Pcos - Cedar Rapids, IA

Check out the PCOS supplements through insulite labs. I did a lot of research, took them to regulate my cycle and was pregnant within 2 months.

Hi, I was diagnosed with PDCOS, but I don't have cysts. In reading, it's also called Syndrom O, because you don't get cysts sometimes, you just don't ovulate. In my case because my overies had a coating on them. I didn't get my period for 9 months, and all the OBGYN's I went to just told me to try progesterone and that I had to wait a year, before they would do anything. So I went one last time to an OBGYN, this time on in a women's clinic. The doctor felt that because I was wanting to try to have a child, I couldn't try if I wasn't getting my period. So she ran some tests. It came back that my hormones were indicative of PCOS.

I was put on Metformin, to help my body use the insulin a bit better (as my doctor described, the way my body was using it caused a coating over my overies in which the egg couldn't break through) We tried Metformin and I got pregnant with in 4 cycles...I did miscarry that one, but I got pregnant 2 cycles into the metformin when we tried again. And I was able to get pregnant a 3rd time and carry to term, with out the help of metformin a year later.

I would see a different doctor and ask them about metformin. It was my and my doctors attempt at avoiding Clomid and it worked for me.

Hi J.! I have PCOS as well and do not get cycles on my own. For years I used BCP but am tired of being on synthetic drugs. However, I have been on an herb supplement thru the Insulute Systems (I encourage you to take the time to look them up). They have a system of herbs designed specifically for those with PCOS. I get my cycle with the herbs and feel so much healthier. I just saw my GYN last week who told me if the herbs do not work to take a Progesterone pill if I go 10 weeks without a period. Although I would be taking pills again, I don't mind if it's only a couple of times a year. She gave me a prescription for a year and I only need to fill it if needed. That makes me feel so much better than having to take a pill everyday.
Good luck!

I also have PCOS, and was not a fan of being on BCPs. I started visiting a chiropractor who practices kinesiology. He put me on all natural supplements that regulated my periods and helped me get pregnant. One of them (as someone else mentioned) was chaste berry (vitex). I recently found out it is available OTC, but I am not sure if the quality is the same quality as what is available through health care professionals.

Hi,
I didn’t know what PCOS was. I looked it up on the internet. It sounds like it is a hormone imbalance. I have ovarian cyst. I use a natural form of progesterone from the health food store. If this was me I would find a homeopathic doctor who might be able to help with the hormone imbalance better than a GYN. I have had some bad experiences with doctors.
V.

If you go to rxlist.com there is a good explanation of metformin. It is normally used for type 2 diabetics. It helps your pancrease release insulin. It is actually an unapproved use for the medication, but I know a lot of docs use it. My friend did not have PCOS, but she was having problems conceiving and her doc put her on this.

PS. If you don't have insurance, this drug is also on all the retail $4 list. You can get a 3 month supply from Kmart and Walmart for only $10.

If I were you, I would find a Nurse Midwife or a Naturopathic Doctor and discuss using an herb called Vitex (also called Chaste Tree Berry) to help with your cycles. My Nurse Midwife is a Nurse Practitioner who works at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury. She sees woman at all stages in life, not just pregnancy, and she is great at balancing natural/alternative medicine with traditional, modern medicine. I also see a female Naturopathic Doctor in St. Paul. Let me know if you want either of their contact info.

Also, if you google "PCOS+Vitex", you will get a bunch of results and some good reading material. IMHO, women can do better than pump their bodies full of synthetic hormones. Good luck to you!

I can't speak highly enough of the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, NE. Dr Hilgers there is world renowned for his work in fertility. He designed a way of charting fertility changes in a women's cycle that can better diagnose problems and treat them. He doesn't believe in prescribing birth control for such issues because that only masks the true problem and can make the problem worse. He works to get to the bottom of the issue and treat it. He trains doctors all over the world and you can get the name of a doctor near you by checking out the Pope Paul the VI institute web sight.

J.,
I got the same, "You have PCOS and there's nothing we can do but put you on birth control pills." I don't think Western medicine has very much to offer to folks with PCOS. My periods stopped for 6 mo after I got off the pill and that's when I got diagnosed. Luckily I got pregnant somehow, but was worried about managing the PCOS because we wanted to get pregnant again sometime. So I ended up seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine Dr. It took a little while (I started seeing him when I was 15 mo postpartum and still hadn't gotten a period yet) to get my cycle back, but then I had several months of 35 day cycles which is excellent for me (my "normal" growing up was 45-60 day cycles)and then I got pregnant again. I saw this Dr. once every 3 weeks for 10 months and I felt great! I absolutely recommend checking out something like that. I saw real results with no drugs at all. If you want the name of my Dr., e-mail me.
S.

Hi J.,
A friend of mine dealt with PCOS also and she shares her story all the time. She has her written story at this link http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Health.html?id=870
It is nice to know you don't have to use medication for everything and have options to try :) Feel free to contact me if you want more information.
Blessings to you and your future children!
L.

If I were you I would get another doctor. There are definately more things you can do besides BCP to help with PCOS, especially if you're trying to have a baby. The metformin works on your insulin producing, which is said to cause the PCOS in the first place. This helps with ALL the side effects of PCOS, and infertility. In fact now that I know about it, and have taken it I won't be without it EVER, it changed my life dramatically.

You might want to search out a fertility specialist, or maybe just another OBGYN who knows more about it.

Hi,

Metaformin is actually a drug sometimes used to help diabetics use their bodies insulin more effectively. Some of the latest research indicates that watching your sugar intake and losing just 10 pounds can help pcos.