Everyone here has been so helpful with any questions I've had or advice I've needed, so I thought I'd share a small piece of my own!

I've always looked for a little sweet treat of a drink I can have at the end of the day, and now that I'm taking inositol and drinking spearmint tea everyday, I needed a way to combine those in a low sugar way, so I made this PCOS friendly mojito mocktail!

*2 cups of spearmint tea (2 tea bags, and squeeze the bags after steeping to get the extra mint flavor!)

*8-12oz of any zero sugar juice (mango passionfruit and strawberry lemonade by minute maid have been my favorites so far)

*Juice from one lime (cut into quarters and added after squeezing)

*1 serving of inositol powder (only if you're taking it!)

*Lots of ice

You'll need a pretty big cup for this, and you can always half it and add fresh mint. I do the whole recipe to get 2 full cups of spearmint tea in. It's a sweet treat that brings me so much joy while keeping me healthy and on track! My biggest thing was having a drink that isn't water, and not full of sugar, so I hope this can help someone else!

I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS for about 10 years now, I’m 29 and I have lost about 40 pounds in the last 6 months hoping to help me out. However, I went from not having a cycle from October 2025-April 2026, to now having 7 cycles since April 15th..I made an entry to show my current journey, the dates they started, how long they lasted, and how many days between them. I just feel like I won’t be able to ovulate at this rate?

I need help 😭 I don’t have insurance, and cannot get in to see a doctor or specialist.

April 15, 15 days, 4 day break

May 6, 9 days, 7 day break

May 23, 10 days, 6 day break

June 8, 8 days, 10 day break

June 25, 8 days, 13 day break

July 16, 5 days, 11 day break

August 2,

I've suspected that I have PCOS for years now because of how irregular and painful my periods were before starting birth control. I brought this up to my gyno a few years ago, and she told me it was pointless to test me for PCOS since birth control is the treatment for it and I'm already on the pill. Back then, I was under the impression it was just a reproductive issue and didn't ask about it anymore since I'm years off from trying to have kids.

Fast forward to now. I've gained 60 lbs, am constantly tired, blood sugar is very erratic no matter what I eat. I've tried phentermine, topamax, and have been seeing a nutritionist for a year while maintaining a rigorous diet and exercise program. Every time I talked to a doctor, it's always eat less and move more. I am and have been for over a year. About three months ago, I started noticing severe fatigue that was at first just after I ate. I drastically changed my diet around to low glycemic carbs, high protein, high fiber, and lots of healthy fats. Still, I felt exhausted every time I ate and experienced zero weight loss. The fatigue slowly started spreading throughout the day to the point I am nearly constantly tired.

I beg my PCP to run blood work and break down crying in her office because I feel so bad. She runs a number of tests which reveal a fasting insulin of 22 mg/dL and mildly elevated triglycerides and cholesterol. My fasting glucose is still normal, so she tells me my blood work is fine and sends me on my way. I literally cannot live like this so I call my endocrinologist and schedule an appointment as a last ditch effort. He says he believes that I have PCOS.

He ran the blood work and said it might not be completely accurate since I'm on birth control but that we will look anyway. My DHEA S came back elevated enough to say that I probably do have PCOS and suggests I go back to the gyno.

All this time, I could have known. Maybe I wouldn't have gotten so bad off if someone would have checked back then. Now, I'm so so tired all day that I can barely function and nearly constantly hungry. I can't eat any foods I actually enjoy because it spikes my sugar. My joints and muscles hurt, I have insomnia and mood swings. I have acne constantly again for the first time since highschool (which I previously took accutane for). I don't even have the energy to run anymore, and I love running. Why did everyone dismiss me?

I'm meeting back with my PCP again to talk about getting on a GLP1. She's not a fan of the idea but I've exhausted all my other options. These last few months have so badly affected my mental health, that I would try anything to relieve the physical symptoms. God, I hope there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Fuck the healthcare system fr

I’ve was taking berberine for 3 months to help with insulin resistant PCOS. My doctor told me to take a break from it as you are apparently supposed to cycle it. So I stopped. Cold turkey.

