Search PCOS experiences

I actually had a large fluid sac burst on my ovary which actually ruptured my ovary. I didn’t realise this and presumed the intense, horrendous pain was a ‘bad period’. Internal bleeding, flown to hospital and two blood transfusions later, I was diagnosed with PCOS! When I was on the pill, most of my PCOS symptoms were managed, I just had some significant darkening of the skin on my face, which included my upper lip. I hated this and so the Dr recommended I come off the pill to see if that was causing it (turns out it was). However, upon coming off the pill I spiralled into very poor mental health and 6 months later I had a complete mental breakdown, causing me to be off work for 6 months. Now my symptoms are fairly bad, I work out at least 3 times a week lifting weights and light cardio, I eat well and eat my protein but weight just doesn’t shift. Especially around my tummy. I have hair everywhere, so much so that I’ve just paid over £1k for private laser because my confidence is just in the gutter. I am so reluctant to return to the pill but I have done almost everything (specialist training and nutrition, Myoinsitol supplements, cypherus rotundas oil) - my current Dr has offered me both Metformin and a different pill which is low in oestrogen (which she thinks previously caused the darkening). I’m considering trying Metformin as my bloods indicated high insulin levels and low sex binding hormone levels. Just looking for advice if anyone has tried just Metformin? What were the benefits/downsides? Did it help? Have you come off of it? Any real life experiences welcome…. 🙏🏼

I was diagnosed over 10 years ago by a nurse in a doctors surgery, she said she had just done some research in her own time and thought my symptoms matched what she had just learned (PCOS), I was suffering with irregular periods, pain, fainting and weight gain. This ANGEL then sent me for an ultrasound internally and externally and almost immediately after my appointment, it was confirmed I had ovarian cysts and fibroids, one of my cysts being 5cm. I was grateful for the appointment as every doctor/nurse/sexual health nurse prior made me feel like I was going insane or it's just "IBS". I was booked back in to see the GYNAE specialist within the doctors surgery, who was a female doctor, thinking she will be all for women who are struggling and will want to offer the best support for women going through things like this, I was soooooo wrong. I was given the print out from the NHS page on PCOS and told there is no treatment and told to lose weight and be on my way. ( I complained big time). I was scared to death, as 10+ years ago, there was still little out there about PCOS, so I booked back in with the nurse, who then put me on metformin and this helped me massively, manage my weight and lose it safely. The bloat was unbelievable but was advised this was the cysts and fibroids popping often, but was normal and will happen. The female doctor then refused to prescribe me metformin for much longer and went back to saying its your weight you need to lose weight. I am a 6ft2 woman and was advised to drop to 1200 calories (this is not sustainable, although I did it to prove a point my symptoms were still worse). My cycles 10+ years later are between 56-75+ days and sometimes I can have a period for 17 days at a time, in 2026 alone so far I have only had 4 periods. My facial hair is worse than ever and so is my weight. I am trying, I am in pain daily and want to have children. I really want to stand up for women all around the world, this isnt normal what we are going through, we need support and we need women to talk openly about their negative experiences. After reading things on here today and about it changing from PCOS to PMOS there appears to be more things the NHS can offer, so I have booked another appointment to discuss bloat, periods, cycles, pain, facial hair, tiredness and fatigue and hopefully they will do more. Stay Strong ladies, we have each other!

,,,

I complained to the go for 4 years that my constant severe sweating (changing sheets three times a night), hair growth on my face and other places i had to shave every two days, sharp stabbing pains in my ovaries every month were not normal, amongst heavy periods when i did bleed (i was very irregular). I was sleepinga lot and constantly exhausted and just couldnt lose weight. It wasnt until i had an MRI last month due to back pain, that follicles on my ovaries and fluid was found, so the doctors actually now agree to go through pcos diagnosis. During this time, my anxiety and low mood was horrific as i felt disgusted in my body and confused. But, having that diagnosis pathway makes things make more sense. Lesson learnt: ALWAYS FIGHT TO BE LISTENED TO🤍

