Making Legitimate Progress

by steph

I have had PCOS since I was about 16. Aside from the fact that my periods were close to non-existent, I had unrelenting cystic acne that could not even be managed with birth control, and I was also cursed with hirsutism.

When I finally started treating the PCOS with birth control, I was very anxious, lost a lot of hair, and I also got a ton of cavities.

My doctor eventually confirmed that the birth control played a significant role in all of those issues and after about five years of being on that birth control, I switched to a low dose pill and started taking Accutane. Both helped a lot.

I am now 31. As I got older I started experiencing significant joint pain because of the birth control so I stopped taking it completely. I started cramping as if I was going to have a period but the periods did not come, and I also developed a layer of peach fuzz that seemed to appear overnight.

I started searching the web hoping to find legitimate birth control alternatives that might alleviate the cramping, stop the hair growth and bring on a normal period. There were so many teas and herbs that supposedly help with symptoms of PCOS but there were often warnings about potential dangers involved as well.

I finally came across an article about inositol and d-chiro inositol. As I continued to research I came across reports about studies that documented the effects of inositol on PCOS which included spontaneous periods within 6 weeks and weight loss. Supposedly, it has also been effective in helping with fertility and is, in fact, one of the ingredients found in pregnitude. I have included one of the links in this post to allow readers to read for themselves. www.pcosnutrition.com/links/blogs/a-combination-of-myo-inositol-and-d-chiro-inositol-.html

I started taking the powder in small doses because it did cause me to experience stomach cramping which is said to be a side effect of taking the powder. That being said these cramps do not last and are not reported to cause long term harm. Within weeks I did get my period. I have learned that if I take one teaspoon per day I will get regular monthly periods. The only downside is you cannot stop taking the powder because the PCOS symptoms will return. In any event inositol powder is a great natural alternative to the pill and does an excellent job of regulating menstruation.

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PCOS requires doing more than one thing
by: PCOS Editor

Congrats on your progress!

Myo-inositol and its derivatives have a long track record in relieving symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. But if intending to become pregnant or if pregnant, it's not clear that d-chiro inositol is a good idea, according to some research evidence. In this situation, I would be inclined to use myo-inositol or d-pinitol.

More importantly, it's necessary to do more than one thing if a person is to fully control polycystic ovary syndrome.

For example, inositol products are helpful for improving the body's insulin signaling system, which improves insulin function. But the diet is also critically important for controlling insulin and its associated growth factors. The diet should be predominantly of plant origin. Refined carbohydrate foods, processed foods, dairy and factory-farmed livestock products should be greatly reduced.

Another factor is that insulin dysfunction can occur in different parts of the body. For example, if you have insulin resistance in the muscle tissues, you would want to substantially increase your exercise.

Finally, there is the issue of nutritional adequacy and balance of nutrients. Many women with PCOS have been found to be deficient in a multitude of nutrients, such as vitamin D. Progress will be limited if the body is missing critical nutrients. Nutrients work synergistically. So even if you have corrected a vitamin D deficiency, you need to also consider related nutrients such as vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin E, and magnesium (just to name a few).

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