r/PCOS Jul 08 '24

Meds/Supplements A note about supplement brands you may see on social media

883 Upvotes

We have been seeing a lot of posts recently about various supplement brands that are being aggressively advertised in PCOS spaces on tiktok, instagram, etc.

please understand that even though what you're seeing may look like an organic review of the product, they are often paid by the manufacturer. this advertising strategy is designed to trick you into thinking that lots of influential people on a particular platform are talking about these supplements when they are not. it's bought and paid for.

now I cannot say what supplements will or will not work for any individual person with PCOS. but I can say that a lot of these products with slick marketing and cutesy branding are predatory.

why?

for one, the effective ingredients with actual scientific evidence to support their use are often dosed below what is considered effective. you are paying more for less effective ingredients and a whole bunch of ineffective ingredients that allow them to market it as a "proprietary blend "

for another, these companies often work on a subscription-based model. the product is automatically shipped and if you forget to cancel oh well, you've paid for another month. this model can work for some people who want it, but it can also be predatory and intentionally difficult to cancel. if you buy a regular bottle of supplements from the store and don't like it, you simply don't buy it again. but if you're subscribed to a service that delivers that same bottle of supplements to you the onus is now on you to cancel that subscription or you'll continue to automatically pay for bottles of product at whatever price they decide to charge you. slick, huh?

in short: keep your wits about you and buyer beware. the supplement industry is shockingly unregulated, and with PCOS there are a lot of people desperately looking for that special supplement that will bring relief. unfortunately that makes us a wide open market for less than scrupulous businesses.

does this mean these supplements will not work for you? not necessarily. you might get results at the dose they are offering. but you will get a much better deal by seeking out the right dose of the effective ingredients from a more reputable manufacturer. and be on the lookout for filler products. no, chamomile and fennel are probably not going to help balance your hormones or "de-bloat" you. be realistic when evaluating these products and read the ingredients!

where should you actually spend your money? what supplements are actually supported by the scientific evidence? below is a short list:

  • INOSITOL in a 40:1 ratio of myo to d-chiro. 4g/day, half in the morning and half in the evening. please be sure to calculate the cost per dose on this one. there are many brands out there that appear to be a cheaper option but are actually charging more for less.

  • BERBERINE if you are unable to access or tolerate metformin (metformin has a superior safety profile and is better regulated as a pharmaceutical drug.) Please do your research on the best way to take this one, as it is evolving. there are some potential negative outcomes associated with long-term use.

  • NAC 600-1800mg/day (start low and work your way up) in 2-3 doses throughout the day.

  • FISH OIL/OMEGA 3/DHA 1,000-2,000mg/day. once again, start low and work up. 2,000mg/day is considered the therapeutic dose for chronic inflammation. some people do take more than this with good results, and it's a good question for your doctor.

  • VITAMIN D get tested!! many people with PCOS are low in vitamin D, and your doctor can recommend an appropriate therapeutic dose. the best first step if you suspect you may be deficient is to spend some time in the sunshine when the weather permits. the sun is the most bioavailable source of vitamin D.

  • MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE start with a low dose of 200-400mg before bed. this promotes muscle relaxation and improved sleep, which is essential for managing PCOS.

  • SPEARMINT can be taken as a tea or a capsule. a weak, natural anti-androgen that helps some people with symptoms like acne and hirsutism. there is no established therapeutic dose that I am aware of, since it is most commonly taken as tea.

an important thing to note is that just because the supplements I've listed above are broadly backed by scientific evidence does not guarantee that they will work for you. there is no study that I am aware of in the PCOS literature where a supplement or medication provided relief to 100% of the subjects enrolled. it's entirely possible that you might be one of the unlucky people who take NAC or inositol or whatever and just get weird side effects or expensive pee out of it. don't keep taking a supplement that doesn't work for you just because you see success stories online.

beyond this list, certain individuals might benefit from additional supplements due to a specific condition or deficiency. please do not assume that you have a deficiency simply because you have PCOS, you could do more harm than good.