I was diagnosed in 2024 after at least a year of only having periods every other month, then nothing for 3 months at which point I went to the GP. It was the first thing they considered, and it was just bloods then a diagnosis - quick and easy. Problem was the doctor just kind of sent me away with the combined pill and said there’s nothing they could do, and I just needed to manage it. Manage what? No idea. I’d been on the combined pill for two years, and it was fantastic. I’m autistic, so I loved the consistency, having a structured break meant I didn’t need to think about it every single day, and the fact that it’s forgiving if I forget to take a dose. Then, in June, the dreaded UKMEC 3 decided to plague me. I’m overweight (BMI ~41), so obviously the risk of stroke was too high to keep me on COCP. The only alternative they offered me was the mini pill, which is notoriously unforgiving and can lead to spotting. I was so distraught because this completely ruined my consistent routine. I took it for a week before I came down with a stomach bug and couldn’t take it, and in that time I’d had the heaviest and most painful period in years. My acne flared up for the first time in years. I was completely miserable. Now, I’m really having to advocate for myself to get the right treatments. I spent the time between appointments searching for alternatives, and I found out about cyclic progesterone, which is 14 days on, 14 days off. Never at any point previously was this recommended to me. In two appointments prior I was in such distress and no one considered it, likely because it’s not a contraceptive. I don’t need, and have never needed, contraception. I have it on prescription now, but I had to tell a different doctor about it, and she had to go research it to then prescribe it. I’m now also fighting for weight loss. That same doctor who prescribed me cyclic progesterone referred me to a weight loss specialist to discuss orlistat. Orlistat would genuinely do me more harm than good. It’s a fat blocker, when I’m dealing with insulin resistance, which is carbs. Why would I cut fat for a carbs problem? Because the medication physically restricts you from eating fat with threat of gastro problems, I’d have to go fat-free, and the vast majority of fat-free foods are high in sweeteners. Plus I’m a vegetarian and I’d be restricted to like, egg whites. Therefore, terrible for the insulin problem. I haven’t had this appointment yet but I will riot if I’m prescribed orlistat. I want metformin. So overall, I’m just coasting by at the minute. I hate that I have to advocate for everything because there just isn’t standardised treatment for PMOS.

I was diagnosed in April 2025 after being on the pill for 9 years (which they put me on for heavy periods). They confirmed this with ultrasound and blood tests. I cannot actually fault my GP, they were incredible amd I got a diagnosis in 4 months. However, my periods are horrendous. They vary from 7 days to 30+ days. Its effecting my greatly, my mental health is down, my body is fat and my skin isn't what it was like. They put me on metformin to help with the cravings and my blood sugar levels, which did help. But I didnt want to be on medication, so i did some research and found Shreddy- which is a women's powder you put in a drink and tastes delicious! This has helped. But recently ive got married and been on honeymoon, and the stress from all that has sent my body into a frenzy. Im currently now on day 18 of my period amd I just dont feel like myself. Low mood, constant fatigue, and even when I wasnt on my period I was spotting! Ive been to the GP and they haven't helped me really, i just dont know what else to do.

have irregular periods, and my recent blood test showed that my LH (luteinizing hormone) level is high. I’m trying to understand what this means.

While I've always experienced certain symptoms of PCOS for the past 8 years, I had never heard of the condition before and it wasn't too obvious at first since I exercised regularly, ate healthily and managed my weight. The only symptoms I had were irregular periods (once every 45 days) and tendency to eat insane amounts of sugar. Last year I was under heavy stress and severely depressed and my periods stopped completely for 7 months. I was trying to figure out what could have gone wrong during this period as many changes started happening - excessive hair growth, painful acne that left permanent scars, receding hairline, and more. I underwent a ultrasound that found cysts and was diagnosed with PCOS.

Diagnosed a few years ago by specialist professor. Main symtoms were extreme overheating and sweating, feeling constantly like i need to eat food- leading to weight gain and irregular periods- approx 45 day cycles. Started taking metformin and increased the dose to quite high. It has transformed my life. My overheating and overeating have gone away and I can now think about food in a normal way- also periods became very regular 30 days. Other possible changes - so much happier and clearer skin. After taking metformin of approx 6 months, I started developing severe mood swings in my luteal phase, consistent with PMDD. I felt like i was going crazy. I spoke to the professor again and he suggested i take the mini pill (desogestrel). Ive been taking it for over 6 months now and It almost immediately stopped my PMDD symptoms. Now im not overheating, overeating or having moodswings. The only downside is very frequent and light periods! approx 11 day cycles.

Had symptoms for many years and was told it’s just hormones, finally 6/7 years later was diagnosed and since then had no help and just been shoved on a contraceptive pill (Slynd) that’s making my issues much worse. I have tried metformin and combined pills which were no help. I have been told to go to a private clinic for hair removal as not given on the NHS this also goes for Mounjaro which is the only thing that has helped reduce symptoms and aid weight loss and part from that I have to just “deal with it”