pregnant and although I am very excited for her it hurts to know that I may not be able to have kids someday. I am really scared about seeing doctors, doing tests and how PCOS will affect my life and my family’s life. Quite recently, my father lost both his parents within 10 months and since they were a huge part of our lives we are all going through difficult enough times as it is. I don’t want to put more stress and worry on my family but I know I have to get help. I am wondering if anyone has any advice concerning my situation. I am very glad to have found this website. Thanks.
I am 27 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17. I started my periods when I was 11 years old. Everything was fine for a year. Then all of a sudden I began noticing more hair. The more I freaked out, the worse the hair got.
So by the time I was in grade 10, I had the worst facial hair, body hair and acne. I had no clue what I had to do and my mother told me it will go away! Its just a puberty thing. Nobody in my family had it. Nobody has diabetes or high blood pressure or anything at all. Everybody is as healthy and fit as they can be. My grandparents have no illnesses at all. My grandmother died recently. Absolutely nothing wrong with her. Just that she was old.
I knew it would never go away. In those days internet wasnt still so popular so I tried to gather as much information through health magazines and newspapers.
I knew I had PCOS by the time I was 15 and needed to see a specialist. But nobody agreed or believed me. My OB/GYN never knew about it. I knew I had to see an endocrinologist as it was hormonal and read in the papers and articles.
Since my elders didnt know what to do I decided to pursue it myself. I got the name of a good endocrinologist in town from my friend as her mother used to visit him for her diabetes. I tried to convince my parents for about 2 years and finally they agreed. My mother took me there as I could not do it by myself at that age – 17. It was a huge step for me plus I couldnt pay for it!
I was on Aldactone, Finasteride, birth control pills etc for about 3-4 years till i was 21. I maintained a journal of my treatment. All this while I never had problems with weight. I was in the 100 lb range. My doctor promised me that my hair growth will be in control and that I would definitely have children. I trusted him.
My hair growth was in control. I worked very hard at school, collge, got a great paying job to pay for the laser hair reduction 2 years ago when I was 25 and it was fine for sometime. I have never felt better in my life. Then I got married and got pregnant last year! That was the most wonderful feeling. I am blessed with a 8 month old boy now. I am thankful to my endocrinologist who treated me. He kept his promise! I thought I had won the long and hard battle!
That is not true. I have been battling depression for the last 12-13 years constantly. When I got pregnant, I started growing more hair in places I never had before and got worse acne. I decided to stay at home for sometime as i didnt want stress to ruin my pregnancy. I can’t afford laser/electrolysis for some time now.So I am back to where I was before. Horrible hair and acne.
I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism during pregnancy and I had a weight gain in excess of 30lbs of normal weight gain. I am trying to lose it now.
I had an extremely painful period after the baby was born and the doctor thought it could be endometriosis. I am just hoping it is not.
Having PCOS makes you go through extremes. There are many downs and very few ups. You keep going back to the symptoms again and again. You feel you have conquered it, but no! It just stays with you – like it or not. It is very painful.
I am really not looking forward to the rest of my life. I live for my son and family now!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing to our PCOS Support Blog.
I’ve asked Dr. Apryl Krause of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team to respond to your comments.
Take care and please see her response below.
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Amy,
I’m very sorry to hear about what a hard time you’ve been having! I’ll give you some information that will help you as you try to figure out what is happening in your body. It is important, I think, for you to go to a doctor for help to find a diagnosis, because you have obviously suffered for a long time, and you have a family history of several different things. Medically speaking, unfortunately, no news is not always good news, as many people who have avoided seeing doctors and then come to see me in my practice find out. The best thing for you to do, in my opinion, is to look at the information provided in this posting, and keep it in mind when your see your doctor. Then, you will know what to ask for, and you will be more able to work together as a team.
PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose because 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.
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. 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). Bloodwork that will indicate Insulin Resistance (which can be the cause of PCOS) include Triglycerides over 150, HDL under 50, and fasting insulin 9 or above. Also, the hip to waist ratio should be under 0.8. I found a nice calculator online for hip to waist ration, BMI, etc: http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/whr.
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.
Also, you’ve mentioned a family member who was diagnosed with Cushings’ Disease. It is a disease that has many symptoms of PCOS and is sometimes mistaken for PCOS. If you did have Cushing’s disease it may exacerbate your symptoms. This would be something to discuss with your doctor to ensure it has been ruled out.
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. You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com.
Lastly, anxiety and depression are commonly experienced by women with PCOS- you are not alone in this! The reasons why this is so are not very clear, though. You are also experiencing some life events that would cause anyone to have some emotional distress. Maybe it would be good to talk to a counselor about some of your feelings and fears.
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.
Here are two references to scientific papers that address anxiety in women:
1. Weiner et al. Androgens and mood dysfunction in women: comparison of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome to healthy controls.
Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):356-62. PMID: 15184695 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2. Elsenbruch et al. Quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5801-7. PMID: 14671172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
There is a startling lack of information on the topic of anxiety and depression, i.e. on the physiological reasons behind this phenomenon. However, I would guess that improving the Insulin Resistance and hormonal imbalance of PCOS would help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
I hope the above info gives you a foundation to begin addressing your health issues, don’t be afraid of them, go after them, figure them out, and start fixing them! Please write in to our Blog anytime or you can reach the Medical & Advisory team directly at myhealth@insulitelabs.com.
Sincerely,
Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite 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.
Hi. I’m a first timer. I have read all these stories and can truely sympathize with you. I am 51 yrs and was only diagnosed with PCOS 4 years ago. I was married for 23 yrs and had only one pregnancy when I was 23yrs and miscarried. Thank God PCOS has finally made an impact on the medical community! My doctors took so long to diagnose me, and once they did, the only thing they could do for me was to send me for tests to rule out other things, put me on metformin and tell me to lose weight. I had one diet after another without any real results. Now there is Insulite Labs. I just started the PCOS program but had a minor setback, an allergic reaction to one of the pills. We are trying to find out which one now, and I’m still excited about the possibilities of reversing the symptoms of PCOS and possibly the disorder itself!
Will I have less results from the program if I can not take all of the pills?
Thanks to the staff at Insulite for their support. I hope to be a huge advocate of this program. I am looking forward to being part of this support group. Because you do support each other, I can tell by the responses to questions, I’m a therapist, and hope that I too can help others through this blog. Let’s take control of our lives girls! We can do it! Sheila
Sheila – Bravo!
We admire your can-do attitude and welcome you to our PCOS support community.
We look forward to learning how you’re progressing and
of any advice you can provide.
I posed your specific question on the Insulite PCOS supplements to Dr. Heather DeLuca of the Insulite Medical & Advisory team. Her response is below.
Best wishes for your improving health.
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Sheila,
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us. You know first hand the emotional and physical effects that PCOS can have on a family.
Unfortunately, it has taken some time for the medical profession to recognize the impact this can have on the lives of those with PCOS. Many women have realized that the medications can only help to a certain extent but they do not want to be on medications for the rest of their lives.
We really try to understand each woman’s PCOS experience. Helping people has always been the priority at Insulite, by using the most current information and research to develop a complete system to help women and their families all of whom are affected by PCOS.
Fortunately much more is known now about the cause of PCOS and how to address it.
I want to thank you for your very kind comments regarding your experience with Insulite Labs.
