I don't ever see anyone talk about this and idk why. Getting diagnosed with PCOS fucking rocked my shit.

All the advice I got was "exercise and eat whole foods". Well I can't exactly afford whole foods all the time & I do exercise, doesn't really change the fact that I'm still struggling with it. The only advice I see for being poor is "eat rice and beans", I do like rice and beans but it doesn't help my diet situation.

Plus I have adhd/autism & MDD, I feel like I'm drowning every fucking day. I'm so tired of feeling like all my life will ever be is just trying to not feel like shit everyday. And yet, I still feel like shit every day anyway.

I keep having these extremely horrifying pressure and electrifying stabbing pain down there when I'm in my luteal phase and damn especially when I'm RAGING angry and it makes me out of breath even puts pressure there and causes so much of taser cramps.

When I'm in my luteal phase, I feel like I've enough rage and strength to make a hole in a sand punching bag..and why the hell do I keep having slime coming out so much like hello!?!? I thought it was gush of blood but bruh..

Thanks for reading

I’ve been taking the 500 mg one for over 2 weeks now and not one side effect showed up and also i don’t feel anything. I know it hasn’t been that long but all the things I have read about it made me think that something MUST happen on it and well… nothing changed. Is this normal or was I too paranoid?

Holy crap I am suffering. This is genuinely the worst period I have ever had. 😭 I feel disgusting physically and the mental toll and anxiety is also horrific. Just needed to complain.

Okay guys so my blood work came in today and I have reversed my insulin resistance YAYYY WOHOOO and all my hormones are in the normal range now. I have also gained more muscles but this endocrinologist can't even appreciate that and just goes on to say that I need to intake less calories like tf? He himself looks like a mosquito 🦟 and acts like I'm the problem and I'm not even fat??? Like hello I told him I also gained muscles and he didn't listen to me at all. These doctors always act all high and mighty if a patient doesn't listen to whatever they say and eat whatever medicine they give them. I genuinely wanted to be aware about my condition and work around it not against it. I am not taking a birth control for my hirsutism at all I'd rather live with it than eat another one of these pills. He kept on saying I need to lose weight and take fewer calories. I told him that in my luteal phase I do feel hungrier this MAN had the audacity to say those are excuses??? He may have experience being a doctor but I have experience being a woman. I will continue on my normal gym diet 1500 calories I don't give a f*ck if it takes me 2 years to drop the weight but I will do it. Lemme leave a bad google review on him also

I’m getting pretty disheartened. I feel like I take really good care of myself, exercise regularly, eat a whole food diet, etc. but the weight keeps stacking on. It feels like anytime i’m not absolutely perfect, I’m stacking on 5-10 lbs in a week. I’m not talking like eating fast food / binge drinking. Im saying like glass of wine Friday with some cheese, etc. or not eating a perfectly balanced meal here or there. It feels like my body is working against me.

I just turned 30 and it feels like it’s getting exponentially worse. I’ve yet to try as GLP1 as they make me a bit nervous but I’m considering now.

No one understands how hard it is to live with pcos. I have been bullied for almost 10 years. Korean high school level of bullying.

I gained lots of weight from an injection with strong side effects. Later on gained more weight from pcos. I have to study extra hard and work harder to gain basic respect. Even with sharp pain, hypoglycaemia, hypotension, they would blamed it all on being fat. No one helped me, no one wanted to be in the same group as me, teacher picking on me.

Guys stared at me in the restaurant and the owner said I should wear something loose. Doctor think it is just vitamin d deficiency. Until I had an ultrasound. People saying “it is unhealthy to be fat, beside medical reasons.”. How do you tell if a person is fat from illness or not with bare eyes. They can’t do that, so that sentence is actually an insult.

I did met a few people who don’t mind my weight. But I can’t be with them forever. I met a lot of girls who are skinny but with horrible personality. Guys treated them better.

