PCOS treatments

I've been on this board for a very short time and have seen treatments of only metformin and birth control pills. Are there other treatments for PCOS? Thanks, Sue

Provera. I've been doing 1 tablet of 10mg provera for ten days every month since the 90's to bring on my period...And I will be 52 in a few days. Yep, that's a long time. That treatment been around for a long time...From the olden days. Halina

Hi Halina, That is a long time. Were they calling it PCOS in the 90's or was it just an irregular period? I hadn't heard the term "PCOS" much before the late 90's -early 2000. My dr has given me provera but she said it won't help much with the cyst formation, only that it cleans out the ole uterus so that irregular cells or cancer doesn't develop. I thought I was going to die the first two months I was on it! Some of the blood clots that came out were comparable to my first born!!!!! (sorry to get so graphic!) But things have calmed down now and the periods are much more manageable. Thanks Halina and Godd Luck! Sue

, Sue! Way back then, it was told to me that I had Stein-Leventhal disease aka polycystic ovaries. And it was very over looked in woman in any age range at the time. If you were overweight and had it, they didn't bother to look for it as a co-problem, they simply told me to lose the weight. Plus, it's hereditary. I told my sisters and sister inlaw, too. Then, they found out two of my nieces have it, too. Before I was found to have PCOS, in one year, I remember going as long as 8 months without a period, complaining about it, and then being only sent to do a pregancy test each month. Yep, that's all they did for me. Finally, I had it. I went to another OB/GYN doctor not under my medical coverage and I paid over 1,000 to find out what the hell was wrong with me. I had to have a D & C right away because I was not shedding my lining and needed other treatment for an under active thyroid plus the PCOS and the birth control pills. Then, I took that information to my medical provider and got treatment I needed from them without having to pay any more out of pocket costs. But, after another long time, gaining more weight, unable to deal with this. I develope a large cyst that would not go away on it's own. I was in stage three of hyperplasia, too. Another trip was to a endocronologist. UUltrasounds and transvaginals, too. Not a lovely test to hhave. Then, I had to do a massive dose of a different type of hormone that causes cancer in Beagles. Yep, Beagles. But like he said, you are not a Beagle. Then, I was sent to a OB/GYN/Cancer specialist, he did another D & C plus removal of the large cyst at the same time in the hospital. And I can relate to the heavy bleeding and large clots after not having it on provera or just doing them when I was younger. And then being cleaned out surgically. Oh, boy! That was ruff. One time I thought I dropped my uterus. LOL. As for the provera, you are right. I'ts only to have a period and shed the lining to prevent from going into the various stages of hyperplasia and leading into cancer. I just saw my OB/GYN this week because I can't take it any longer. It's not working on top of the estrogen that is being released by the weight loss. And since I am in early menopause for over 1 year now, on top of getting bad headaches from the provera, dealing with the mood swings that it gives me, she cut it down to 5 mgs. What is interesting is that she said, next time we do a bloodwork on your menopuase, stop taking it a month before so it doesn't affect the test results. As for the mood swings I get from the provers, I start out by being sad, depressed and weepy. That I can handle. But by day three of doing provera, I am in one of my do not mess with me stage. If I am around anyone who is way too perky, I want to take a power nail gun and plant one right between my eyes. And it wasn't until I came on here, the OH messageboards after I was banded that I found out about the other meds for PCOS that are normally used by diabetics. But, my OB/GYN doesn't think I need those because my blood sugars are good and at almost 52, like I really need to get or be pregant. Oh, I would really hurt somebody then. LOL! It would be "I got a lovey bunch of coconuts and a fully loaded Uzi" time for me. LOL Good Luck! Halina

I've tried Metformin, Provera, Ortho Evra Patch and most effective- Lupron Depo injections. Only problem with LD shots is that it puts you in menopause one month at a time...that has it's own issues!

I am also taking an anti-androgen, Spironolactone (aka Aldactone)... It absorbs the extra male hormone so you don't get any new hair growth.

I also take spironolactone. It slows down the hair growth but doesn't do anything about what's already there so the sooner you get on it the better... Michelle

actually in 1975 my mother was diagnoised with PCOS , I am undergoing metformin, the byetta pin, and aldactone. They are working. My grandmother, mother, and my sisters all have PCOS.