What makes it fulfilling for me is hearing from our customers as well as what you have to say. You have a great attitude and no doubt will be inspiring to the other women writing on and reading the PCOS support blog. We hope that this forum as well as our website http://www.insulitelabs.com, will provide people with the support and information they need.
Now, to answer your question about the effectiveness of the Insulite PCOS System with a lower dose of the supplements. It may, in fact, take more time to reverse the underlying insulin resistance.
We have developed the supplements to contain therapeutic doses and taking lower doses will take more time for them to work. However, this can also depend on the severity of your insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms. Keep in mind that you are still making significant changes with the use of the supplements along with the changes in diet and exercise.
Sheila, I look forward to your emails on how adding back in the supplements is going. As always, contact me if you have any 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 all, I am Kiran, I too have irregular periods from 2nd year of starting. Later on I was dioganised with PCO on right side overy. I am overweight, 22 yrs age, and wt of 66 kg. My hairs started becoming white and acne appeared on face, hand, back, thighes, chest. I have extremely oily skin. My mood swings are also of extreme level. Doctor said, there will be little chance for me, becoming pregnant, and I must need to go through leproscopy. I have done all the tests, all kind of medicines from last 10 years, but it only increases my weight. I cant help myself in this situation. Can’t our doctors find a medicine for it, when so many women are suffering from it? Its my request to all doctors, please do something, otherwise our lives will be halflived.
hi, let me start by saying i am so glad i found this website and i am going to try the program
i am 19 yrs old and was diagnosed with PCOS 4 yrs ago and was put onto metformin but it made me too sick, i have tried alot of diet and exercise programs since then but nothing had worked. I have terrible acne am overweight and very depressed and moody but i have normal peroids and always have… so because i have normal periods does that make it a better chance of having children?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing in to our PCOS Support Blog.
Your question about normal periods has been posed to Andrea Lee, NMD of our Medical & Advisory team. Please see her response below.
Best wishes for your improving health,
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Laura,
I am so glad that you are visiting our PCOS blog.
Yes, it is possible to have PCOS and infertility issues even if you menstruate regularly. It is unclear how exactly this happens. Clearly,PCOS can present in a wide variety of ways!
Here is a link to a study about this: http://staging.inciid.org/fertinews/pcosnormal.html
In answer to your question about periods and pregnancy, I have to say that the answer is both yes and no. The answer is yes in the sense that IF you
are ovulating every cycle, then your chances of conceiving would be higher beause more periods equals more chances to conceive. However, just because you have a regular menstrual cycle doesn’t necessarily mean you are ovulating regularly as well.
You can have a period without ovulating. This is called an anovulatory cycle. The article above touches on this subject as well.
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” 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“http://www.ovusoft.com/library/primer002.asp.
A good online tool for charting all of your fertility signals is:
http://www.fertilityfriend.com. This website allows you to set up an account that will enable you to track all of your fertility signals including basal body temperature, cervical mucus, cervical position, etc.
It provides a great graphic representation of your menstrual cycle and can help pinpoint fertile times or give clues to lack of ovulation.
I sincerely hope this information is helpful to you.
We are thrilled that you are going to give the Insulite PCOS System a try! The System provides a comprehensive approach to the nutritional,
lifestyle, and perhaps most importantly, emotional aspects of PCOS.
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 through this PCOS Support blog or privately
at myhealth@insulitelabs.com 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
help. docs have told me i have pocs but not diagnosed me with it and i dont know what i can do w/out meds.i am now mean and mad most of the time, over weight and hair hair and more hair. i have not been with anyone(girl) in 3 years. the one place that your “girl” will LOOK at , i feel like a boy.how do i talk to someone about this that does not know what this is???????.please help me find the nice sweet girl i was for1978leo@yahoo.com . readers…hope health and happiness to all, stephanie
Thanks for having this site!
Dear Stephanie
Thank you for writing in. I’ve asked a colleague from the Insulite Laboratories Medical & Advisory team to
address your comments.
We’re sending you our best wishes for improving health and happiness.
Your Editor
PCOS Support Blog
Dear Stephanie,
I’m sorry to read about your struggles, and hope that I can be of help.
PCOS can be difficult to diagnose. Clinically speaking, it does look as if you have it. Do you have irregular menses or are you overweight? Have you
had any lab work done at your doctor’s office?
Often, with PCOS the testosterone and DHEA are high. Also, PCOS is often caused by insulin resistance. Blood work that would indicate this would be you Triglycerides being over 150, HDL (your good cholesterol) being under 50, and your insulin being 9 or above. Also, for women, we like to see the waist
circumference to be 35 inches or under.
As you may or may not know, PCOS is most often a result of Insulin Resistance. When someone is insulin resistant their body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to chronically
elevated circulating levels of insulin. This not only causes your cells to have less insulin receptors, but it leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).
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.
The hormone imbalances mentioned above can lead to excess hair growth, being irritable, acne, cysts on the ovaries, and the absence of ovulation and menses, or excessive menstruation.
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.
There is a way to control Insulin Resistance (IR) and in turn PCOS. First, you must know how to eat right. For people with IR, a low carb diet is best, 60-80 grams per day being the goal. Healthy fats, lean proteins, and lots of vegetables are what generally take the place of foods such as pasta, rice, bread, pastries, and excessive amounts of fruit and/or fruit
juice.
Also, exercise is crucial- untrained muscles are insulin resistant, but trained muscles recognize insulin and help you metabolize glucose (from the carbs) better.
In addition, nutritional supplements can make a huge difference when you’re trying to pull your insulin and blood sugar levels under control. They can help improve insulin sensitivity, help you lose weight, reduce the symptoms of PCOS by correcting hormonal imbalances, and help manage the deleterious consequences of having elevated insulin.
As far as your excess hair growth, pulling the IR under control will, over time, help your body hair become finer and less visible. For the excess
hair that you have now I would suggest electrolysis or laser hair removal.
I have noticed, while searching on the internet, that there are many facilities now offering laser hair removal for very reasonable prices – you
can search the terms ‘affordable (or cheap) laser hair removal’. It works well, and should help you feel a lot better about your appearance!
Last but not least, it sounds as if you are depressed. Of course, getting your physical situation under control should help you feel a lot better,
but sometime some counseling is helpful too- especially if there are other issues that need to be resolved. Only you can decide if this is something
that would help you.
Insulite Laboratories does have a program for controlling IR and PCOS. Here is the website if you are interested: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
I hope this is helpful for you and eases your mind. There is hope! And you can, of course, get better.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite 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.
it has been so encouraging to read the posts here. i have felt so alone. i have been to 8 doctors over the last 5 years and none of them seemed like they wanted to help me. i started doing my own research about pcos after reading an article in a woman’s magazine. i tried talking to my OBGYN about it and he actually seemed upset that i was asking for specific tests and talking to him about research i had done. i wanted to get pregnant (but had only had two periods that year) so he put me on clomid. it was the worst thing for me. my moods were out of control, migraines and by the time he quadrupled the dosage, i was in extreme pain.
finally, i went to an amazing doctor in LA named Dr. Steinberg who diagnosed me with pcos. (i highly recommend him. but he only specializes in infertility, not treating pcos long-term) by that time both of my ovaries were the size of baseballs and i had over a dozen cysts, one of which was the size of an orange and had burst.
to make a long story short, i got pregnant through artificial insemination and then miscarried in april. i have been in a deep depression for quite some time now and really struggle with the thought of never having my own children. i guess i didn’t have a “plan b” and now i’m not sure what to do. i’ve read that anti-depressants won’t help becuase it’s from a hormone imbalance, not a chemical imbalance. has anyone else been told that?