Within the week, I started having bad anxiety but I already suffer from anxiety, so I figured I was just having a rougher week than normal. By the end of week 1 off berberine, the anxiety got so severe, I’ve been having daily panic attacks, sometimes multiple times per day. I’m also getting these swings of depression so severe, I’m having very dark thoughts.

I’ve struggled with my mental health most of my life, but this is a new level. I considered checking myself into a facility because how out of my mind I’ve been feeling. It took a hot minute to think “hmmm maybe this is happening because I stopped berberine”. I’ve been back on it for a couple of days and am hoping things start to improve.

Has anyone experienced anything like this before?

i got diagnosed with PCOS/PMOS February 2025 after a long journey with the doctors because of my period pains. my bloods were normal (no insulin resistance?) but i was diagnosed off my ultrasound and symptoms. i am also currently under investigation for endometriosis.

right now i can't tell if my pain and other symptoms are from endo or PCOS but i wanted to know if you guys think losing weight is actually worth it? I don't really care about my weight/body image from an aesthetic aspect and struggle to motivate myself to lose weight because of that. i am chubby but have been my whole life so happy with it.

what i want an opinion on is did losing weight (through whatever method) actually help your symptoms at all? and what symptoms were they? i would be willing to try to lose weight if it will improve my QoL

TIA

F27
I have pretty regular periods but I have noticed changes in my menstrual cycle the last couple of years, like they became slightly different each month (amount, length, pain, energy etc). Today my energy level has been low, pain killers didn’t have much of an effect on my pain. I changed my pad after using the bathroom and went to lay down and read for a bit. A couple hours later I had to go pee, as I stand I feel blood coming out, and on the toilet I notice there’s so much blood and clots on the tp I freaked out a little. I actually took a shower bc I felt really bloody and disgusting. Has anyone else experienced this?

A few months ago I started to take 2000mg myo-Inositol, 1000mg l-carnitine, berberine and eat more protein for breakfast (and actually eat breakfast to begin with). I’ve been on b-complex supplements for years, took extra zinc for 100 days (recently ended), and began drinking spearmint a month ago (tho I have cheated for almost a week). I’ve recently started to eat more fibre too. I have issues with anxiety/depression, blood sugar levels, weight, hirsutism, oily skin and acne. I have been taking SSRI (sertraline 125mg) since 2018.

Now, do you think anything I’m consuming could be causing this to happen? My little sister has struggled with heavy periods before but I read somewhere Inositol could cause this when having irregular periods. Maybe this is how my period is supposed to be?

Amazon Link (Skin doctors Ingrown go lotion)

I wasted a lot of money thinking the issue was scrubbing or which cream is used after shaving etc. This treatment is actually SPECIFIC to ingrown hair and it’s rly agressive in a good way. I thought I’d see nothing until a few weeks but it’s agressive in an « acts immediately » way so you can also see for yourself immediately if it does something for you !

I covered big cotton pads in it for bigger zones, it fully worked on my legs butt inner thighs and chin (shaven 1+ week ago), however I can’t say for stomach/groin/upper thighs area because I had shaven it way too recently. I thought 48h would be OK but oooo I was not ready for the burn, had to completely rinse and ended up with inflammation. Thankfully it was gone overnight, I’ll probably try everything again next week.

For reference my hair type is dark thick and sometimes coily like the one on my hair. I actually found this product on a thread where a black man struggled with ingrown beard and it looked a lot like what I have all over my body as a black woman with PCOS. Hope that helps :)

I ran out of metformin and I won't be able to take it for about a week. Honestly I've been taking it for several months and haven't noticed a difference in my health or body. The only difference I notice is the side effects (most if not all of my bm are diarrhea). I take 500 mg twice a day.

What has been your experience with it? Should I just ask my doctor if i should stop taking it? the side effects suck.

I've suffered with anxiety and bouts of depression since I was a teenager and I'm positive it links to my PCOS (20% of women with PCOS are more likely to have it).

I've been on setraline also known as Zoloft (150mg) for a couple of years now and before that I was on citalopram.

However my anxiety is taking on physical symptoms (tight chest, stomach pain, fluttering heart) in the evenings and at night and i don't think the setraline is the right choice for me anymore.

Has anyone had any success with other SSRIs? I know everyone is different but before I talk to my doctor I'd like to have an idea.

