Dietary tips for managing PCOS

mistycyclist14 said:Is it actually true that birth control can help with unwanted hair growth or excessive body hair?

It really depends on how you look at it; while the pill might prevent any new hair from sprouting up, it won't magically make the hair you already have disappear, though something like laser treatment certainly would.

Jamie Johnson6 said:It really depends on how you look at it—new hair won't start growing back, but anything already there isn't just going to vanish because of a pill (though laser treatment can handle that).

Is laser actually worth the money? Does the hair eventually grow back? And if it does, how long does it take?

mistycyclist14 said:Is laser hair removal actually worth the investment? I'm wondering if those new hairs just end up growing back, and if they do, how soon after the treatment should I expect them to reappear?

If your hormones are acting up, you might find it isn't worth the trouble, but once you get everything balanced out, I think it’s a fantastic move. It certainly isn't cheap depending on your budget, but from a purely aesthetic standpoint, it's definitely a priority for me.😬

Jamie Johnson6 said:Just so we’re all on the same page—since there are actually a few different kinds—people also call it "Lady's Mantle." Honestly, I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, and I’ve even bought some myself, but I just haven't gotten around to brewing it yet. I think I grabbed a blend.

Are Lady's Mantle and that other herb basically the same thing?
If they are, then I guess that's the third tea I was trying to remember.

mistycyclist14 said:We all know that dropping pounds is a massive uphill battle when you're dealing with PCOS, but what about the increased hair growth? I mean, having hair in places that aren't exactly feminine, especially with high testosterone levels from PCOS... how do you actually deal with that besides just constant shaving or waxing?

For me, Diana was the absolute lifesaver for that, and my acne too.
I also had to stay on top of it constantly—waxing, using an epilator, you name it—it was basically a full-time job, regardless of whether it was summer or winter.
It was mostly around my bikini area, though I didn't have much going on around my belly button.
Now, the growth isn't nearly as aggressive as it used to be; you can really see the difference. The hair feels lighter and thinner. In the winter, it's almost non-existent (mostly on my legs and thighs); I'll do one session around October or November and I'm pretty much good to go until spring.

coppernomad7 said:is lady's mantle the same thing as St. John's Wort?

nah, St. John's Wort is actually common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
lady's mantle is Alchemilla vulgaris

and I guess you could toss sage onto that list too
sage (Salvia officinalis)

not that I'm trying to be a know-it-all or anything 😬, I just had to Google the St. John's Wort part—but lady's mantle and sage? Yeah, I pretty much know those

Jamie Johnson6 said:If you're taking methmorphine, you're supposed to lose weight (since there's zero appetite)

😬 exactly

Maybe go ahead and double-check the name of the drug first, 😉

Kimberly Chase54 said:nah, St. John's Wort is actually Hypericum perforatum
while Cleavers is Alchemilla vulgaris

and I guess you could toss some Lemon Balm onto that list too
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

and I'm not even trying to be a know-it-all 😬, I just had to Google the St. John's Wort part, but I'm pretty sure about the Cleavers and Lemon Balm

thanks👍

coppernomad7 said:Is verbena and lady's mantle actually the same thing as lady's slipper?
If they are, then that's that third tea blend I just couldn't quite wrap my head around earlier.

I picked some up at a little roadside stand near the entrance to a Walmart, $4.00 just a small bag, though I haven't actually brewed it yet.
Before that, I tried a different herbal blend—something marketed for women's wellness—that didn't have any verbena, but featured calendula along with five or six other herbs. To be honest, it made me feel a bit nauseous; I suspect there might be some nettle in there, which I've never been particularly fond of, even if it does help me out sometimes.

Lisa Gonzalez said:😬 exactly

Maybe take a quick second to double-check the spelling of that medication 😉

I really can't, because I've already finished the bottle and if I go looking now, I'll probably just misread it again.👎
But I am quite certain about the name—it was Aglurab, I'm positive (it was printed in large letters on the label, unlike this tiny fine print here)😬

brisknomad6 said:I had a tumor—well, a dermoid cyst—and just had it surgically removed 😬

I'm not sure how to handle these "regular" ones 😢

PCOS doesn't actually have anything to do with cysts, despite the name. It’s just that the follicles where eggs develop don't mature or rupture, so ovulation doesn't happen—instead, they just pile up in the ovaries, making them look polycystic on an ultrasound (like they're full of tiny bubbles)

Rachel Brooks63 said:People who are overweight find it easier to develop PCOS

Actually, people with insulin resistance are more prone to both PCOS and weight gain. Being overweight doesn't cause PCOS
Also, excess androgen levels lead to androgenic weight distribution (carrying it all in the abdomen)
Which is my situation, even though I'm not overweight

Lisa Barrett22 said:I think that's a diabetes medication, so there's no point in prescribing it to someone with PCOS if their blood sugar is fine.

It does make sense, though. Insulin resistance is a core driver of PCOS, and if left unmanaged, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

PCOS isn't curable—you just manage it—but if you don't, there's a cancer risk.

My symptoms were: excessive hair growth, moderate skin issues, hair thinning, incredibly painful periods (I used to pass out from the pain), anemia, and irregular cycles.

Treatment: three years on Yasmin; my skin cleared up, my hair got stronger, hair growth slowed down, and my weight stayed steady
Now I'm switching things up and running some tests. I've been off meds for three months and it's a nightmare. My scalp is itchy, I'm breaking out, and hair is sprouting everywhere (even in places where only guys should have it!)
Plus, I haven't had a period, and I need one before I start Diane... what a mess.
I still haven't checked my insulin levels.
I'm wondering if this has anything to do with my low blood pressure and fainting spells?
I'm planning to get pregnant once everything is sorted out.

..get a full hormone panel done...specifically sexual hormones and thyroid levels,,,because honestly, your thyroid can mess with pretty much everything....plus, I’ve been dealing with PCOS myself....my periods are completely irregular....and the cycle just drags on forever...right now, I'm at day 60...I tried managing things with herbal teas and strict dieting to get my cycle back on track, but nothing seemed to work.....

...I've been trying to conceive for three and a half years now without any luck...so, I'm currently running all the necessary tests and preparing to seek medical assistance through an IVF clinic...I'm just hoping there will be some success eventually....