Just wondering if everyone has had neg. experiences with this?! I just foiund out a week ago that I have this from the doc after asking for tests etc. I was also going to a nat. doc. who believed I had it although my family doctor didn’t until the tests came back. I have pimples but am able to control them with limiting sugar and dairy products. I also wash with spectro gel and use clinoxgal ( I think thats how it is spelled) for my face when I have bad breakouts. I use a back scub with acne fighters in the summer because I’m active and this is when I usually break out and this helps. I also can be moody but I think thats part of being human and all women tend to be bitchy at times.
I’m not considered overweight although I’m a good 15 pounds higher than I was in highschool…I have only blond hair on the upper lip and bulky arms…My periods were fine when I was younger and I didn’t have any pimples until I was out of high school…and it was not until a year ago that I noticed my peiods were once every 30-48 days …my longest being 60 some days…I just wen’t on a per. horm. drug lasting 10 days to hopefully give me my period and I’ll be starting met. in. drug when that is do0ne. Although I wen’t off the pill once when I was 18 and didn’t have my period for 4 months…my old doctor said that it was normal and put me back on the pill [ (thanks doc)5 years ago]I’m not worried about getting pregant due to having nothing showing in my bloodwork except the cysts in my ultasound…both of my docs and my phar. have said nothing but good things about the drugs that are out there and their sucess rates with them…so when I read all of this nasty stuff it kinda scars me…
I wil be going back to my doc. in a month for a check-up and my nat. doc in a few weeks…I’m going to ask about diets besides a low-fat/low sugar and herbs/ vit. that may be helpful to help aganst weight gain, dia. and heart problems down the road that I am aware that I have a higher chance of getting.
I will keep people posted on these…Remember to keep positive if you stress and think neg. neg. will come to you!!!
*I’m alittle pissed about having this but more releaved that I finally know what I have and that I’m alive and will live…Life goes on…I’m married, have a good job, a 2 homes, a new car and camper and cats…If I can’t have kids then we will most likely adopt or move onto a farm and spoil other children in the family.
Love always,
Emily
I did mean to say scare up there…sorry for the spelling and that…didn’t proof read,
Hello All,
I was reading around some of the posts here and I found interesting things that you guys talk about, I just made a blog about quitting smoking resources and ideas that you might want to check out.
If someone is interested in this topic just go to; http://endthehabitnow.blogspot.com and let me know what you think.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Val,
I can totally relate to your story. I went through 16 years of infertility, lived in depression from age 10 until I was about 27 and went through a lot of doctors lacking in knowledge.
Depression is a sensitive emotion. It can be triggered by several ways – emotion to dissatisfaction with life, hormonal or abuse. For prediabetics/diabetics, we are usually struck by the first two. We end up in a catch 22 – the hormones are messed up thereby increasing the likelihood of depression and then we get depressed dealing with this horrible disease. Abuse tends to come into play with society and the medical field – blaming us for our own health issues. All we can do is try to empower them with knowledge and be proud of ourselves for what we are able to accomplish.
As far as your fertility – have you heard about Ovarian Drilling? Not to be confused with a wedge reduction; not recommended and usually not offered any more. Ovarian Drilling, in my opinion, is a wonderful procedure for any PCOSer. It benefits fertility and your general health. Whether you have cysts or not, ovarian drilling is beneficial. It’s purpose is to get rid of any cysts, help lower the buildup of androgens, and if found, remove any endometriosis or scar tissue. It’s a great way to have a fresh start! The benefits have been proven to last up to two years!
I had my ovarian drilling done in 2001. Before, I was lucky to have three or four menstruals a year – I have been regular ever since! I also conceived twice by happenstance on my own. I definitely encourage investigation of this procedure.
Good luck!
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
In association with Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this post 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.
Angie–thank you for your response. It’s nice to know there’s someone I can relate to out there…and it sounds like some good things have come your way. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll do some research into ovarian drilling.
-Val
You are very welcome. Yes, my life has turned out wonderful but not without a lot of work on my part as well as acceptance of myself. Good Luck!
I have been told that i have it too (pcos)i have been ttc for 1yr and 1/2 but I know that what ever God reveal he Surely can heal. So now im not drinking any soda just water and eating lots of veggies,whole grain, fruit and working out and taking metformin along with aldactone.I’m just keeping my faith because im having me some children. My husband and I have been trying for awhile now and we are not giving up.Stay encourage everybody we will get what we desire.
Hi everyone,
I also have been diagnosed with PCO. unfortunately here in the netherlands not a lot is known about PCO. My doctor just simply said: you have PCO, just take the pill to control your menstruation. And thats that. I can be moody and depressed and another thing I experience is forgetfullness. Could that also be a sympton of PCO? I am not overweight, bu have more facial hair than other women.
It is good to hear all the stories here. I know I am not alone. What would you suggest for a not overweight PCO-er. Is a diet also usefull for me? What can be done against depression and what kind of birth control do you recommend?
Thanks for any advice that you can give me.
*****************
Hello Rinske,
Sorry to read about your difficulties. I’m glad you found our blog and wrote in.
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.
The topics of lean women with PCOS is 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 hypersecrete 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 to study that was done with lean women who have a history of PCOS: http://www.insidepcos.com:80/articles/612/1/Lean-Women-with-Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-Respond-to-Insulin-Reduction.html
Depression and forgetfulness can be a consequence of Insulin Resistance and hormone imbalance, as well as excess body hair. Diet and exercise are very important in reversing the issues; and specific supplements that directly addressing the conditions of Insulin Resistance and hormone imbalance are valuable too. The Insulite PCOS System brings all the necessary elements for healing together to assist in moving towards healing PCOS.
As far as birth control. Condoms can be quite effective when used properly, and also an IUD (ideally with no hormones embedded in it) is an option too. Last time I heard, IUD’s were used often in Europe- is that still the case? Some physicians will not give women with no children an IUD in the States, just in case of complications. I don’t know how things are done in the Netherlands. The rhythm method is another form of birth control, but it obviously is much more high maintenance to make it effective.
Lastly, excess hair usually requires electrolysis or laser hair removal. As your hormones come back into balance, the hair that does come back should be lighter and thus less noticeable.
Here is the Insulite PCOS link and a few others for you to look at and find out more about PCOS: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/index.php, http://www.soulcysters.com/, http://www.pcosupport.org/.
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite Medical and Advisory Team
Hi.
I have PCO. but my period was always normal. then i started to skips 2 3 months. finally i did a hormone test.and everything was pretty normal but my prolactin level was very high. so i started a medicine to cure that. now i get my period again every month. and the doctor said she doesnt wana start me on any medication for pregnancy other than my prolactin medicine and my glucuphage that im already on. she said try for 3 months and see if i become pregnant. but i dont know when i ovulate. is there any way to know?and could it be that i do ovulate now that my prolactin problem is fixed? ive been trying to concieve for 3 yrs now.
plz help.
its me again. sorry i forgot to mention. that im going thru severe depressionnnnnn..severeeeeeeeeee…i dont know what to do. i just cry. its so easy to cry. i cry at least 3-5 hrs daily. what i dont understand is that if my hormones r balanced now…how am i still pco?and how am i still going thru all this depression.
