Dietary tips for managing PCOS

Just please don't go smoking while you're on D.🙂

Because I deal with glucose intolerance—which was confirmed through a simple screening—my blood sugar tends to spike, and in my experience, that inevitably triggers intense sugar cravings.
Some experts believe this metabolic instability might actually be at the root of PCOS. Lately, endocrinologists have been pairing oral contraceptives with Metformin, and honestly, in my case, that combination has worked wonders.
I’ve tried just about everything else, though nothing really made an impact once I stopped taking things like Diane.
This time around, my cycle is arriving right on schedule, whereas previously it had skipped several times entirely.
Even though I experienced some sudden weight gain—about 18 pounds, which was accompanied by a surprisingly small appetite since I refuse to let processed chemicals dictate my hunger, because I believe having a strong character matters more than following food trends👎—I haven't actually looked "heavy," especially considering my thyroid levels aren't quite where they should be either, which can definitely complicate matters.
Doctors tell me I'll likely need to go back on the pill eventually.
On the bright side, regular exercise is fantastic for improving ovarian circulation.
It is interesting to note that in PCOS, we aren't actually talking about true cysts; rather, they are follicles, making the ovaries look somewhat like a string of pearls—that's a common description in medical literature, though I actually have a photo of mine to show you.
(I suppose diamonds are a woman's best friend, while pearls can sometimes feel like enemies🙄).

coppernomad7 said:I started on birth control back before I was even 15, which looking back, feels like such a massive mistake.
But I’ve had long breaks, sometimes up to a year at a time.
When I'm actually on the pill, everything seems fine—ultrasounds come back clear, everything is balanced—but the second I stop, the chaos starts. First, my cycle stretches out way too long, and then after a few months of periods, they just vanish entirely. I end up waiting six months or more without anything happening. Usually, during that nerve-wracking waiting game, I get so stressed out that I just give in and go back on the pill. It's this endless, exhausting loop.
So, now I've decided that while I'm still on them, I'm going to drop some extra weight and do a deep dive into herbal teas that might help, so I can try a different approach.
Honestly, I don't think there's a real cure for PCOS; the pills just mask the symptoms and keep things under wraps, but once you quit, everything just reverts to the old ways.👎

By the way, I've been on Diane for five months now (starting my sixth cycle soon) after a long break, and before that break, I was on Yasmin for a while.

I was on Cilest for about a year, and immediately after finishing that pack, I went in for an ultrasound and the cysts were still right there. 🙄
Plus, hormones just don't play nice with my body... at all. Now I'm giving Diane a shot. I finished the first pack and I'm currently on my break. My skin has never looked worse, and don't even get me started on the appetite! My endocrinologist told me I should take them for three months. I honestly don't know if that's even enough time to see any kind of shift. He just told me to monitor how I'm feeling.

And yeah, there's no magic fix. You just have to try to keep your weight in a normal range (or better yet, an ideal one) and commit to a healthy lifestyle. Other than that, there's nothing else...

Amanda Thomas86 said:I've got PCOS too, and I've managed to pack on about 10 or 15 pounds. I've been on Diane for maybe eight months now. Right now, I'm sticking to a diet and trying to hit the elliptical every single day—fingers crossed I actually see some progress.

Look, I was hitting the elliptical every day for about two months and watching what I ate (nothing crazy, just eating cleaner and sticking to yogurt and granola for dinner), and let me tell you, the results were totally visible. Unfortunately, I completely lost my momentum and didn't have anything pushing me to keep it up. You’ve just gotta force yourself to get moving daily and watch your food intake. Just don't go expecting miracles in the first month.😬
I'm desperately looking for some kind of spark, but honestly, this time around, I just have zero motivation to even get off the couch... 😳

Good grief, reading you people makes me want to go light a prayer candle just to find some peace.

Lisa Barrett22 said:I was on Cilest for about a year, and right after finishing that pack, I went in for an ultrasound and everything still looks totally clear. 🙄
Mind you, my hormone levels aren't great either... So now I’m going to give Dianamam5 a shot. I just finished the first pack and I'm on my break right now. My skin has honestly never looked worse, and don't even get me started on my appetite! My endocrinologist told me I should stay on them for three months. I guess I'm not sure if that's actually enough time to see any real movement. He just told me to keep a close eye on how I'm feeling.