I should note that there are other supplements in the pipeline that are undergoing testing for PCOS and associated disorders, but these are the ones that we have decently solid evidence for right now. in the future, the list might be longer... I, for one, certainly hope it is!

to conclude: please do not let these designer vitamin brands and their army of influencers convince you that dandelion pollen and parsley seed extract are ancient cures for hormone imbalance that you should pay $60/mo for.


r/PCOS 17h ago

General Health I made a complaint to the office about the nurse Tech who did the EEG on me yesterday because she was saying me getting diabetes and PCOS was all my fault because diet will fix everything. Did any of you guys ever had to file a complaint against a doctor or nurse because of unsolicited advice?

196 Upvotes

I was very pleased with how they handled it. They agreed with me and they said that she was 100% in the wrong and that they were sorry about how it was treated yesterday. She randomly told me out of nowhere about how PCOS and diabetes can be cured with just diet and I told them that I was already seeing a doctor for it and being treated for it. I am also not overweight either so you can get diabetes and PCOS rather your skinny or not! She just kept asking me a lot of questions about my medical conditions and then kept putting me down for it and mind you she's in a neurologist office putting wires on me for my EEG for my seizures. They told me that she is the only technician there so if they do an EEG on me next time that they will send me somewhere else to get it done and that they're glad that I came to them about it because that was not appropriate. I told them how it made me feel uncomfortable and when I meant by filing a complaint I meant telling the office about it. I'm glad that I spoke up and told them what happened because I don't want this happening to someone else and maybe they can tell her not to do this to anybody else but at least it will be in her record so in case she does this to someone else that person would not be the first to file a complaint.


r/PCOS 17h ago

Rant/Venting They didn’t tell me I have fatty liver

113 Upvotes

I was in so much pain yesterday. I knew it wasn’t my ovaries. It started as cramping in my upper belly and then I realized it hurt to push on my lower right. I know that means appendix, and I went to urgent care.

It took 3 tries in 5 hours for them to draw blood because my veins were so bad. It took two CTs because the first IV didn’t absorb it. Second CT they said showed early appendicitis but we are treating with antibiotics and waiting. I told them I have PCOS and insulin resistance, they had every opportunity to tell me if something was wrong in relation.

Then a day later I get my CT results posted to my account. Hepatic steatosis?! No one wanted to tell me this?? Just casually noticed in my FIRST CT that I had fat in my liver and no one told me. I’m devastated. I’ve been fighting my PMOS so long and hard. I did weight loss meds and stopped after an accident and I couldn’t afford them anymore.

On top of now taking antibiotics to hope I don’t burst my appendix, I now have to be thinking about Fatty Liver Disease as it relates to my PMOS?? I’m so livid, I’m meeting with my PCP after I finish my meds but I’m going to be spiraling for the next week.

I want to grow old I want to travel and have kids and not go broke watching my body decay because my metabolics are fucked up. I just need healthcare to care about it.


r/PCOS 3h ago

General Health I told my doctor I think I have PCOS and she immediately dismissed it. Any help appreciated

9 Upvotes

So a little context, I have always had heavy periods. Usually filling up a S+ tampon every 2-3 hours for the first 1-3 days of my period. Always on time, every month since i was 13. I am 23 now, and 4 months ago I had a strange period where it was like brown discharge for like a day or two , very light, and then ended. The next month, same thing. Last month, even lighter, light brown lasting a day. This month, not even enough to fill a panty liner. I also have gained about 13 lbs in the last 4 months. I’ve noticed extra nipple hair, aching pelvic pain, breaking out, and fatigue.
So I scheduled an appt, and told her I was concerned about fertility because google said these were symptoms. She instantly rolled her eyes and said “Google🙄. You don’t have PCOS and it’s probably your body realizing your periods aren’t normal and fixing itself.” I think that’s the dumbest thing I ever heard but whatever, I requested labs. I only got a few results back but it’s been days and my doctor hasn’t reviewed my labs yet. If someone knows about labs, can you please tell me if mine are a sign of PCOS.
FSH- 1.84mIU/mL
Hemoglobin A1c 5.1%
Prolactin 17.2 ng/mL
Testosterone Total 71 ng/dL
TSH 1.562 uIU/mL
If any of yall think the results are normal i’d appreciate it greatly. Kinda freaked out with my Total Testosterone being so high. Thanks


r/PCOS 3h ago

Mental Health I feel like I'm.becoming a monster

7 Upvotes

I have no control over my emotions my behavior has become so aggressive idkwhat do I do


r/PCOS 2h ago

Mental Health tips on body neutrality/acceptance?