Dear Missy,
I am so glad you found our blog and decided to write in! We understand how frustrating and depressing it can be to struggle with PCOS and infertility. You are not alone in this, we hear from many women who face
this struggle just as you do, but we want you to know that there is hope and things can get better.
Many women with PCOS may find themselves more anxious or depressed by their appearance or their inability to become pregnant. These mood disorders can also be caused by underlying hormone problems. Managing your
PCOS symptoms may help to relieve depression and anxiety, though this is not proven in research studies.
You would probably be surprised to know how many people there are just like you, people who are depressed, overwhelmed, and struggle to cope with
their lives. Maybe it would help to talk to other women with PCOS or depression? Here are some websites where you can link up with other women talking about depression:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/OnlineSupport.html
http://support4hope.com/discus/index.html
And here are some links to support forums relating to PCOS:
http://www.pcosupport.org/forums/index.php
http://www.soulcysters.com
As far as your hormones, “balancing” hormones is a very delicate process. The endocrine system is one of the most sensitive in the body, responding to the most miniscule chemical changes in environment.
Oftentimes, lab testing fails to identify hormone imbalances because the range of “normal” is so wide. This is where the individualization factor comes in- some women feel great when their hormones are in the very lowest levels of the range others feel terrible. It is a process that is very specific to the individual.
Additionally, there are other aspects to hormone balance than just your sex hormones. Insulin is also a hormone. Insulin resistance is believed to be the underlying cause of PCOS. The fact that you are taking glucophage indicates that you may have an issue with blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance.
Glucophage is not a drug for PCOS. It prevents your liver from manufacturing glucose when you are in between meals and when you are asleep at night. This drug is used to slow your own body’s secretion of blood sugar which decreases your pancreas’ secretion of insulin. Once someone goes off this drug, if they have not changed their lifestyle, the will return to where they started.
Do you also struggle with your weight? Do you have a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome? Have you ever had your fasting insulin levels checked?
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.
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 long-term consequences of PCOS and its underlying cause, Insulin Resistance, can be quite severe. Insulin Resistance is a serious condition
and unfortunately is not widely recognized in allopathic (western medicine) as such. Insulin Resistance is the primary cause of the following
disorders and diseases: heart disease, diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovarian syndrome, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and elevated
cholesterol levels. If you have been diagnosed with Insulin Resistance reversal of the condition is recommended.
Have you ever had your thyroid checked? Hypothyroidism is increasingly prevalent in society today and I 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.
I found one study on rats that showed the thyroid gland has a direct effect on the hormone
receptors on the ovaries. Depression and difficulty losing weight are also a symptom of hypothyroidism. As a naturopathic doctor, I believe in looking at the body as a whole in trying to understand the cause of
disease.
Last, please remember that there is no one picture of PCOS. PCOS can be quite serious in some women and less in others. PCOS is a syndrome with a myriad of bodily systems affected. Not every woman will have every symptom. For example, 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.
Try to be gentle with yourself, treating PCOS takes persistence rather than will power.
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. We are here to help out.
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 went to my doctor for over a year and yesterday just found out i have pcos. im only 16 and feel so depressed i dont know what to do! i cant stop crying and feel so selfish cos i know its not life threatning or anything but iv always wanted kids and my face is scarred from the acne so i always have to pile on the makeup im just fed up of it all. im now on a strict diet even tho im not overweight and all my friends can lead “normal” lifestyles its just not fair !!!!:(
Dear Adriana,
Also, you are not being selfish because you are upset about how this is affecting you currently and what may become complications for you later. Please know that a diagnosis of PCOS does not mean that you will never have children. There are many women who have been able to conceive.Also, every women has a symptom or two that they are so frustrated with and think that “if only I could change this it wouldn’t be so bad…” for some it is excess weight, for some it is having thinning hair, for others it is problems conceiving, and as it is for you right now, many have a difficult time with the effects it can have on your skin. It can change and it is important that when you do get acne that you keep your face clean, don’t touch it or attempt to pick at it. This can increase scarring. The scars may also change and decrease over time and keep in mind that there are skin treatments that can reduce scarring from acne if you felt it would be helpful to you.
If it is possible for you, be sure that you are using make-up that is appropriate for your skin and will not contribute to the acne. You may want to see a dermatologist, if you have not already or a person that understands the way PCOS can affect the skin and how to put together a program that is best for you. But I can say that one way to help you look healthy on the inside and out is the proper food choices.So, you are already taking charge and helping yourself by making dietary changes. I always tell the women I work with that diet and exercise are two of the most important factors in helping to control how you are affected by PCOS. Even though you are lean, you still need to be aware that your body is going to react a bit differently to the food you eat. You are right, it doesn’t seem fair.I was not sure if you were visiting our website or just found our PCOS Support blog independently, but if you are interested in an addressing the PCOS in addition to the dietary changes you are making, please go to http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/
I would recommend that you go through this with a parent or guardian and see if this is an option for you. We do have young women using the Insulite PCOS System.If you would like to become involved in a support group to talk to other women with PCOS, there are a few resources I can direct you to via our website. Check out the following link for more information: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.phpI hope this helps you Adriana. There are many women in the PCOS community that are always happy to share the information they have, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them for help. Let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
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.
i had been having 3-4 periods a month since i was 9 and i wasnt diagnosed with pcos till i was 14, even though my doctor did an ultra sound and found several cysts in my ovaries. its tough, if the doctor had diagnosed it earlier i wonder if i would have had bad acne, or facial hair. im 16 now, and i sometimes feel so miserable when it comes to pcos. i have bad acne scars, i have abnormal facial hair, and i cant seem to control my emotion, or my periods. and i dont want to talk to my friends about it, i feel bad complaining about something like this. it’s not life and death, but it still hurts. its sad to be told by my doctor that i wont be able to have kids, im at risk for cancer and diabetes, im only 16, i dont want to deal with it. any advice?
Dear Rab,
Thank you for writing in. I am sorry to hear how you have been affected by PCOS. I know that dealing with this from such an early age can be difficult.
I hope that I can provide useful information for you. First, what I would recommend is to check out some of the support sites for women with PCOS. The community of women is very helpful and supportive. In my experience and from what I have been told from other women, it helps to share with someone that understands what you are going through; often that is another women with PCOS. Check out the following link for more information: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
I know you do not want to deal with any of this, but unfortunately not dealing with it will not make it better. In fact, now is a great time to start to make changes to become a healthier you. You can take steps to reduce the symptoms you have and lessen your risk of developing other conditions in the future. You already know that you are at increased risk of developing diabetes but that does not have to happen and certainly does not happen to all women with PCOS.
There is some research that shows an increase in cancer in women with PCOS. The strongest link between a 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 often the reason why if you have not had your period for a prolonged period of time and that your doctor my recommend progesterone (Provera) to stimulate your period. On the other side of that, progesterone can be used to stop frequent bleeding.
Now in your case, with having much more frequent periods, your risks for cancer may be different. However, with the frequency of your periods, iron deficiency anemia would be a concern. Has your doctor screened for this? If you are deficient, this low iron level can also contribute to bleeding. (You would think that the opposite would be true.)
I also wanted you to know that there are many women with PCOS that have children. Yes, PCOS is a cause of infertility, however that does not mean it will be your experience.
There are risks and I know that dealing with the symptoms, such as acne, excess facial hair, emotions, etc. is not easy. I would encourage you, if you have not already, to start with changes in nutrition and exercise. These are important and will always be important.