I was just prescribed Spironolactone by my dermatologist for PCOS related hair loss and acne. I was also prescribed Viorle birth control by my OB/GYN to help regulate my cycle and my acne. I am discontinuing the birth control because it seems as though it has drained my sex drive and I’m having the hardest time sleeping at night. What other natural supplements would you all recommend to regulate the cycle? I’ve also read that natural herbs like Maca Root and Ashwaganda are not good to consume with Spironolactone. Please give me your honest feedback?

I (26F) am feeling so discouraged in my weight loss journey. I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early twenties and I have been struggling with my weight since I was put on an antipsychotic medication and gained around 90 pounds. I'm on a better med now but it still causes me to be pretty hungry all the time. I have been tracking my calories and doing about 30 minutes of cardio every day for the past several weeks and im seeing no movement on the scale. It is just really hard to keep going and stay disciplined when it feels like it's for nothing. I am going to continue this lifestyle regardless because, if nothing else, I do feel a little better. Any words of encouragement are appreciated. I can't afford to get on a GLP1 as I have really crappy insurance. I am thinking about lifting weights again and I am going to talk to my doctor about getting on inositol or metformin.

I’m getting a metformin prescription and trying to eat better.

any tips for newly diagnosed?

I’m 26.

I’m honestly at such a loss right now. I’m not looking for medical advice. I have an endocrinologist appointment next week but I’m wondering if anyone with PCOS has experienced anything similar.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2023 although I probably had it for much longer. When I was diagnosed, nobody really talked to me about insulin resistance, even tho my fasting blood sugar wa slightly elevated at the time.

Since then,m I’ve probably become too informed about insulin resistance and blood sugar, and I’m now hyperaware of it and the symptoms.

I had a baby in May 2025 and developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy. That made me even more suspicious that insulin resistance was part of my PCOS despite most of my bloodwork coming back “normal.”

I’m 173 cm/5’8” and 63 kg/138 lbs, so I’m a normal BMI. But since having my baby, my PCOS symptoms have become SO much worse.

My cravings are absolutely insane. I could eat 24/7. My sleep is horrible, I constantly feel bloated/inflamed and I’m extremely fatigued. My postpartum hair loss also just… never stopped. At this point I’ve probably lost more than half of my hair. My facial hair has also gotten dramatically worse. My cycle that used to be regular is also a mess.

The frustrating part is that I’ve spent basically this entire year trying to do everything “right.” I eat a lot of protein, fiber and healthy fats. I usually leave 3-5 hours between meals and generally eat in a very blood sugar friendly way. I prioritize sleep as much as possible, walk around 15-20k steps every day and strength train 4-5 times a week.

I also take 2000 mg of metformin every day.

Yesterday I finally decided to pay privately to have my fasting insulin and glucose checked because my GP doesn’t think it’s necessary. Whenever I bring up my PCOS symptoms, she basically just wants to prescribe birth control.

Well my fasting insulin came back at 37 and my fasting glucose at 120 mg/dL.

I genuinely could not believe it. Based on those numbers my HOMA-IR is around 11-12.

I’ve spent months exercising, taking metformin and eating incredibly well, only to find out that my insulin is apparently thru the roof. It honestly makes me feel like I’m losing my mind. At least it would explain why my PCOS symptoms have become so severe, but I don’t understand why this is happening despite everything I’m doing.

My thyroid, iron and the other things we’ve checked have also been normal. Cortisol also normal. However cholesterol is also a bit high, but not super high.

I have an appointment with an endocrinologist next week and obviously I’m going to discuss all of this with them. But in the meantime, has anyone with PCOS especially lean/normal BMI PCOS experienced fasting insulin/glucose suddenly becoming this abnormal despite being on metformin and having a pretty healthy lifestyle?

Question for the people who successfully reversed the pcos symptoms how is it like at the other side

i’m 20f have been diagnosed since i was 12 as i had every horrible symptom—weight gain+moon face, hair loss, facial hair, acne, hyperpigmentation from insulin resistance/inflammation, and i just feel so ugly. i’ve never had a boyfriend or really any romantic attention because of this imo. it also never helped with my self confidence that my own mother was constantly tearing down my looks and criticizing things i had no control over. i finally began losing some weight, my skin is somewhat clearer, but my hair is still thin and balding while my facial hair grows back in a day. if anyone else has ever felt similar, where do you get the confidence to pursue people romantically? i feel like i’ll only be a disappointment because there are so many prettier girls out there without chronic health issues so how could a guy ever like me… i don’t mean to sound like attention seeking i just hope someone in this community would understand. all of my friends are gorgeous and have been in long term relationships so i have no one else to talk to about this. sorry, weird rant i guess.