5 Upvotes

i’m a first time poster so i’m sorry if this is tagged wrong, but i’m a 21 y/o with pmos who recently put on some weight. i go to the gym a fair amount and i seek a fairly active lifestyle but (and i know this might sound weird) i don’t want my goal to be weight loss. i don’t want to be working out solely with the intention of changing myself; i want to work out to feel strong like i used to. i don’t want to solve my insecurities with my body by changing it, i want to relearn to accept it as it is or to have it simply be something that’s there that i don’t think about. i didn’t used to think about my body this much, not even as an insecure teenager or a fat kid, so to be this caught up in my 20s feels awful. how do i learn (or relearn) to accept my body as it changes and grows? how do i stop feeling like im drowning in this ozempic-obsessed age? how do i start seeing my beauty again? sorry if this is rambly, but any advice is appreciated <3

(as a side note PLEASE don’t respond with any advice about weight loss or glp1s or anything like that. i don’t want my body to have to change for me to feel at home in it. changing my body is not my goal, self love is)


r/PCOS 3h ago

Mental Health Has a healthcare professional ever made you feel judged because of your PCOS?

5 Upvotes

I had an appointment recently that left me feeling really discouraged.

As soon as I mentioned I have PCOS, the conversation quickly turned into, "You just need to lose weight and eat healthier." It felt like my concerns were dismissed before anyone even asked about my symptoms, medical history, or what I was already doing.

I know lifestyle changes are important, and I'm genuinely trying my best. But hearing comments that make it sound like PCOS is simply a result of not trying hard enough can be really upsetting.

I left wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Have you ever felt judged or dismissed by a doctor, nurse, or another healthcare professional because of your PCOS?

How did you handle it? Did you speak up, change providers, or just let it go?

I'd really like to hear your experiences because I can't be the only one who's felt this way. 💜


r/PCOS 11h ago

Meds/Supplements How do you all tolerate metformin?

15 Upvotes

My bloodwork is officially showing that I am insulin resistant. My doctor is confident that I can get my levels back in the normal and safe range, so he prescribed 500 mg of metformin. I tried metformin in 2020 for about a week but couldn't tolerate the constant diarrhea and nausea.

I tried this round of metformin for about a week before I called my doctor to get the ER version instead. I'm now on the ER version. It's been another week-ish but I still get diarrhea and nausea, and it's hours after I take my pill.

I'm taking it at night with a last meal/snack. I also take a probiotic about an hour or two before the metformin. Right now I'm sucking on a ginger candy because my stomach is not a happy camper.

I already have IBS as well, and in general my stomach has always been sensitive. I know beforehand that most medicines will likely cause stomach issues, but I hate feeling sick and disgusting.

I've been cleaning up my diet and being more mindful of my carbs, sugars, and portions. I've been gently adding in more fiber and protein (before starting metformin) and I've been exercising as well.

How do you folks handle the metformin issues? I feel like I want to throw in the damn towel again, but I want to get my fasting sugars and A1C in the safe range again. I just don't know if these side effects are worth it.


r/PCOS 37m ago

Trigger Warning I can never accept people again after diagnosis

Upvotes

I have been treated poorly because of my weight since I started school. I was treated even worse in high school after the weight gain from pcos. I am from a country with skinny beauty standards. I will never forgive people like my classmates, teachers, family members. The only people who treated me nice were less than five per year. Besides people I met online and in games. There’s no way to convince me to treat people well so they will treat you well. I barely eat anything and lost 11kg. Just so people would treat me better and it ends up destroying my endocrine. I always hated people in my country. I have never hated people I have met during these six years so much. I will never forgive them. Go to clubs and make friends they said. Not even my assigned team members wants to be with me. I hate all these people who are supposed to be my people.


r/PCOS 3h ago

Hair Loss/Thinning I Need suggestion about hair growth vitamins for hormone loss

3 Upvotes

I’m dealing with hair loss that seems to be related to hormonal changes (still working with my doctor on the exact cause). I’m looking into a dedicated supplement/vitamin routine to support hair growth and protect my follicles while my hormones are shifting. For anyone who has gone the vitamin route for true hormonal hair loss (PCOS, thyroid issues, perimenopause/menopause, postpartum, etc.), what supplements actually made a difference, and how long did it take before you noticed less shedding or new growth? I’m trying to set realistic expectations for a timeline.