I do not know if you are using any medications to reduce your symptoms but if you are interested in an approach that addresses PCOS by treating the cause, insulin resistance, you and your parents can look into the Insulite PCOS System.
I hope that you choose to use some sort of support. It is a lot to go through by yourself and can be scary. Remember that even though this is not immediately life threatening, the risks are real and very important.
There are many women with PCOS that lead healthy lives and have made positive changes that continue to help keep them healthy.
I hope that this was 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.
I got my first period when I was 9 years old, which is young, and very periods after that, like maybe once or twice a year. The hard part was that I never knew when it would start. The only clue was the awful cramping and pain the week before. Also, I would feel so anxious, moody, depressed to the point of suicidal just about every time. It was horrible. I also got severe acne, gained weight, and got really hairy and smelly. It was a nighmare that continued until I turned 17, when I went on the pill. At first I went crazy, then it settled down a bit and my acne and smelliness got better. The hairiness remnained and was a constant job to look normal. I developed several eating disorders to try to lose weight and it worked but I felt sick all the time and was always thinking of food and weight. Age 25 I was no longer staqrving myself and throwing up to lose weight, and went off the birth control pill – and gained 100 pounds in 6 months. I was not doing anything different, but the pounds just kept coming although I worked out 6 days a week at the gym. A few years later I became severely depressed and could not work for about a year. I had not energy, crying most of the day, severe migraines, had suicidal thoughts, it was the lowest I have ever felt in my life. After group and individual therapy and starting on Celexa I began to recover. I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 27 – after nearly 2 decades of just feeling like a total freak. Saw and endo and she put me on Spironolactone, Metformin, and Alesse. I then lost 80 pounds in 6 months, and felt way better. A year later I had gained back 40 pounds even though I exercised a lot at the gym. My boyfriend dumped me because he was no longer attractive to him, and, from depression and frustration I do not exercise as much and have am now at my highest weight ever. PCOS is so frustrating it makes me want to scream. People do not understand – they think I just pig out all the time, and that is why I am so fat. It really hurts when people make assumptions like that. One or two good things – The Spiro controls my body hair very well, and Diane-35 and Celexa help with the moods and pain. I just wish someone would come up with a cure for this awful condition because it can greatly diminish your quality or life and self-esteem. My heart goes out to all the women suffering from this illness. Just remember that you are not alone, so don’t give up!
Dear Annie,
I am so glad you found our blog! Your message of support even in the face
of your own struggles is inspiring. We understand how challenging it can
be to deal with the social complications of PCOS. The social stigmas
associated with many of the outward symptoms of PCOS can be very painful
to deal with day in and day out. And it is completely understandable to
have feelings of depression, helplessness, and despair, but there is hope
and things can change!
As you may have read about on our website, http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, the
underlying cause of PCOS is believed 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 (masculinizing hormones).
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. Unfortunately, people who have insulin resistance have a very
difficult time losing weight, as you have experienced.
I understand that you would like to see more 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 60-80 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.
Another trick is to increase your exercise by 15 minutes per day on the days that you
exercise. 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. You may also want to take a look at
the Insulite PCOS System to help as well.
The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity with its
combination of nutrients and herbs as well as a support program, addiction
awareness, and diet and exercise guidelines. The supplements are also
designed to correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS and to help improve the
symptoms of PCOS. 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 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.
I was diagnosed with PCOS yesterday and I didn’t really think it was that big of a deal until reading about it. I am not over weight, I have the right BMI however I have always wanted to lose weight. I’m 5 ft 6 and a size 12. I have tried to lose weight for five years (Im only 16, so thats since I was 11) and I’ve never lost anything. I’m scared. I smell, I have body hair, I get headaches and I cannot lose weight. I get strong feelings of depression often. I just want to feel normal.
Dear Hannah,
My apologies to you for the delay in posting a response to your email. We have had a computer problem, hence the delay.
Below is a response from Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell.
Please accept our apologies and know that we are here for you to offer support and advice.
Sincerely,
Catherine L, Editor, PCOS Support Blog
Dear Hannah,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I am so sorry to hear about the struggles you have had in dealing with the symptoms of PCOS. It sounds like you are going through a lot right now. I am glad that you are reaching out for support. Things can get better.
From what you have told me, it sounds like you have many of the symptoms that women with PCOS have. While the symptoms of PCOS can vary from woman to woman, there are some that seem to be more common. Among those are irregular menstrual cycles (ranging from absent to heavy periods), depression and anxiety, tiredness, facial hair, thinning hair on the head, mood swings, weight gain, acne, and infertility.
I do want to give you hope because, like I said, things can get better for you. The key is to address the cause of the symptoms rather than to just treat symptoms individually. With PCOS there does seem to be an underlying cause that, unfortunately often goes untreated. This cause is insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which means insulin stays in the blood longer than it is supposed to. This leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other masculinizing hormones.
In addition, a woman’s ovaries may also fail to produce hormones adequately, leading to menstrual irregularities. Women may also develop cysts on their ovaries due to the increased insulin levels. This combination certainly makes it more difficult for a woman to become pregnant when she is ready. The weight gain associated with PCOS is also directly related to the insulin resistance.
Most of the medications for PCOS are, unfortunately, aimed at suppressing the symptoms and not treating the cause. The problem with this is that you have to continue taking the medications to control the symptoms (if it works). However, once you go off the medication, the symptoms come right back because the cause of PCOS was left untreated.
Hannah, I think it’s so great that you are being very proactive in finding out what can help you feel better. Addressing the underlying insulin resistance and hormone imbalance is essential in achieving this goal and in preventing the long-term complications associated with PCOS, like diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and more. I would recommend that you consider trying the Insulite PCOS System. The Insulite PCOS System helps to improve insulin sensitivity, correct the hormone imbalance of PCOS, and promote healthy weight loss with its combination of nutrients and herbs, diet and exercise guidelines, and support. You can read more about it at
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com
I do want you know that you are not alone in this. There is a large community of women, including many teenagers, just as you are, who are looking for answers and support. If you are interested in some support groups, try
http://www.soulcysters.com
They have an online community that you may find helpful.
If there is any other support that I can provide, please let me know.
–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell, 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.
After reading the entries…I feel more gloom than hope. I am 25 and was diagnosed at 18. I went to my general physician when I was 16 and she told me that I was underweight and that was why my periods were not regular…I was 5’10 and 135 at the time, but just extremely active and very attractive. So for years I just thought it was me!!!
It was not until I went to see a OBGYN that she dianosed my issue at 18. At that time I felt more happy than anything, because it explained a lot and I knew things weren’t just in my head.
Right now I am really concerned about having a baby. I have been proposed two twice and do not want to settle down and commit because I am worried that I will not be able to have kids. I don’t want to ultimately get divorced, because of the possibility I can not have a child!! That is hard to explain to a man that wants a family. I don’t want to tell my current boyfriend about my issue because I am too embarrassed.
All my life I have done everything I can to maintain my feminity, despite the hair issue. I get laser hair treatment …and that all in itself is quite embarrassing. I also watch what I eat and am an avid runner. Sometimes I do get down on myself, because I feel so manly …lol
I feel for everyone who is having issues. Having this sucks!! On the upside…I have become a more compassionate person towards others. I know ultimately looks will fade and it makes me push myself to be the best that I can regardless of my exterior. I have been extremely motivated and try to be active so I don’t get down on myself. Life is too sweet to spend it wishing things were different. This is who I am and I think God made me like this to realize things that I otherwise would not have if it wasn’t for having PCOS.