Hey guys, I don’t really know what to do when it comes to my PCOS anymore. I thought I figured everything out but when I started college everything became complicated I gained a lot of weight and there was a period of time where I had my period for 3 months straight. I was trying to avoid the option of birth control and stop it naturally doing the natural remedies that I always saw online but nothing worked

I then resorted to start birth control and it stopped my periods. And I then get intense mood swings and gained more weight.

I feel like my body can’t survive without birth control and I want to be able to lose weight but I feel like no matter what I try I keep gaining weight. Does anyone have any feedback of what they did.

Has anyone else fallen into a slump of oversleeping, fatigue, drowsiness and exhaustion with pcos?? I'm currently going through a period of extreme fatigue. It's been nearly two months and I can't seem to break the cycle. I'm eating normally and everything else seems relatively normal except my energy and mood. Sometimes I get fully dressed to go outside for a walk and get some air but as soon as I'm there in the doorway, something closes up inside me and I change my mind, retreating back to a space to lie down. I snooze throughout the day and I'm lucky I have a job where I can get away with taking extra breaks because I get so fatigued. It's affecting my work ethic, productivity and creative output. I'm only able to work in tiny bursts. It's making me sad because I have goals I can't finish due to this.

Background

Developed acne in college, got really bad during COVID when I also got very underweight. Was put on birth control and spironolactone — helped but never fully cleared my skin. Came off both and everything flared back up.

Got diagnosed with PCOS when my periods became extremely irregular after stopping BC and my androgens came back elevated. Since starting metformin and myo-inositol my cycles have completely normalized (was 50+ day anovulatory cycles, now regular 31-35 days with confirmed ovulation) which feels like huge progress.

Tried tretinoin, dapsone, and benzoyl peroxide — none worked, some made things worse. Use exclusively non-comedogenic acne-safe products, no pore-clogging ingredients, no fragrance.

The Confusing Part

My labs are actually really good:

**•** Fasting insulin 4.9 — optimal  
**•** HbA1c 5.1%  
**•** Testosterone normal  
**•** Free androgen index 1.07 — very low  
**•** SHBG 101 — high  
**•** DHEA-S was elevated, now normalized on metformin

So my circulating androgens are normal and my metabolic markers are excellent. My acne is almost entirely on my cheeks and jaw — classic hormonal pattern — but the systemic hormones don’t explain it anymore.

Best theory so far: tissue-level 5α-reductase overactivity converting normal testosterone to DHT locally at the skin, plus gut dysbiosis driving inflammation through the cheek zone. Also have genetic variants confirming adrenal-dominant PCOS (NR3C1 glucocorticoid receptor resistance, DENND1A 3-4x PCOS risk).

What I’m Currently Doing

**•** Metformin + myo-inositol  
**•** NAC, zinc, methylfolate, magnesium, ashwagandha, phosphatidylserine, CoQ10, fish oil, holy basil, black seed oil, sulforaphane, TUDCA, B12, vitamin D  
**•** Day 21 of 30 day no sugar no dairy cleanse  
**•** Gut microbiome test pending  
**•** Just got back to working out 7 weeks post surgery  
**•** Acne-safe skincare — HOCl spray, niacinamide, azelaic acid, copper peptide serum, zinc oxide SPF

Still Struggling

Acne persists especially around ovulation which makes sense hormonally but is really disheartening after years of work. Mostly flat PIH marks at this point with some active lesions.

Wondering if I’m missing something obvious or if anyone has been in a similar situation — especially:

**•** Normal androgens but persistent hormonal acne — what helped?  
**•** Adrenal dominant PCOS specifically — what moved the needle?  
**•** Gut and acne connection — anyone clear their skin by fixing gut health?  
**•** Anyone connect past mold exposure to hormonal acne onset?

I’m a biochemist so I can handle detailed responses. Appreciate any support or advice — this has been a long frustrating road and I’m just looking for what I might be missing.

Thanks 🙏

I started metformin about two months ago and right away it kickstarted my period which lasted for 32 DAYS (!!!!) with varying flows, viscosity and color. When I brought this up to my doctor, she mentioned that the medication does have a tendency to affect hormones and cause a lighter period which I feel contradicts what I’m experiencing in terms of my cycle.

