Birth Control and Spironolactone
erin4609
Posts: 131 Member
Hello!
I am newly diagnosed with PCOS. I have always suspected I had it, but doctors just brushed it off. I finally got an ultra-sound and turns out I have PCOS! So much explained!
I work REALLY hard at maintaining my weight, so I am at a healthy BMI, It sucks how hard I have to work at it, and not lose much weight, but at least I maintain a healthy range.
The part that drives me the most crazy is the excess hair. My doctor suggested spironolactone, but she said that it is more effective with birth control.
Has anybody had success with the combination of these 2 for controlling symptoms?
I am newly diagnosed with PCOS. I have always suspected I had it, but doctors just brushed it off. I finally got an ultra-sound and turns out I have PCOS! So much explained!
I work REALLY hard at maintaining my weight, so I am at a healthy BMI, It sucks how hard I have to work at it, and not lose much weight, but at least I maintain a healthy range.
The part that drives me the most crazy is the excess hair. My doctor suggested spironolactone, but she said that it is more effective with birth control.
Has anybody had success with the combination of these 2 for controlling symptoms?
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Replies
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Very much so! Make sure though that it's a low-androgen birth control pill.0
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I've had a lot of success taking spironolactone. I also take a birth control pill and metformin. Spironolactone takes a long time to show results, meaning it could easily be 6 months or longer, but it definitely made a huge difference in my hair growth. I no longer look like I have a fair amount of dark hair above my lip, my hair grows slower (meaning it doesn't seem like my hair is growing back in the afternoon if I shaved it in the morning), it doesn't seem nearly as thick, and there's just not as much. I also don't seem to really grow as much hair in odd places anymore.
I know that doctors usually recommend spironolactone and birth control pills together because the former can cause birth defects, but birth control pills can also help with hormonal imbalances causing the excess hair. I've had a lot of success with both just in general for PCOS! I too believe it could be worthwhile to look into whether or not the pill has higher androgenic effects. The first one I took did, and unlike most people, I broke out in acne badly for the first time in a very long time. It went away eventually after I stopped taking it, and I haven't had that experience again with the other 3 pills I've taken (all supposedly with lower androgenic progestin effects). I think they've probably helped the small amount of pimples I get, if anything. So, I think it's worth talking about, but I don't believe most people will have bad responses like that.
Hope that helps!0 -
Hmmmm. My doctor put me on spirinolactone to help me with my hair LOSS. I still have patches of hair on my neck that won't go away, but I thought it definitely helped with my thinning hair. I lost about half of it throughout college.0
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Hello!
I am newly diagnosed with PCOS. I have always suspected I had it, but doctors just brushed it off. I finally got an ultra-sound and turns out I have PCOS! So much explained!
I work REALLY hard at maintaining my weight, so I am at a healthy BMI, It sucks how hard I have to work at it, and not lose much weight, but at least I maintain a healthy range.
The part that drives me the most crazy is the excess hair. My doctor suggested spironolactone, but she said that it is more effective with birth control.
Has anybody had success with the combination of these 2 for controlling symptoms?
I have had great success with both medications I have absolutely no hirsuitism. In fact it works SO well I don't have to shave my legs very often...nice bonus!0 -
I'm so jealous! I was on spiro for a while and it didn't do all that much until i went on the pill (both drugs+glumetza). THEN I noticed a difference, but it's still not enough. I still have to shave every morning (i really hate that), but when I go to bed, it's not as much as it used to be. It seems to grow a lot slower on my chest than it did as well, so that was a plus. I just wish it'd all go away
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Update: Electrolysis is amazing. No more hair on my face! Yes, hours of pain, but no more hair!0