r/PCOS 8h ago

General/Advice Teen with pcos, I'm so tired

7 Upvotes

For some context im 16 5'8 and got diagnosed a bit more than a year and a half ago, my weight has always been higher than normal ( right now I'm 217 lbs, I know it's bad) anyways since then my dad has been trying to make me lose weight but I never really listened until I was 15 1/2 back then I tried exercising and eventually gave up because I didn't see any results

But now I'm actually trying, for close to a month I have been eating in a calorie deficit and have been taking fiber before my meals and less carbs (no exercise tho I was lazy Ill admit that) but I'm not seeing any significant change and my dad keeps pressuring me to lose weight, he acts like I'm not trying already,

So I started to lie about my weight to him so he wouldn't criticize me as much, anyways now he found out I haven't actually lost weight (and even blames my mama for "feeding me to much") and is telling me to only drink a cup of chia seeds and water for 3 days (i would def binge eat after that so no point) not to mention telling me to do some hour long cardio, I wonder if he actually thinks before he speaks.

Due to him I think I might be developing an eating disorder I feel so disgusting eating food especially around him even tho I haven't been eating much this whole month, my relationship with food gets worse I always try to throw up everything I ate especially if it was oily or had carbs/sugar, I know it's bad but I can't stop I don't want the fat to reach my body and add more weight.

I'm sorry this is mostly just ranting about my dad but I feel so hopeless as if nothing I do will make me lose weight and my dad keeps trying to make me go to extremes to do so, I just feel like a useless idiot that can't change. My dad makes me feel so bad about myself even tho I know it's not true I'm starting to feel like it is.

If anyone has any advise on what kinds of food I should eat and what exercises to do like HIIT or cardio, etc I would really appreciate it!!


r/PCOS 2h ago

General Health What's the reason for your pcos!?

2 Upvotes

Ok so I think I have pcos for last 5 to 6 years. I've never had my periods regular ever since I got them. I was in 7th standard when I first got them. It was scary because I thought I was gonna die because I bleed from my vagina. I changed clothes for like 2-3 times. I finally gained the courage and asked my sister what it was. She told me don't worry you just entered the adult thing and now you got your first periods. My mom taught me how to put period pads in the undergarments. At that time I used to wear that short kinda underwear worn normally by kids. Now the change happened. Earliest in the next day my mom got me the v shaped undergarments and showed how I was supposed to put pads in it. And she told me everything about it. I had my periods regularlh for around 5-6 months. Then they disappeared for few time and reappeared after a year. I had them regularly for another 6-7 months then they disappeared again. And this cycle never stopped. But unfortunately it has gotten worse. Now it has been worsened to a level that now 13 months have passed that's more then aa year. And I have not gotten my periods back. It's very hurtful. I have finally decided that I will get my blood work done. I'm thinking of going and having a conversation with my teacher. I'm a student of nutrition basically a paaredic student. And I have high hopes that my teacher could genuinely help me.


r/PCOS 6h ago

General/Advice Progesterone

6 Upvotes

I recently got prescribed progesterone for the first time and didn't get much info or guidance about it. My OBGYN prescribed this to me so that it could start my menstrual cycle since I haven't had one since February and this is also to prep me for my exam where they are going to look at my fallopian tubes to make sure that they're not backed up?

Has any PCOS girly been given this, what did it do to you? What should I prepare for... She only gave me a 10 day supply


r/PCOS 20h ago

Weight Comments on this thread are disheartening

45 Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/1v36p8v/more_young_women_in_their_20s_are_getting_type_2/

Women being blamed for being overweight and getting diabetes. Tried to mention PCOS but commenters seem to think we cause it all ourselves.