Hi there,
Very sorry to hear the blog entries you read are making you blue. Please have a look at the responses from our Advisory & Consulting team and you’ll see the recommendations they are making and the hope that they convey to women who are struggling with PCOS.
Your email has been forwarded to the team for response and should be posted in a few days. In the meantime, please know that you are not alone; the PCOS community is huge, universal and extremely supportive.
Additionally, please have a look at the following link where women with PCOS have written in about their positive results on the Insulite PCOS System:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Testimonials.php
We support you for learning from your situation and becoming more compassionate toward others.
Please keep up the positive thoughts and know that there is help and advice heading your way.
Catherine Lord, PCOS Support Blog Editor
I am so glad you found our blog! We hear from many women with PCOS who struggle to become pregnant, but we also hear from many women who have conceived and given birth to healthy beautiful babies even in the face of PCOS. You may be interested to read some of the testimonials related to this on our website. Thanks for writing in!
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 to study that was done with lean women who have a history
of PCOS:
http://www.insidepcos.com:80/articles/612/1/Lean-Women-with-Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-Respond-to-Insulin-Reduction.html.
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.
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 It is certainly possible to conceive even if you do have PCOS. PCOS doesn’t necessarily completely negate the possibility of biological children. There are things you can do to assess your potential ability to conceive (i.e. if you are ovulating or not) at home.
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 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. Or even if you just need an understanding ear and some support.
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 glad I had a chance to read your message, if you have more vein thearpy information elsewhere let me know or post it here.
Depression associated with PCOS can also be due to the symptoms associated with it…
I think persistent cystic acne, infertility etc.. can cause anyone to be depressed.
Priya, thanks for writing in. You are so right. Tell us about your blog, please.
hey everyone..
this is a great way to share and get benifit…
i’m 24, been having irregular periods since i can recall… was diagnosed with PCOS recently…
but i don’t really have all the symptoms everyone’s talking abt.. i’m 5’5, 145… i don’t look overweight but my doc said i should reach 121 ASAP..
as a teenager i never had acne… i started having it at the age of 21… but it is much less now…
my facial hair isn’t much… a bit over the regular though…
in general, i do have a few mood swings… they happen more at certain days..
i cry easily all the time…
my testosterone levels were normal… i just had a disorder in the rate of LH over FSH..
now i’m engaged… my doc has told me that i am fertile… that i may face troubles getting pregnant but it can happen after all..
she said the golden years to get pregnant are 20-30… above that i’ll have a lesser chance…
now, i wanna know is that true? will i have troubles in pregnancy? am i really that overweight?
How do they diagnose PCOS after all?
Dear Zain,
Thanks for writing in to our PCOS Support Blog.
At a weight of 145 you’re in the pocket of being considered on the edge of being overweight. Dropping to 121 would put you in the middle of ‘normal’ weight.
I am 5’5” and I really don’t look at all healthy at 121, so you need to consider your frame and muscle mass when you think about how low to go in weight. There are lots of BMI calculators online, check one out.
Not everyone has the same symptoms with PCOS. The consensus for a diagnosis however is that a woman has 2 out of the 3 following symptoms: cysts on her ovaries, signs of hyperandrogenism (excess hair, acne), and scanty or absent menses.
In most cases Insulin resistance appears to be the underlying cause of PCOS.
Some ways to know if you are insulin resistant are to see if your Triglycerides are over 150, HDL is under 50, and if your fasting insulin is above 9. Any of these could point to Insulin Resistance.
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 to study that was done with lean women who have a history of PCOS:
http://www.insidepcos.com:80/articles/612/1/Lean-Women-with-Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-Respond-to-Insulin-Reduction.html
I hope this is helpful. Feel free to write in again.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Apryl Krause, ND
Insulite 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.
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
Hello, new to this so I would like so talk about what is wrong with me.
I am almost 31 and i’m 5ft 10in and weigh 350. Yes, i know im over weight but have been since child hood. I was diagnosed with pcos 2 weeks ago. I had a tubal pregnancy 3 years ago which caused my tube to burst and had to had it removed so now i only have 1. I have been trying since 23 to get pregnant and had no luck until the tubal, which was blocked and caused the egg not to drop properly. As far as I know, the tubal was the first and didnt know i was pregnant until tube burst. After the tubal, I had irregular periods and sometimes no periods. Went to dr after dr and had no results nor diagnoses for the irregular periods, but all said the same thing, “your over weight and thats most likely the problem and causing you not to ovulate so thats why you cant to conceive”. Finally, 5 months ago, I got a great doctor that is doing and willing to try everything so I can have a baby. I have been with my husband for 5 years and we both are wanting a child. He was tested to make sure he was ok and he’s 100%, so the doctor went back to me and ran more tests. I have had irregular periods that lasted 2-3 weeks that was old blood as he called it, and then no periods at all for the past 3 years. On 5/5/2010, I got a d&c done and hoped i would have a normal period..huh..no luck, i didnt even have one! Went back to see doc 2 weeks after d&c for follow-up then 3 weeks later since I didn’t have a period yet so he did some blood tests. 2 weeks ago, he called me in and told me that it was pcos. Today, he gave me metformin and provera. He said this should start me off in the right direction and hopefully regulate my periods. Recently, in the past year or so, I have noticed my hair thinning in the front of my scalp and facial hair that wasnt there before. I also have dry flakey patches on face, forehead and edge of scalp that has been there for about a year. I dont know much about pcos, but was wondering if the dry, flakey, patches of skin, hair lose, and facial hair caused by pcos? Is anyone else having this problem? I am going bald slowly in the front like a man would? I dont know what to do and am very scared of loosing my hair and embarrased by the patches of dry flaking skin and excessive facial hair. Will it all stop once I take meds or will i loose all my hair and grow a beard? Please someone talk to me and tell me what to do!
Thanks for your time.
Dear Melisa,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and 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 that impact ovulation.
While we cannot promise that you will conceive on our program, we know that theoretically reducing insulin and testosterone will eliminate some obstacles to 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.
Symptoms of PCOS can include excessive weight gain and obesity, irregular, heavy or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, excessive facial or body hair, alopecia (male pattern hair loss), acne, skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive and excess male hormones. If it is indeed PCOS causing the excess facial hair and head hair loss, the Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle in the PCOS+ supplement of the Insulite PCOS System will be very helpful because they help rebalance hormones by helping to remove excess testosterone. I’m not sure if the flaky skin is related to PCOS. You may want to ask your doctor about this or see a dermatologist.
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.
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.
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. 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. The addition of nutrients will help you become more sensitive to your insulin and reduce the symptoms of insulin resistance and 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,
I have just been diagnosed with PCOS and feel so utterly lost and isolated. I only really found out and was diagnosed by accident, I am 32 and up until last August last year I’d been on the pill (tried several different ones but had to keep changing due to mood swings) for 17 years. I started my periods when I was 11, which I thought I was average and have now been told isn’t – its actually considered quite young. I was originally put on the pill at 17 or 18 to help with my periods which were heavy and painful and had become irregular. Whilst not particularly hairy I do have excess hair under my chin and on my legs (around the bikini line – so attractive!) I don’t have a problem with acne but I do have psoriasis. I’m a little overweight weighing 126 lbs at 5ft tall, I’ve managed to lose around 6lbs in the last month or so. My biggest thing is the depression and anxiety, I’m often very tearful without really knowing why and feel very withdrawn. I am married to the most fantastic guy in the world but I’ve never felt so distant and unable to bond with him as I do now. I’m often snappy, irritable, withdrawn and feel very unhappy. I have no libido, none at all and do not want to be touched sexually at all. I don’t understand why I feel like this or what I can do to change the way that I feel. I do take St John’s Wort and have been doing so for some time, which has helpped my moods improve, I also exercise and watch what I eat but still feel awful.