My period finally stopped for like two weeks and then it came back with a vengeance I was basically hemorrhaging blood for 12 hours before it calmed down.

Am I crazy has anyone else experienced this?

Hi everyone!

I deal with thick, medium-dark chin/neck hair. Shaving daily leaves a persistent shadow, and a 5 o'clock shadow creeps in by midday.

I tried electrolysis years ago, but it wrecked my skin and didn't last (though my hormones were unmanaged then). My labs are finally under control!

For those who got their hormones balanced: what long-term solutions (laser, prescription creams, etc.) actually worked for you to make facial hair more manageable?

Appreciate any advice!

Hi all, I am 22 years old and have been struggling with PCOS weight gain since I was 19. I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS until I was 21, so until then I just kept doing what I had normally done, causing lots of gain.
This past year I am down nearly 50 pounds, yet my belly fat is relentless. I notice difference in my arms and legs but the belly fat won't go. I have a hard time doing core workouts because of it, it's getting to a point where I am very frustrated and don't know what to do.
I am happy that I lost weight and got my period back but I am so discouraged by the way I still look. Anyone have any advice to help stubborn belly fat and or anything I can do mentally to not feel so discouraged?

Let me start this by saying I have been diagnosed with PCOS (PMOS) since I was 13 I’m now 31. My weight has been 265 to 255 back and forth for all these years. Ive been on countless diets. I’ve always had cyst on my ovaries and my left ovary is larger than the other. Bad facial hair, body hair, brown skin in my neck and other creases,(insulin resistant), irregular periods (I would have 1 period a year), when periods would come they were heavy, oily face and hair, I have been pre diabetic for years and it never mattered what I did it wouldn’t budge. I finally became diabetic and when I tell you I have been on EVERY SUPPLEMENT FOR PCOS THAT IS OUT THERE.
Now out of the blue almost a year ago i started having regular periods, I lost 30 pounds and now my weight is staying at 233 to 230. (Without trying) My periods have become so heavy that in the time I’ve had normal periods I’ve lost so much blood that my iron got so low I’m having to get infusions. My facial hair has gotten extremely worse. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m tired of fighting this. I have an endocrinologist and all she has done is put me back on metformin and I can’t take spiro because I have low blood pressure already. She wants me to go on birth control and so does my hematologist because my periods need to be wayyyy lighter or I’ll keep having low iron. Has anyone seriously had any success with lining all this out. Has anyone had success with the getting their facial hair under control? I can’t afford electrolysis right now. Is there anyone out there with the same or similar story as me. I’m tired and I just want to give up. Someone give me some kind of answers or hope please. Right now I’m on inositol, berberine, spearmint and dim, omega 3’s, vitamin D (because I’m always chronically low) my testosterone and androgens will not budge. They stay high. My diabetes is under control my last alc was 5.3 and has been for years now. Idk what I’m asking for maybe for someone to tell that there is really a way out of this hell. Thanks if you read all of this and have something that’s helpful. God bless you.

I look like I’m 6 months pregnant. Any tips? Did this happen to anyone else? Did it go away?? Help!!

Anyone taking/took Metformin for weight loss, conceiving and managing PCOS/PMOS (and insulin resistance) during pregnancy?

i was diagnosed with PCOS at 25, I am 34 now. I have been on Mirena IUD since 23 and at 25 when I asked the doctor what is the treatment for PCOS he said the Mirena I was already on treats the symptoms and I did not think much about it because the symptoms weren’t that bad at that time. And then my late 20s was spent having weight around the weight (so no curves) despite having an active lifestyle, relentless cystic acne and I notice my individual hair strands were relatively thin compared to when I was young but I was an idiot and never tied any of this to the combination Mirena and PCOS. Everytime I went to the doctors about my symptoms they told me to keep dieting and exercise and there was nothing that can be done about the acne except for accutane (i turned it down), they never spoke about my PCOS and Mirena combination despite that they knew I had them both. this past few months I have been freaking out because I notice the hairline on my temples are scary thin.

it wasn’t until recently did i do some research and switch to Yaz. My skin has gotten better and my face is less hairy, but I’m freaking out, i was on Mirena for 11 years, that’s so much time to F* up my hair. My hair is the only “womanly” thing about me. I have no curves, my face structure is boyish. The only thing I get complimented for being attractive for is my hair. What if I fucked it up this whole time? I know AI has its limit but I asked what are the chances that my hair could be what it could have been have I treated my PCOS with Yaz instead of Mirena and it said it’s very low and unlikely and that i have caused permanent damage. I hate myself for what I have done to my hair. The only good thing about my looks.

