I'm New to PCOS

by VJB

I very recently found out that I have PCOS. I am 26 yrs old and married for 3 years and my husband and I decided that we would go off birth control and see how things go.

I had a friend that got pregnant within days of going off the pill and then miscarried, so even though it was probably not related, I decided to err on the safe side and wait until after my first period post-BC to have unprotected sex.

Well, I got my period, and was excited to finally try for pregnancy... except that my period never came again.

Greasy hair, oily skin, 6kgs, 2mos, and 3 negative pregnancy tests later, I finally went to the doctor and was immediately diagnosed with PCOS.

It came as a huge shock as I had only been on birth control for 3 yrs and previously had clockwork periods (any chance BC played a role in my PCOS?). Also, my doctor told me that I most likely threw away my best chance at pregnancy by using a back-up method that first month.

I've always been about 1-2 kgs over my "ideal" weight, but never heavy -- and even now after my sudden 6kg weight gain my BMI is still only 25.

I wonder, however, if this weight might be enough to impact my fertility and if my periods would return if I lost it.

A blood test showed that I am not insulin resistant, but I am trying to eat low-GI foods anyway. My plan is to go back on birth control for a few months to regulate my cycle, hopefully lose the weight I gained in the meantime, and then try again.

Wish me luck, will let you know how it goes.

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Editor's note:

Taking birth control pills is like putting your ovaries to sleep. A monthly bleed forced by birth control pills is not the same thing as a normal, healthy cycle. It's unlikely your ovaries will snap back to normal within days of stopping the pill.

It's doubtful oral contraceptives cause PCOS. We've seen medical research to suggest that PCOS starts even before you are born but doesn't manifest itself until later.

You're on the right track with low glycemic load foods. A healthier diet combined with regular exercise should do a lot to help get your hormones back towards a normal balance. If you want to read up on PCOS and what to do about it, a good resource is The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility.

Birth control pills do not help you lose weight. Some say they may even cause you to gain some weight.

Ask your doctor if he or she thinks taking birth control pills for 3 months is somehow going to result in your having a normal ovulatory cycle afterwards.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome who lose as little as 5% of their fat weight can sometimes start to ovulate. Eat at least five servings of vegetables daily and get more exercise…this will get you started down the right path.