Fed up of the stigma of this condition.


r/PCOS 10h ago

General/Advice Just diagnosed with PCOS

7 Upvotes

After years of struggling I finally have my answer, I have PCOS. I’m 25 years old and fear for my future with this diagnosis, feeling hopeless and I want to get better. I can’t live like this anymore. Please any tips or tricks that helped you would so appreciated. I need to heal my body.


r/PCOS 12h ago

General Health My stupid pcos theory

10 Upvotes

I'm 18 and i have this theory......since I have pcos and have less than 4-5 periods a year without consistant birth control. Does this mean I have more eggs? and when i do bleed i release more than 1 egg. What if i release 3 eggs! What if in some years I have children. I could have twins/triplets if I release 2 or more eggs at once! What if I could have five kids at once! (My bio teacher told us something like this when we were learning about blood affinity in the placenta)

Plus this isnt a theory but a question i have which is, how does pcos affect menopause? anyone has experience

I'm just curious and would love if anyone has fun theories to read

Thanks for reading <3

(ignore my stupidness)


r/PCOS 3h ago

Meds/Supplements Supplement Advice

2 Upvotes

I have a list of 7 supplements that I'm very interested in trying, but I am curious what other people's experiences have been.

40 to 1 inositol

NOW Omega 3-6-9

Magnesium glycinate

Astaxanthin

NAC

CoQ10

Choline

I'm also taking a multivitamin that supplements a lot of other things I was interested in, like zinc, folate, vitamins D and B, etc.

Do these seem like good supplements? Are there any bad side effects or good outcomes that you folks have had trying any of these yourselves? I did do a lot of research, but honestly, the amount of information out there is a little overwhelming. Thank you all in advance for any amount of insight you might have 😊


r/PCOS 1h ago

General/Advice Labs, any insight?

Upvotes

Late Luteal

TSH 1.340
Progesterone 3.0
A1C 4.6
FSH 3.8
DHEA-Sulfate 329.0
T4 1.34
Testosterone Free Direct 3.4
Testosterone Total 32
Estradiol 53.9
AMH 4.34

150mg spironolactone
bmi 21.0

thank you!!


r/PCOS 7h ago

General/Advice Just diagnosed pls drop your golden tips in managing PCOS/PMOS ⭐️

3 Upvotes

Hi I’d love to get some insight into what’s been working for you. I’m 20 and I just got diagnosed with this condition. I’ve got no clue how to exercise or what to do. I used to walk 5 k everyday but saw no results on the scale. I’ve done cardio before through jump rope but I feel so fatigued now to do it at all. I feel like I’m so inactive all the time. OH AND BTW WITH INSULIN RESISTANCE LIKE 😭 come on


r/PCOS 1h ago

Rant/Venting The obgyn office fills me with an unhuman amount of rage and loathing

Upvotes

Title is a bit unserious, I’m sorry, but I am so sick of going to the damn doctor. 18f and I have actual polycystic ovaries (you don’t have to have them to have pcos/pmos, just clarifying that I do have them) hirsutism, very irregular periods so basically every time I go to the doctor I am told I have “signs of pcos”(since age 14). Which is like whatever they’re probably saying that because I’m too young for it to be set in stone anyways I don’t really care but I say I have pcos because there’s really nothing that sets me apart from people who do

Back to the point, I’ve lost a lot of weight (40lbs!) since 2024 which, at some point, was a tremendous improvement in my health because I started having more normal gaps between my period. I think the longest I’ve gone without is 7months which is when I was very much overweight, but I got it back around mid 2025 and it was a breeze

However recently I have been dealing with irregular period again. In May, I went to see the doctor for it and had bloodwork done. However, when I went for the follow up that was a week later than the appointment I had gotten my period (so it was def late but not by a tragic margin). And you know what? Even though the doctor said she could tell what hormones were causing my irregular period, I was sent home with no hormonal pills or anything (usually I am given medroxyprogesterone). Which makes sense because well I got my period. But the whole ordeal felt like a huge waste of money because she did blood work and told me I have signs of pcos for the 500th time, probably cost a ton of money and just sent me home with nothing. Like not even a backup medication in case I don’t get my period again? What a waste. And I know she can’t do anything. I respect her work I’m just extremely frustrated, not at my doctor but in general

My period is also late now and if it doesn’t come soon I’ll have to go to the doctor again. And I hate it because appointments are SO EXPENSIVE

I’m not the type to hate on doctors or actual medicine. In fact I fully trust doctors over random people on the internet claiming to be pcos mentors. (Of course I acknowledge that horrible experiences with doctors is common for people with PCOS and some doctors are rude and neglectful) but it is just incredibly frustrating. I’m not mad at the doctor, this isn’t me saying the doctor is doing something wrong but I just wish there was something more regular that I can take so I don’t have to go to the doctor every damn time I get a late period (which is very often, recently). Doctors have said Bc is not the best option for me because my symptoms are not really severe. But like I hate the idea of going back every single time

Also the waiting at the obgyn is so long I think I spent 3 hours waiting once and got home at 10pm I hate obgyn visits they are amongst the most annoying days in my life. Waiting for 3 hours + absolutely no outcome is a pain.


r/PCOS 11h ago

General Health Popcorn smell

5 Upvotes

Trying to keep the title scroll friendly lol.