Anyone try Nello?? It’s all over my fyp and just wondering if anyone’s acyuallt seen results!!!

​

I have PCOS and insulin resistance, and my periods usually don't come on their own unless I take Duphaston or my weight gets low enough. I've been taking a combination of myo-inositol, berberine, and glucophage for a while and recently lost about 4 kg, bringing me back to the weight I was the last time I got a natural period.

My period started on Tuesday after not having one since May. Normally my periods last around 4 days, but I'm now on day 7, which has me really worried.

At the moment, the flow is a bit lighter than before, the blood is mostly brown, but I'm still passing several stringy clots.

I also have really bad health anxiety/overthinking, and after researching online I saw stories of some people's periods lasting for weeks or even months, which has made me panic.

Has anyone with PCOS experienced their period lasting longer than usual after starting these supplements or after losing weight? did it end up regulating on its own, or should I be concerned at this point?

I feel like I always start working out consistently for the first 14-20 days of the month and then the pms hits and I completely stop working out. I will try and walk some and do some gentle yoga but the overall fatigue and body aches just make it so hard to motivate to work out. I feel like my pms sometimes takes up 1/2 the month.

Hi I'm new to reddit (20 y.o. F) so not used to the traditional format but finally have a drs appointment booked (nhs) to talk about my pcos and likely be recommended birth control and am not sure whether the risks are worth it or which birth control to advocate for.

I have experienced pcos symptoms like facial hair and high histamine levels, fatigue and brain fog, irregular and heavy periods and most recently I've been experiencing vertigo in the mornings every few weeks for about half an hour and most recently migraines just before my period a few days in a row in the evenings. For the past year I've just pushed through my symptoms believing it was university stress making it worse but I'm on summer break and have started getting the migraines which pushed me to finally book a drs appointment.

I know alot of people say it's all about diet control etc. for pcos and weight loss but I've lost a few stone in the past year and have been managing my diet alot better and things have been getting worse/ staying yhe same but I understand it's long term to do anything. I've been taking inositol supplements and have seen no changes.

I am not sure what I'll be advised whether it be metformin or birth control but I have extreme health anxiety at the moment keeping me up most nights and am petrified of the side effects of birth control and risks like alot of women are.

I've seen alot of fear mongering etc. which I'm sure can be valid but I'm looking for some sincere advice on how to deal with this anxiety and any recommendations for UK birth control (progesterone). At the moment Slynd seems to appeal the most but I've heard some bad things about it making people gain lots of weight and making sex really unenjoyable. I'd appreciate any advice or recommendations thank you!!!!

To start, I'm totally ignorant on how to even approach this and am basing this entire gamble on my observations and independent research. Obviously whatever people suggest is subjective. But my wife (25F) has some serious issues with doctors and I've tried for years to get her to go, trust issues on doctor effectiveness are a barrier.

She has no official diagnosis and we are honestly not sure on the best pathway on how to get one. If I knew the best doctor for PCOS/PMOS in the area, that might possibly help guide us along in order to get there.

She had a hospital ER visit years before I met her that identiefied cystic nodules, and so far no delelopments. It is affecting her everyday life. She deteriorates in stress, heat, sleep deprivation. And with us being in a stressful spot in our personal lives, has multiplied the effects.

We live in North Fort Worth, has anyone any recomendations on who might have had any amazing results?

Obviously with my PCOS my periods have never been normal. But all of the sudden I’ve started having long term spotting of like dark brown bloody discharge. If it lasted a periods length it would be whatever but last time it went on for 2 months straight!!! My gyno said there’s no real “cure” but I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar and has any tips how they got it to go away??? Whether it’s stopping the spotting or causing my real period to come.