And yeah, there isn't really a magic cure. It's mostly just trying to keep my weight in a healthy range—or maybe an ideal range, if we're being picky—and pivoting toward a healthier lifestyle. Other than that, nothing...

Dianamam5 is actually amazing for acne, though you really have to be patient. Don't expect your skin to magically clear up in a month or two, but things should start looking better after the third cycle.
The downside is definitely that fear of stopping the pills just because your skin clears up, but honestly, I figure once the weather gets warmer and we get more sun—and swimming season is right around the corner—that usually helps my skin issues a ton.
For me, tanning beds were actually a huge help; if you aren't strictly against them, maybe try hitting one a few times and you might see some improvement.
As for PCOS, I'm not sure what to tell you. I barely even realized I had it myself because I spent so much time on birth control, and when I'm on it, my ovaries look absolutely perfect on an ultrasound.

coppernomad7 said:Diane is amazing for acne, you just have to be patient. Don't expect your skin to clear up in a month or two, but once you hit that third cycle, things should really start looking up.
My biggest fear is actually stopping the Diane pills just because of my skin, but honestly, I figure since the weather is getting warmer and there's more sun—plus swimming season is right around the corner—that should naturally help my skin issues big time.
Even hitting up a tanning bed used to be a total lifesaver for me; if you aren't strictly against tanning, try going a few times and you'll probably see an improvement.
As for PCOS, I'm not even sure what to tell you. It took me forever to realize I even had it, mostly because being on the pill makes everything look totally perfect on an ultrasound.

I’m just hoping they leave me on the Diane for at least six months.

I honestly have no clue how long it'll take to see any real changes regarding my hormones. And obviously, I want all these side effects to disappear, too. Three months definitely doesn't feel like enough time...👎

Maybe I'll hit a tanning salon a couple of times before summer hits, and then I'll spend the whole summer down by the coast where it feels like a miracle—my period actually shows up regularly there! But as soon as I get back home to New York, it's gone again! Maybe it's just time for me to move! 😁

Lisa Barrett22 said:I’m really hoping they’ll let me stay on Diane for at least six months.

I honestly have no clue how long it actually takes to see a difference with my hormones. And obviously, I need all these side effects to finally clear up. I just feel like three months isn't going to be nearly enough...👎

I usually hit the tanning salon a few times before summer hits, and then I spend the whole season down at the beach, and somehow, miraculously, my period comes in perfectly while I'm there! But as soon as I get back home to Chicago, it just disappears again. Maybe it’s finally time to pack up and move! 😁

haha, maybe it really is time for a change of scenery🙂
I don't want to rain on your parade, but I seriously doubt Diane is going to totally fix the PCOS issue—just like I know it hasn't fixed mine and probably won't either. Still, taking them for only three months seems kind of pointless. If I were you, I'd stick with it for at least another three (which would take us right up to summer😉 ) and then decide what your next move is.
Personally, I think I might try experimenting with herbal teas since my syndrome doesn't seem quite as severe; apparently one of my ovaries is working just fine (or so my OB-GYN told me).
Now I'm just torn between finding some really experienced herbalist to guide me or just buying stuff myself and playing chemist with different blends until I find the magic combo.....

Jamie Johnson6 said:Basically, endocrinologists have been prescribing Metformin along with the pill lately... and honestly, in my case, it actually worked.

So, were you taking the Metformin alongside birth control, or just the Metformin by itself? How long did it take before your cycle finally leveled out? Are you actually ovulating now? And did you ever bother doing a glucose tolerance test before you started the Metformin?
Also, did you put on any weight while you were on it, or was that before? I’ve heard from a few people that girls usually lose a couple of pounds right when they start taking Metformin 😕?
Anyone else here have experience dealing with Metformin?

Kimberly Chase54 said:Were you taking Metformin alongside birth control, or just the Metformin on its own? I'm curious how long it took for your cycle to regulate, and if you've been ovulating lately. Also, did you have an OGTT done before you started the medication?
Did you notice any weight gain while you were on Metformin, or was that happening beforehand? I had always heard that most women actually lose a few pounds when they first start taking it😕?
Does anyone else here have experience using Metformin?