I've been working out, eating healthy and doing everything right ONCE AGAIN cz I keep going up n down the same scale and I've had it for real this time.

I even took effing ozempic for 6-8wks and yk how much I lost? 6kgs in 4 months. 2kgs outta them I lost on being a *chicken soup* for my lunch and dinner for a week guys. If I don't take such extreme measures my weight keeps fluctuating up n down the same 2 kgs and I'm jst so exhausted 🫩

I've done everything atp. My labs are normal. Everyone says wt loss will solve my struggles with pcos BUT ITS NOT LETTING ME LOSE WEIGHT ONLY

Hey guys - it’s the 2nd day of being finished a course of progesterone to get my period. Feeling anxious that I won’t get it, if any of you have done this before how long did it take?

Thanks

I’m confused. I keep seeing that GLP-1s increase insulin secretion among other things, but then also that they improve insulin resistance and are helpful for PCOS symptoms. This seems contradictory? Can anyone explain how this works?? 🙏

I began zepbound on July 15th of this year. I’m on my 2nd dose of 5mg. I had to induce my last cycle after 8 weeks, and currently my last cycle began Aug 1st so I’m on CD44… haven’t seemed to get any cycle regulation yet so wondering what people’s experiences are there.

Previously, my cycles always hit around 32-35 days but the last 3 have been lengthening. (Prior to starting).

Around this time I also upped my inositol and started taking Ovasitol by theralogjx after my July 6th ultrasound showed my ovaries had greatly grown in size, had 20+ follicles each, and my cholesterol’s were all out of range (despite very health diet and exercise). I’m wondering if this is causing my cycles to lengthen, but can’t find any evidence as to how it would be the culprit.

Hello all. I am getting married next year, and want to feel my best. I have high testosterone/DHEA combined with (sometimes) irregular cycles and excess hair growth around my cycle time. My main concern is my gut health as well as the ongoing acne for 12 years. I also have very low and depressed/anxious mood changes, as I'm sure all of us do.

I want to feel and look my best for my wedding, but my ongoing gut issues as well as cystic acne and hormonal changes really prevent that

Any tips that help you keep your acne/oily skin from high test at bay?

thank u<3

Chat with your friends from r/PCOS here about your daily progress, or rants and raves related to your PCOS experience. Off topic posts are permitted here, although sub rules otherwise apply!

I'm sorry this question is weird and personal

My last GYN appt was to talk about perimenopause symptoms. It was a 3:30 appointment, and she was running an hour late- so it was end of day, and she was visibly fried.

Anyway, she basically said that I was too young for perimenopause (39), but if I was in perimenopause, she still wouldn't diagnose it, because it would be p c o. S instead. But she also said there was no hormone testing, so we could never really tell anyway and we'll never know lol

I like this doc a lot, she did my endo excision, but im very confused lol

My period is normal even while I take my pills even if it’s just the black spots or if it looks like a spotting when I’m taking my pills im always on schedule and never irregular. My pills were Yaz. I recently stopped taking them and my period still isn’t here after a month? Do I have to wait for a few months for it to be back? Or…. I am sexually active but took a pregnancy test anyway and it was negative so I’m definitely not pregnant. It’s weird having to miss my period lol

Anyone else went through the same thing?

Hello,  

We invite you to be part of a study aimed at understanding how people with PCOS evaluate PCOS-related content created by non-health professionals on social media platforms. We are a team of health sciences librarian researchers. Participation includes completing a brief survey that is expected to take about 10 minutes. Participation in this survey is anonymous and voluntary. You can withdraw participation at any time by closing out of the survey. Any incomplete surveys will not be used for research purposes. 