My pee smells like popcorn. Mostly first thing in the am and late at night. I looked this up and it is alll about diabetic complications, particularly ketosis. I am insulin resistant, but I am not keto, I'm on metformin and have been for a few years, and my blood sugar hasnt shown high ketones, my diet hasnt changed. However.. i am extremely stressed rn. But going to the dr will not help if its not nessicary as finical is a large part of it lol (american). But google is scaring me a bit.

Has anyone expirenced this, was it okay? Did you figure out the cause?


r/PCOS 9h ago

Period Taking ovasitol since last year periods got normal but became light and no effect on weight

3 Upvotes

I am 32F and diagnosed with pcos 12 years ago. My height is 5ft and weight is 70 KG. I have been taking ovasitol since last year. Initially my periods got normal even after taking 2g but now I have increased the dosage to 4g because of not lossing any weight and it not helping for cravings. I am trying to get pregnant but this month i got one week late periods but very light and pinkish color. I am so concerned now.


r/PCOS 3h ago

Fertility AFC over time - fertility

1 Upvotes

I have recently found out I have AFC of 20 on each ovary. This was investigated due to me having a somewhat average cycle length of 35 days (with occasional 25-41 variations) and since I am planning to TTC in a year or so. I am wondering if I do meet the diagnostic criteria for PCOS (I am undergoing more tests to determine if ovulation is occurring), does AFC tend to reduce over time and if so at what rate?
My GP told me I will likely need IVF due to cycles around 35 days and presence of 20 follicles so am feeling a bit concerned.
NB: No androgen or insulin issues.


r/PCOS 3h ago

Meds/Supplements Vitex/Chaste Tree

1 Upvotes

My chiro sold me vitex (as well as tulsi & Endo supreme) to help with PCOS symptoms & fertility support. I took them for about 3-4 weeks beginning in early May, she directed me to take 2 per day, every day. I began having pregnancy like symptoms, nauseous in the morning, food aversion, late period. I took multiple pregnancy tests, at home & at the doc, not pregnant. Here I am, end of July, I still have yet to get my period for June or July. I’m emotional & on edge & rage full & so so so sad. I think my hormones are messed up now. Idk. We’re wanting to start ttc in October but now that I don’t even have a period, idk if that’s gonna happen. Any similar experiences? Did your period come back? I’m so scared I’ve messed up my body


r/PCOS 13h ago

Weight Looking for community

6 Upvotes

I’m 19 years old, recently diagnosed with PCOS and i’m struggling to find anyone with circumstances similar to mine. I stopped having regular periods when I was around 14/15 and would frequently miss months at a time. Got on the BC patch (unrelated) just as a preventative measure when i was 17 and was on it for about a year. My weight was regulated much better than I was used to and I didn’t get a lot of the side effects people talk about. Sure I was more emotional sometimes when I took it but other than that I didn’t have many complaints. Eventually I decided I’d practice abstinence instead because I didn’t like the artificial dependence and that was that. Got off birth control, got 2 natural periods maybe 3 months after getting off, and now i’m back at square one, no periods and now a diagnosis that I don’t totally understand. I don’t know what measures to take i’m gaining weight like never before I’m consistently trying to diet i’m constantly feeling constipated I try working out. I feel like a normal person goes a few weeks working out and dieting and at least sheds off a pound but I haven’t. Everyone is telling me birth control is so awful for you but I don’t know if that was my experience. What can I do? I have an appointment set with a dietician to see if I can start getting my weight regulated but i’m just worried about all sorts of things like fertility, long term effects of the birth control, long term effects of not using the birth control? Anyone else in a similar spot? Please reach out I could really use the advice.