Dear Natasha,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS support blog.
I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and how you are feeling. It can be very confusing and certainly frustrating to understand PCOS and the many ways it can affect a woman’s life.
But there is some great support available and you will find that many women, although they will not have your exact story, will sound familiar and you will be able to get good advice and know you are not alone.
It sounds like you are taking steps with weight loss; that will certainly help to address the underlying problem in PCOS, 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.
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 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 acne, hair growth/loss 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. As you may know, losing weight is not as easy and requires consistency and hard work. But it is all worth it.
You are also not alone in having more depression and anxiety. We hear this very often. Women with PCOS are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, although the reasons for this are not entirely known. These mood disorders can also be caused by hormone problems. Managing your PCOS symptoms may help to relieve depression and anxiety, though this is not proven in research studies.
Here are some references to scientific papers that address anxiety in women:
1. Weiner et al. Androgens and mood dysfunction in women: comparison of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome to healthy controls.
Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):356-62. PMID: 15184695 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2. Elsenbruch et al. Quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5801-7. PMID: 14671172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
3. Mansson et al. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are often depressed or anxious- a case control study.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 33. Issue 8. September, 2008. Pages 1132-1138.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TBX-4T3KTHY-3&_user=10&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2008&_alid=784573320&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=5154&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=1&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=aa0815db354168ee9fd6d36e08a4771e
There is a startling lack of information on this topic, i.e. on the physiological reasons behind this phenomenon. However, I would guess that improving the insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance of PCOS would help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Many women with PCOS also have a low libido. Again, hormones influence this as well as our minute to minute mood changes. Also, since you have some depression, this can also dampen your sex drive. It is also important to understand that this is not your fault and that there are reasons that it may be happening.
Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System, Natasha? I do feel that this would be a great option for you. You can read more at: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/. It is a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing PCOS.
We have not designed the Insulite PCOS System to help specifically with mood swings/depression/anxiety. However, the System is designed to target the underlying cause of PCOS, which theoretically would improve all of the symptoms of PCOS.
In addition, we have had many customers comment that their moods improved when they started using the Insulite PCOS System: increased energy, increased sense of well being, etc.
Lastly, here is a link to other sites that will useful in learning more about PCOS: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php
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.
I’m 18 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. I have tried two different kinds of birth control pills in order to get my periods regular, but I noticed signs of depression while I was on them, so I stopped using both brand. And I am now more depressed then before and I really don’t know what to do. I’ve been feeling bland and empty for the past 5 months and I don’t know what to do.
Dear Paige,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
Anxiety and depression are commonly experienced by women with PCOS- you are not alone in this! 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.
Here are some references to scientific papers that address anxiety in women:
1. Weiner et al. Androgens and mood dysfunction in women: comparison of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome to healthy controls.
Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):356-62. PMID: 15184695 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2. Elsenbruch et al. Quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5801-7. PMID: 14671172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
3. Mansson et al. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are often depressed or anxious- a case control study.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 33. Issue 8. September, 2008. Pages 1132-1138.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TBX-4T3KTHY-3&_user=10&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2008&_alid=784573320&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=5154&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=1&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=aa0815db354168ee9fd6d36e08a4771e
There is a startling lack of information on this topic, i.e. on the physiological reasons behind this phenomenon. However, I would guess that improving the insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance of PCOS would help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
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: 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.
do. I just want to be happy again. Is there anything I can try????
I recently had bloodwork to test for hormones involved with PCOS – testosterone, thyroid, etc. Everything came back normal. I only get my period once about every five months or so, and always very light, only lasting about three or four days. I am 23 and I have facial chin hair and long dark hair growing in a line below my belly button. Terrible acne. Constant bloating. Some signs of depression I guess you could say – I don’t ever get excited or anxious, and don’t really have a good time hanging out with friends or doing things that other people my age love to do. Being that my blood tests came back at normal levels, what could possibly be wrong with me?
Dear Amanda,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
This is a great question and I hope that I can answer it sufficiently for you.
First, you mentioned a couple of tests that were done to determine if PCOS was a possible diagnosis and to also rule out any thyroid issue. You may not have listed everything that was done and there are a couple more that may be more indicative when it comes to PCOS.
First, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, LH, (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), should be included. We can also see changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. Were any of these tests done? Did they do an ultrasound to determine if there are any cysts present on your ovaries?
Next, there are some women for whom the tests will come back within the normal range but they may be on the high or low side of normal and they are interpreted as normal. I have seen this over and over, that when all else has been ruled out, the only option left was PCOS and if the symptoms fit, treating as such can certainly help.
Also, it is important that other conditions that can have similar symptoms be ruled out and it sounds like they did this with the thyroid panel. 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.
Here is some additional information about some of the tests.
- 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.
Your symptoms (irregular periods, acne, excess body hair, depression or mood changes) are certainly not uncommon in PCOS. But I am not sure what the problem is. However, I would discuss your concerns with your doctor or consider a second opinion. Obviously, you are not feeling well and it will be important to figure out what that is so that you can address it.
I hope that this helps a bit. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do to help and let us know what you find out.
–
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 my name is Jade, im 24 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS about 2 years ago. I started having irregular periods when i was 15/16 and was told by my doctor that i was lucky and most women would love not to have regular periods so i thought nothing more of it, the older i got my periods started getting more irregular and now i dont have periods at all, my last period was just under two years ago. We had changed doctor’s in the mean time and when he diagnosed me i never really undersood what it was even now im not 100% sure on it. I suffer with bad acne and scaring i get the odd unusual growth of hair were u wouldn’t usually expect to find it, my perents pay for me to have lazor treatment which does help at times but more often than not my acne stays the same and remains to flare up a lot. I also have recently been told im suffering with depression, i have always been quite and emotional person so of course i really find it hard to deal with this, i have rapid mood swings and find that i mainly take this out on those who are closest to me, i get frustrated that being the only one in the family who has PCOS nobody understands what im going through, i spend most of my days crying and feeling sorry for myself and tend to hide myself away from friends and family, ive been prescribed with anti-depresants but find that none of them work they just made me paranoid. Up until around 2 years ago i had a lovely little figure and was quite a confident person.. now im gaining weight by the week and have no confidence what so ever, i have tried loosing weight but it doesn’t seem to work.. being depressed can make you want to eat more than usual and ive found that nothing ever fills me up.