When you take Metformin, you're generally supposed to lose weight because it helps suppress those intense hunger pangs,
but I suppose I didn't quite follow my own advice, as I ended up gaining a bit more😬(that's entirely on me)
My regimen was one Metformin tablet daily—half in the morning and half at night—combined with Cilest.
I had both an OGTT and a glucose profile done through HBalc (I'd already completed the OGTT before starting the Metformin).

After about six months, I decided to stop everything, and my lab results have improved significantly; my SHBG used to be hitting the upper limit, but now it's sitting right at the lower end, which isn't perfect, but it's progress.
Things are finally moving in the right direction (just😬 ). It’s been a long three-year journey through all of this.
As for ovulation? Honestly, I have no idea.
How long will I need to stay on this?
I really can't say; my medicine cabinet is overflowing with various pills, and I haven't even been keeping up with my vitamins.
Besides, there isn't enough going on in my sex life to justify staying on birth control.

coppernomad7 said:haha, maybe it really is time for a move🙂
I don't want to rain on your parade, but I seriously doubt Diane is going to fix your PCOS. Honestly, I know they aren't fixing mine either. Taking them for just three months is kind of pointless—you should probably stick with them for at least another three (so you're set through the summer😉 ) before you decide what your next move is.
Personally, I’m actually going to give herbal teas a shot since it seems like my syndrome isn't quite as severe; my gynecologist told me one of my ovaries is actually functioning perfectly fine.
Now I’m just stuck wondering if I should track down an old-school herbalist or just start buying and experimenting with different blends myself until I hit the jackpot...

My gynecologist and dermatologist both told me straight up that there’s no "cure" for this, only management, so I've basically accepted my fate. 😬
Since I'm dealing with hormonal imbalances too, I've got a whole host of other issues, so getting that part under control is my top priority right now. 👎

Wait, what do you mean one is working fine? Like, you only have cysts on one side? I've got them on both. 😢

Seriously, tell me more about which teas you're looking into. It definitely can't hurt to try! 😉

Jamie Johnson6, thanks for the heads-up! 😘

Kimberly Chase54 said:Jamie Johnson6 😘 thanks you for sharing those details.

You're very welcome.🙂 I've actually come across quite a few articles on American medical websites discussing the link between PCOS and metformin. Regarding ovulation, I recall reading that some women found it really helpful in managing infertility issues, which I think suggests it can be quite effective.

Lisa Barrett22 said:My OBGYN and dermatologist told me straight up right away that there’s no real cure—you just have to manage it—so I guess I’ve just accepted my fate. 😬
Since I'm dealing with some hormonal imbalances too, I’ve got other issues on my plate, which makes fixing this one even more of a priority for me. 👎

Wait, what do you mean by doing things "the right way"? Do you only have cysts on one side? Because I’ve got them on both. 😢

Come on, tell me more about those herbal teas you mentioned. It definitely wouldn't hurt to give them a shot! 😉

Honestly, I haven't a clue; the last time before I started back on Diane, I hadn't had my period for maybe three or four months. I went in for a checkup, and the doctor looking at my ultrasound thought I was actually ovulating and predicted my period would show up in about ten days because she thought one of my ovaries was still functioning normally.
And sure enough, my period arrived exactly when she said it would, but I decided to start taking Diane anyway because having my cycle happen once every three months just wasn't an option for me.
I don't know much about those teas yet, though. I'm planning to dive deep into researching them over the next few days. I did come across some stuff in herbalism books about calendula, chamomile, marigold, and some other tea that I can't quite recall right now. I'm basically just waiting for someone on this thread to expand my botanical knowledge, but if that doesn't happen, I'll just hit up the library or Google. I really feel like nature might have something that comes close to being as effective as the pharmaceutical stuff (like the pill).
I also think a huge part of this is mental—if you believe something will help, whether it's God, some spiritual force, or just a specific tea, it probably will. I've really set my mind on the tea thing lately; I've dropped almost all my extra weight recently, and over this past month, while I'm transitioning off the pill, I've been trying to pivot toward a healthier lifestyle, so we'll see how it goes.
I have a feeling this thread is going to stay pretty active since so many of us are dealing with this exact issue, so it'd be great if we could all swap advice and update each other on what actually works.
In what way are you having hormone issues?
Mine is just that my prolactin levels have been slightly elevated for years now, and I mostly attribute that to the fact that I'm a high-stress kind of person.😬

So, what even is Metamorphan? I’m honestly kind of baffled that I haven't heard of this before—I mean, my doctor didn't even bring it up as a possible treatment option, which is weird, hmmm
Does it come with harsh side effects like typical birth control pills, or is it more on the milder side?