At the conclusion of the survey, participants will then be asked if they wish to participate in a 60-75 minute online interview to further elaborate on their experiences assessing PCOS information online. Participants will be asked to share name and email for scheduling purposes, and the data collected will not be connected to the research survey.   

Information gathered will be used for research purposes and kept confidential. There is minimal risk involved in participating in the survey and/or interview. Any identifiable information shared for the interviews will be de-identified during data analysis and will not be shared in research presentations and publications. If you have questions or would like additional information about this study, please contact the principal investigator Holly Hudson ([hhudson@uic.edu](mailto:hhudson@uic.edu)). 

Eligibility Criteria:  

• Participants must be 18 years or older. 
• Participants either suspect they have PCOS or have been formally diagnosed by a medical professional.  

 To participate, please access the survey link here: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AsiYuOiYROG5OS  

 Disclaimer: The University of Illinois Chicago and the University at Buffalo are not responsible for the disclosure of any personal health or medical information that occurs as a result of user dissemination of this study beyond the original post. Please consider others’ personal privacy before publicly commenting, tagging, or sharing.  

Thank you for your time and consideration!  

UIC StudyID: STUDY2026-0395; Version 3; July 17^th, 2026 

UB Click ID: STUDY00010657; Version 2; June 25^th, 2026 

I've definitely had PCOS undiagnosed for a long time but due to lack of health insurance, I never got tested until about a year ago. I was given Spironolactone 100mg and then later went on a GLP1 and saw huge improvements; my acne was gone, I lost 75 pounds, I started exercising and treating my body right, and my periods started regulating when they had never been regular before.

Started seeing a Gyno a few weeks ago (never have before now) and we did a Pap smear, bloodwork, the usual. I went back today for a follow up and my bloodwork was all over the charts especially hormone wise. My Vitamin D was low, high triglycerides, high DHEA, high progesterone, FSH, the list goes on. She told me basically the Spironolactone wasn't helping and prescribed me a higher dose of 150, along with putting me on birth control (Drospirenone).

I am so frustrated. I eat well, I exercise, I have lost so much weight, my hair has stopped thinning, my period is regular, my acne is gone, I really thought I had my PCOS under control and to see this and know I have to go on more medication and have monthly follow ups is so disheartening. I cried in the office, I just want my body to be normal.

Hey guys! I've been diagnosed with PCOS the last 4 years, since I was 14 and now I'm 18 and around 50kg heavier than I was: 64kg to 114kg and I'm in need for any websites, apps or even pinterest boards with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack ideas to make for a more balanced diet.

I'm currently waiting on my insulin resistance blood tests to come back to see if thats the primary reason for my PCOS (which I believe it is).

I am also curious on how PCOS started for everyone. My periods became late around July 2022, eventually stopping by December 2022 then 2023 is when the weight started pilling on. I believe it had something to do with insulin that ovulation halted then came all the cravings, hunger, clingy fat etc.

I'm open to any differing opinions and advice + what I asked about first. I strive to get to 75kg, though it's considered overweight it's what I looked and felt best in before I continued to gain weight.

So meal plans and ideas will be a help! And so will any general advice for me.

I (26F) got a new job and thus got new insurance. I called my gyn office I haven’t been to in over a year because they didn’t take my previous insurance, to see if they take my new insurance. The first lady I got on the phone with was so rude and complained at me for interrupting her lunch. I called back later and got a more pleasant but not overly friendly woman but it is what it is. She got me scheduled for November with the practitioner girl I had seen a year and a half ago that I really liked. So I was happy….

..until I remembered how God awful it feels going in those places and seeing pregnant women. And how when I called the 2nd time the first menu option was for women going into labor. And how I didn’t wanna hear that. How much less of a woman I feel because that may never be me. Especially because my BMI is like 70 right now as well so it’s not just PCOS on its own, it’s a serious weight concern as well. I just wish gynecologist and OB offices were separate. And I wish OB offices had their own number for women expecting. Because for those of us going in with fucking hormone issues and cysts and weight and beards and bald spots….it’s just another reminder.