Im in a relationship with a guy i met about a year and a half ago just after a was diagnosed, he is 26 and has a 3 year old son who at the time was a year old my partner has full custody of his son as his mother has never been around, i thought this was fate and fantastic, of course having no periods at all and suffering with PCOS i have been told im unable to have kids of my own. At first it was great i sometimes forgot he wasn’t mine and he now calls me ‘mummy jade’ which is lovely, i gave up my job to look after him full time while my patner worked, my plan was to raise him as my own and be the mother he has never had and of course the child i guess i will never have. As time went on this gradually got harder and harder for me, as well as putting up with my partners interfering family who thinks im not good enough to be a part of his life i am slowly starting to believe them, i find it hard to love this little boy as my own because lets face it.. he isn’t and never will be, of course one day i want my own children and am scared how i will be in the future towards mason (my partners son). This has been the most hardest thing i have ever had to do and have felt completley alone everyday since.. of course my partner doesnn’t understand and so arguing is becoming a regular part of our lifes. I wish i had the best advice for all of you.. i have been reading your stories all morning, myself and my mother and each one has brought tears to our eyes.I am so happy i have found this site and have found you all who relate to my problams. At pressent i am trying new things each day and hope one day i can keep control of it all. If i can help anyone through this or you feel you can help me my email is, jade.00@hotmail.co.uk i will appreciate it and be happy to help. Dont forget girls.. your not alone, what will be WILL BE!! take care. Jade
Dear Jade,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. I am so glad you found our website.
It is only natural to want to have a child of your own one day. I don’t know what treatments you have tried so far, but you are still young and have time to get control of the PCOS.
Women with PCOS may be able to improve their fertility by losing weight and 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 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.
As far as the depression, 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.
There is a startling lack of information on this topic, i.e. on the physiological reasons behind this phenomenon. However, I would guess that improving the insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance of PCOS would help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
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 Jade,
I read your post and I also wanted to comment.
First, I am so sorry that you continue to suffer. But I am also glad that you chose to share this and I think you will find that you are certainly not alone (like you said for everyone else) and in fact, part of a wonderful community of women that are very supportive. I understand that many women would not choose to be part of the PCOS community, but unfortunately this is where you are right now.
How you are feeling is understandable. You are right that there is a huge lack in understanding on how this not only affects women from a physical aspect but also mental and emotional. But there are reasons for this as well.
PCOS is an endocrine condition that affects hormones. Estrogen, progesterone are often out of balance with each other due to lack of ovulation and regular periods. Also, add in additional testosterone that brings along not only unwanted acne, hair growth, and can contribute even further to anger or mood changes.
There are other hormones related as well. But I think you get my point in that there are things that are going on that make it difficult for you to have control of how you are feeling.
I would recommend that if possible you consider counseling. This can be very effective in helping you to talk through your feelings and how you are being affected by what is happening in your life. I also feel that any time we are using anti-depressants we should be learning tools that will allow us to discontinue use of the medication.
However, I do know that you mentioned that you are not using them due to lack of effect.
PCOS is a confusing and a complicated condition. Many want to simplify it by telling women to use a drug to regulate periods, or just lose weight (as if it was easy). When I hear that women are told to stop eating so much or not be lazy, I believe that the doctor does not understand the condition.
As you have found, it becomes a vicious cycle… weight gain, mood changes, lack of energy, depression, increased cravings for foods that temporarily make you feel good (comfort foods), weight gain…. It is hard to break but I do believe that you can do it. It will take time and taking small steps to make appropriate changes to support your goals will be useful. You have to be patient with the process.
I would also like to add that if having PCOS is the reason why you were told you would not be able to have children, I do not 100% agree with this. There are many women who have children and many others that have gone on to have successful pregnancies. I do not know what will be the case for you but I would not give up. There are many ways to help, if needed.
Jade, I hope that you are considering using the Insulite PCOS System as I feel it can be a good place to start to help you with what you are dealing with.
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.
Hi, I’m Jade and I’m 20. I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years ago. I have large amount of scared tissues on each ovary. I have depression, mood swings, hot flashes, OCD compulsions, anemia, hypothyroidism, my hair falls out, sever pains in my *regions* and darkened skin in some areas. My last doctor hasn’t done much to help me.The pill and levothyroxine was the only thign she gave me. Since then, I haven’t been to the doctor due to insurance issues. Now that I will be on it again, I hope to see another doctor in the city. Dealing with all of this is stressfull on both me and my partner. My mood swings and lack of a sex drive makes her angry, though she tries not to be, knowing it’s not my fault. How do you deal with all of this?
xxxxxx
Dear Jade,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.
You are not alone in noticing that PCOS may have something to do with your moods. Women with PCOS are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, although the reasons for this are not entirely known.
Many women with PCOS may find themselves more anxious or depressed by their appearance or their inability to become pregnant. These mood disorders can also be caused by hormone problems. Managing your PCOS symptoms may help to relieve depression and anxiety, though this is not proven in research studies.
We have not designed the Insulite PCOS System to help specifically with mood swings. However, the System is designed to target the underlying cause of PCOS, which theoretically would improve all of the symptoms of PCOS.
In addition, we have had many customers comment that their moods improved when they started using the System: increased energy, increased sense of well being, etc. I don’t know how this would translate for someone with anxiety and depression, but I must say that I am hopeful it would have a positive effect. At the very least, I don’t anticipate the Insulite PCOS System would worsen your mood swings.
The low libido 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).
Your hypothyroidism can cause many of the same symptoms as PCOS does, so it’s important to make sure you are re-testing your thyroid hormone levels and are on the right dose and type of thyroid hormone.
If you would be interested in working with a Naturopathic Doctor, a physician who specializes in alternative medicine, go to HYPERLINK “http://www.naturopathic.org” http://www.naturopathic.org and do the “Find an ND” search located on the opening page. You would want to look for an ND with some expertise in women’s medicine.
The benefit of working with an ND is that they work holistically, treating the whole person, and address nutritional needs. This is important in a disease like PCOS, which responds well to lifestyle changes.
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’m almost 19, was diagnosed at 16 and have been going through hell ever since. The pain is excruciating and all the complications are horrid. Before I was diagnosed I was 123 pounds just in these past few years I’ve gained almost 200 pounds and I only eat once a day and I exercise a lot. That is what makes me depressed, knowing that I was nice and thin and finally confident and then getting this diagnosis and always feeling like a gigantic blimp.
Dear Theresa,
Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.
I am sorry that you are struggling to manage the effects and symptoms of PCOS. We really do understand how frustrating and scary this can be for women. As you mentioned, the changes that can happen have an huge impact on how we interact with the world.
There are approaches to PCOS that support a healthy lifestyle and changes to promote weight loss as well as addressing the underlying cause and hormone imbalances seen in PCOS.
One thing that caught my eye from your post was that you are only eating once a day. I understand that eating more often may make you feel as if more weight is coming on but eating once a day can actually make it more difficult to lose weight.
Eating once a day will slow your metabolism as your body knows that there will not be regular food intake. With PCOS, your body is very efficient at storing energy and skipping meals can worsen this effect.
I would recommend eating more regularly but when you do, focus on reducing carbohydrate intake. The Insulite PCOS System is a very comprehensive approach to PCOS. Our nutrition guidelines recommend reduction of carbohydrates to about 60-80 grams a day, from all food sources. We also have exercise recommendations. The exercise you are doing is helping, even though it doesn’t seem like it right now. But please keep it up. To round out our approach we have a combination of supplements that are also focused on PCOS, hormone imbalance, insulin resistance.
Here is a link to our website for more information:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/.
Lastly, there is some great support that we offer. Not only do we have the blog that you wrote into but we also have a forum, where many women post asking questions, reaching out, etc.:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php
You are not alone and we are here to support you, Theresa. Please let us know how 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.