Jamie Johnson6 said:There are tons of articles on American sites about using metformin for PCOS. As far as ovulation goes, I read that it helped some people deal with infertility, so I guess that’s saying something.

Ugh, I know, I know—I've read so much lately that my brain is basically mush from information overload. Honestly, I just want to hear from actual people who've lived through it. My main goal is just getting my ovulation cycles back on track. Weight isn't really an issue for me, so I can't really blame my PCOS on that, but I am super curious about low-carb diets—not even for weight loss, but because of how insulin resistance is linked to PCOS these days. It's a wild thought that maybe I could actually manage my PCOS through what I eat, but honestly, that feels like such a massive undertaking right now since I absolutely live for 😬, and I haven't even done the basic research yet.
So, I think I'll try starting with metformin first, though I definitely have to run it by my doctor before doing anything.

coppernomad7 said:I’m actually wondering what Metformin even is; I can't believe I haven't heard of it before, especially since my doctor didn't even bring it up as a potential treatment option, hmm
Does it have harsh side effects like birth control pills, or is it a bit milder?

It doesn't work anything like birth control does. It's actually a medication for blood sugar management. Are you seeing a general practitioner or an endocrinologist for your prescriptions?
I'd suggest getting all your tests done first, and then deciding on a treatment plan.
To be honest, reading through your post, I'm having a hard time figuring out if you've been diagnosed with PCOS or something else entirely.😕
If it's just your prolactin levels that are elevated, what was the basis for that diagnosis?
Having ovarian cysts isn't the same thing as having PCOS, nor is an irregular cycle by itself.
Prolactin isn't even typically linked to PCOS; instead, you really need to look at the ratio between FSH and LH, along with everything else.
I've tried herbal remedies and teas myself, which aren't bad—they certainly help clear things out—but I'm not entirely sure if they were effective, though perhaps they helped reduce some inflammation.

coppernomad7 said:I honestly think a huge part of this is mental. Believing in something—whether it’s God, some holistic ritual, or just drinking herbal tea—really makes a difference. Personally, I've been hyper-focused on tea lately, and it actually helped me drop quite a few unnecessary pounds. I'm currently in that awkward transition phase where I'm trying to move away from birth control toward a healthier lifestyle, so we'll see how it goes.
I really think this thread is going to stay active because there are so many of us dealing with this exact issue. We might as well use this space to swap advice and report back on what’s actually working for us.
What do you mean when you say you have hormonal issues?
My prolactin levels have been slightly elevated for years now, and I'm convinced it's just because I'm a high-stress person. That's just how I'm wired.😬

Look, I've always been pretty open to alternative methods. It makes zero sense to spend my entire life tethered to birth control pills. I'm definitely going to look into some of those options too. 😉

As for me, my testosterone and androstenedione levels are nearly double the upper limit! So, if I end up on Dianamam5, it's primarily because of that.

I've decided to tighten up my diet and try to lose about 10 or 15 pounds. That would be ideal. Even back when I was at my heaviest, I wasn't getting my period either.

Jamie Johnson6 said:Just having cysts on your ovaries doesn't mean you have PCOS. Not even an irregular cycle counts as a diagnosis on its own.
And honestly, prolactin isn't even really tied to PCOS—it's more about the FSH and LH levels (specifically their ratio) and all that other stuff.

Oh, please—high prolactin can definitely be linked to PCOS, just like how LH stays high compared to FSH and progesterone ends up being low on day 21 of your cycle.
Look, you're right that just having ovarian cysts doesn't automatically mean you've got PCOS—that's exactly why it's called a *syndrome*, because it covers this whole massive spectrum of different symptoms. Some are super obvious and others are way more subtle, which is why doctors won't just call it without doing an ultrasound and checking your hormone levels first.

coppernomad7 said:I mean, what even is Metformin? I’m honestly surprised I haven't heard a peep about it—not even my doctor brought it up as a potential treatment option, which is weird, right? hmmm
Does it have nasty side effects like birth control does, or is it a bit more chill?

Look, they definitely aren't going to prescribe you Metformin if your weight isn't even an issue. Did you actually go through with that glucose tolerance test yet?